The Beacon Bike
Around England and Wales in 327 Lighthouses
Edward Peppit
Having read it
★★★★☆
Life affirming in all its ups and downs (including the hills the author faced!) and interesting and entertaining in its sights and meetings with others; a decent memoir, that had a steady pace, of a lighthouse-bagger’s England and Wales cycling expedition alongside facing their own health issues and life’s events of family and friends as they clock up approximately 3,500 miles and help a decent cause too.
A good passage
Sark Lighthouse was built by Trinity House in 1913 to guide vessels passing through the Channel Islands away from the pinnacle of Blanchard Rock. It comprises a white octagonal tower, with keepers’ accommodation underneath, set into the cliff face at Point Robert at the north-east of the island.
Sark was considered a cushy and desirable posting for lighthouse keepers because it was classed as a ‘rock station’ by Trinity House. That meant it attracted a higher wage, despite being considerably less remote than most other rock stations, and it was one of very few rock lights where a keeper could retire to the pub when they were off-duty.
A second good passage
Nevertheless, the mist persisted even into Lancaster itself. It is said that from one turret of the castle you can see the peaks of the Isle of Man. Today, I could only really make out the peak of the roof of Sainsbury’s, 50 or so yards below me.