How lighthouse keepers show us the way in dark, isolated times

The importance of a beacon and having fortitude are key for lighthouse keepers - clues for us all when there's little else around

Imagine being a lighthouse keeper. Before I dropped beneath the surface of this secluded, often secretive, occupation, the idea brought to mind wind-blown seagulls, or a bearded sea dog chewing his pipe. Such is the romantic notion many of us have about lighthouses. The reality is (or was, because the staffed lighthouse is now extinct) quite different.

Land lights - those charming beacons you'll find on the coast, the distinctive red stripe of Portland Bill or the thimble-shaped watchpoint at Llanddwyn - are appealing, but for me the sea towers hold the greatest allure. I'm talking about those majestic, improbable stations rising audaciously up out of the ocean - the Bell Rock, the Bishop, the Longships. The famous Eddystone, south of Plymouth, is the fourth built on that reef, in an effort that spanned almost 200 years. Its neighbouring Smeaton's Stump", the remains of a third manifestation, serves as a stark reminder that water is not meant to hold buildings.