The Shipping Forecast
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Text © Copyright January 2020, M J Richardson;
licensed for re-use under a Creative Commons Licence.Contents
- The forecast for inshore waters
- Introduction
- 1.Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney
- Orkney
- 2.Rattray Head to Berwick-upon-Tweed
- 3.Berwick-upon-Tweed to Whitby
- 4.Whitby to Gibraltar Point
- 5.Gibraltar Point to North Foreland
- 6.North Foreland to Selsey Bill
- 7.Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis
- 8.Lyme Regis to Land's End, including the Isles of Scilly
- Isles of Scilly
- 9.Land's End to St David's Head, including the Bristol Channel
- the Bristol Channel
- 10.St David's Head to Great Orme Head, including St George's Channel
- 11.Great Orme Head to Mull of Galloway
- 12.Isle of Man
- 13.Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (covers the entire coastline of Northern Ireland)
- 14.Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre, including the Firth of Clyde and the North Channel
- Firth of Clyde
- 15.Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point
- 16.Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath
- 17.The Minch and Hebrides
- 18.Shetland Isles
The forecast for inshore waters
Introduction
The BBC’s ‘Shipping Forecast’ on Radio 4 has been broadcast for more than 150 years. For early risers, shift workers, insomniacs and others awake at an early hour, the 0520hrs [UK local time] broadcast ends with a forecast for inshore waters of the United Kingdom, up to 12 miles [19.3 km] offshore, and it can provide a poetic or even lulling and soporific period of calm. The format is very precise, with information on details of forecast wind direction and force, weather, visibility and sea state e.g.:-Wind - Variable, mainly west or southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state - Smooth or slight.
Weather - Mainly fair.
Visibility - Moderate or good.
Link
Link
Link
There are 17 areas defined by coastal landmarks/features, beginning at Cape Wrath and proceeding around the UK in a clockwise direction, departing from the Isle of Man to take in the coast of Northern Ireland, before returning to Scotland at the Mull of Galloway. In some versions there is an 18th area for the Minch and Outer Hebrides]. They are illustrated here, by photographs from Geograph, of each of the landmarks, and an intermediate point or two.
1.Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney
The name Cape Wrath is said to be Norse, from 'hvarf' meaning 'sea'.
by Anne Burgess
Orkney
This is the east end of the cliffs on the Brough of Birsay; the land slopes gently down to the east from here.
by Anne Burgess
It is obvious from the cliff decor that the seabirds have had a busy nesting season.
by Des Colhoun
The cliffs of Mull Head, part of the North Hill RSPB reserve on Papa Westray
by Lis Burke
2.Rattray Head to Berwick-upon-Tweed
The lighthouse and the rocks it stands on are the only land in this square. The GPS told me I was in square when I took the shot, which is just as well because the tide was rising and the rocky causeway is amazingly slippery!
by Anne Burgess
Sand dunes overlooking the beach and lighthouse at Rattray Head on the coast between the fishing ports of Peterhead and Fraserburgh.
by Martyn Gorman
Situated 11 miles out from Arbroath the Bell Rock Lighthouse was built 200 years ago by Robert Stevenson upon the infamous Inchcape reef. At high water the reef is hidden about 12 foot below the water level, at low water it is 4 foot above the sea.
by Derek Robertson
The Isle of May, known locally as the May Isle or simply 'The May', is a National Nature Reserve, situated around 8km off the East Neuk of Fife coast.
by Jerzy Morkis
3.Berwick-upon-Tweed to Whitby
A photographer at the lighthouse was after waves crashing against the pier. I was expecting him to get a soaking but he somehow managed to stay dry.
by Walter Baxter
The entrance to Warkworth Harbour at Amble is on the left.
by Russel Wills
4.Whitby to Gibraltar Point
The two Grade II listed lighthouses on Whitby's piers. Viewed from the West Pier Extension.
by David Dixon
Features two Grade II listed disused lighthouses - West Pier (1831) : Link - East Pier (1854) : Link.
- East Pier (1854) : Link.by Jim Osley
5.Gibraltar Point to North Foreland
Behind the most recent seawall the previous shoreline runs across the field. To the right of it, where the River Steeping runs out to sea, is the area believed to be the location of the historic Wainfleet Harbour.
by Chris
The sands rise quite markedly on the opposite side of the bank which permits the water from adjoining channels to join the fast-flowing current of the River Steeping at low tide.
by Ian Paterson
6.North Foreland to Selsey Bill
Shared Description
A large wind farm in the English Channel, about 11km south of Brighton. One at lower left is attended by a service boat.
by M J Richardson
7.Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis
This stony and somewhat unattractive beach is at the most southerly point in Sussex, known as Selsey Bill. Unlike other similar points around the Country, there are no visitor amenities here.
by Mike Smith
Ian Nairn writing about Selsey in the Buildings of England says "Somehow very English, in the inconsequential way it has muddled through with its topography. Like Dunwich, it was originally an important town in Saxon England which has been affected by coastal erosion; like Dunwich, it still looks as though half of it is missing. It was the see of a Saxon bishop. The see moved to Chichester only in 1075. Since Domesday about half a mile has been eroded from Selsey Bill, and therefore the legend of a 'cathedral under the sea' is almost certainly true.
The village developed about half a mile inland from the Bill, with its church at Church Norton. In the early 19th century it began to expand, moved the nave arcades into a new church in the village, and left the chancel by itself in the old churchyard. Then the 20th century came... today's Selsey is one main street .. which runs straight on to the sea and stops abruptly without pier or esplanade."
This view is from a point immediately east of Selsey Bill where the coastline swings back towards the north-east. The thunderstorm seen ahead stayed further inland.
The village developed about half a mile inland from the Bill, with its church at Church Norton. In the early 19th century it began to expand, moved the nave arcades into a new church in the village, and left the chancel by itself in the old churchyard. Then the 20th century came... today's Selsey is one main street .. which runs straight on to the sea and stops abruptly without pier or esplanade."
This view is from a point immediately east of Selsey Bill where the coastline swings back towards the north-east. The thunderstorm seen ahead stayed further inland.
by Marathon
The Nab Tower was one of eight towers planned for anti-submarine protection in The Solent in World War I. However, the project proved to be too expensive and by the end of the war in 1918 only one had been completed. In 1920 the completed tower was towed to the Nab rock in the deep-water approach to the eastern Solent which had previously been marked by a lightship. Buoyancy was provided by the honeycomb construction of the concrete base, creating 18 watertight compartments. When these were flooded, the structure sank and settled to rest at an angle of 3 degrees from vertical towards the northeast - a characteristic tilt which is obvious to this day.
The tower was originally manned as a lighthouse, and during World War II it provided some defence to the Solent approach. The lighthouse is still functional but since 1983 it has been unmanned. It was converted to solar power operation in 1995. Link Trinity House
The tower is located at 50.66749733°N 0.951162862°W Link
The tower was originally manned as a lighthouse, and during World War II it provided some defence to the Solent approach. The lighthouse is still functional but since 1983 it has been unmanned. It was converted to solar power operation in 1995. Link
Trinity HouseThe tower is located at 50.66749733°N 0.951162862°W Link
by David Dixon
8.Lyme Regis to Land's End, including the Isles of Scilly
This shows the view from on the landslip itself 15m above sea level. looking east along the beach towards Charmouth and Golden Cap
by Nigel Mykura
The lighthouse stands 14 miles off Plymouth the stump is the remains of Smeaton's Tower now built on Plymouth Hoe. The helipad was constructed in 1980 the light was the first of Trinity House's lights to be automated and the keepers withdrawn.
The photo was taken from boat 1 of 3 boats chartered by the Association of Lighthouse Keepers.
Link
The photo was taken from boat 1 of 3 boats chartered by the Association of Lighthouse Keepers.
Link
by Steve Fareham
Viewed from the Scillonian III ferry en-route from Hugh Town to Penzance.
by John Lucas
Isles of Scilly
Rock in the channel to the south of Annet. Beyond can be seen the Western Rocks, with (to the right) Great Crabawethan SV8307 and Bishop Rock SV8006.
by Oliver Dixon
Taken from near the lighthouse with Gilstone Ledges in the distance.
by Bob Embleton
Chapel Down and St Martin's Head from the Tresco - Penzance helicopter
by Richard Croft
9.Land's End to St David's Head, including the Bristol Channel
Dr Syntax's Head is the most westerly point of the Land's End complex. Dr Syntax was a fictitious schoolmaster in books of the 1830s, and it is thought that the head was named after the shape of his chin. Well, that's what this story says anyway! Link
In the distance is/are Longships, a group of rocks about two kilometres from the shore and, despite having a lighthouse, causing many shipwrecks over the years.
In the distance is/are Longships, a group of rocks about two kilometres from the shore and, despite having a lighthouse, causing many shipwrecks over the years.
by Graham Horn
The rocky headland of Dr Syntax's Head at Land's End.
by Philip Halling
Cliffs below at Land's End Hotel which can be seen on the cliff top.
by Philip Halling
the Bristol Channel
The west coast of Lundy looking south from Battery Point - a bleak and windswept place
by Richard Croft
Worm's Head is accessible via a causeway that is open about 2 1/2 hours either side of low tide. It's a National nature reserve owned jointly by the National Trust and the Countryside Council for Wales.
by Dave Farmer
10.St David's Head to Great Orme Head, including St George's Channel
Beyond this fortified promontory lie the two headlands of Penlledwen and Trwynhrwddyn; further on behind the curve of Whitesands beach the Burrows sand dune area can be discerned. On the skyline juts the rocky outcrop of Clegy'r Boia, another Iron Age camp a kilometre SW of St David's: the intervisibility between these two vantage points may well have been significant.
by Natasha Ceridwen de Chroustchoff
Looking south across the bay of Ogof Lladron [The Cave of the Thieves] to the rocks at Maen Du [Black Stone].
by David Medcalf
The third largest offshore island in Wales (at about 500 acres) and reaching a height of 548 ft or 167 m. It lies almost 2 miles offshore. It was first settled in the Neolithic period and is supposed to be the site of the burials of '20,000 saints', having had a monastery established by Saint Cadfan in around 516 AD. Today it is a wildlife and bird haven and an SSSI and NNR and home to Manx Shearwaters and Atlantic Grey Seals.
by Jeremy Bolwell
West Mouse in the foreground and the Skerries in the background.
Taken on a clear cold windy winter's day.
Taken on a clear cold windy winter's day.
by Ray West
11.Great Orme Head to Mull of Galloway
The Great Orme stands out against a very grey sky.
Storm Clodagh.
Storm Clodagh.
by Richard Hoare
One of a number of small shelters shown on my old 1:25000 scale map. The construction of the roof is identical to the gun emplacements, although the walls are of stone and not concrete. It is therefore likely that this is one of the installations used for radio direction finding, or observation of the artillery range. Another possibility is a coastguard lookout marked on the map but not precisely located.
by Jonathan Wilkins
Shared Description
Several kilometres out in the Irish Sea, the wind farm began operating in 2006 and is currently being extended with a second phase. The nearest land is Walney Island.
For information see Link (Morecambe Bay Partnership)
For information see Link
(Morecambe Bay Partnership)by David Dixon
As far south as you can go on the Machars and second to the Mull of Galloway as the most southerly point in Scotland. Looking east across the Solway Firth.
by Andy Farrington
Looking across towards the Little Scares from Big Scare.
by Andy Farrington
Shared Description
12.Isle of Man
One of two built by Robert Stevenson in 1818 to steer ships clear of Chicken Rock. Now disused.
by M J Richardson
'The Winkie' Light and the shingle banks at the Point of Ayre, the Isle of Man's most northerly point.
by James T M Towill
This lighthouse sits on the gravel spit at the most northerly point of the Isle of Man. Owing to the continuous accumulation of shingle deposited by the strong currents, this smaller light (referred to as a 'winkie') had to be built 750 feet to the seaward side of the main tower in 1899. It was then repositioned a further 250 feet in the same direction in 1950.
Link
Link
by Trevor Rickard
The boat is the Laxey Towing Company steam boat Karina
by Andy Stephenson
13.Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (covers the entire coastline of Northern Ireland)
Haulbowline Light at the entrance to Carlingford Lough is no longer the vital navigation aid it once was. Light is now only shown during hours of darkness.
Link
Link
by Eric Jones
Originally known as the Kilwarlin Lighthouse, the South Rock lighthouse dating from 1797 has been unlit for the last 130 years. In 1877 it was replaced by a lightship stationed on the North Rock, 3kms to the north. Owned by the Commissioners of Irish Lights it stands on a reef 5km east of Kearney.
Link
Link
by Eric Jones
Mew Island as seen from the water to the north of the lighthouse. Since my last visit here the light has been changed to a solar powered LED.
by Rossographer
Shared Description
Dramatic cliffs on the south side of Rathlin Island.
by Bob Jones
Taken from Carlingford with the
Mourne Mountains in Background
Mourne Mountains in Background
by Norman McMullan
The village stands on the lower slopes of the Cooley Mountains.
by Eric Jones
14.Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre, including the Firth of Clyde and the North Channel
A view of Scotland's most southerly lighthouse on a beautiful April afternoon.
by James T M Towill
Firth of Clyde
Foreland Point is in the foreground. Viewed from 23,000 feet from a commercial flight from Glasgow to Dublin.
by Thomas Nugent
Caledonian MacBrayne's drive-through ferry "MV Isle of Arran" making the crossing from Ardrossan to Brodick; seen from the ferry "MV Caledonian Isles" which was making the reverse journey.
by David Dixon
15.Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point
View westward from the Mull Lighthouse, to Fair Head (to the left in Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland, 15 miles away and (in centre) Rathlin Island.
by Ben Brooksbank
Looking down on the lighthouse past the sheepfold. Rathlin Island in Northern Ireland is in the distance, left.
by Chris Downer
16.Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath
In the left foreground is the lighthouse at Ardnamurchan Point, the most westerly point of the British mainland. In the background is the sandy beach at Sanna.
by Anne Burgess
The tower is 36 metres tall and is of pink granite, dating from 1849. The light is operated remotely by the Northern Lighthouse Board from Edinburgh.
by Neil Oakes
17.The Minch and Hebrides
Looking across the main bulk of the largest of the islands, Eilean Mòr. Ahead of us we see the heliport and St. Flannan's chapel, with the railway trackbed crossing the picture. Soriagh, a group of lesser Flannan isles, is in the background, about a mile away.
by Chris Downer
After a couple of days of northerly gales, the waves are breaking hard onto the cliffs east of the lighthouse.
by John Allan
Cormorants line the rock where it meets the sea. In the background stand the Galtachan rocks - NG3998 : Galtachan
by Toby Speight
The flat isle of the ocean, about 6km northwest of Rubha Hunish, from where this picture was taken.
by John Allan
From lower left:- Pabay, Lingeigh, Flodaigh, Sandray, Vatersay and Barra.
by M J Richardson
18.Shetland Isles
Looking down from the top of Bruray Ward towards the lighthouse on the easternmost piece of Scotland, Bound Skerry.
by Chris Downer
Taken from the Aberdeen ferry several km to the north. The cruise ship Marco Polo, heading out of Lerwick, is just rounding the head, with Ward Hill on Fair Isle in the background.
by Mike Pennington
The east coast of Foula viewed from Da Lang Hoevdi. The furthest visible point is Durganess with its war memorial at the high point. Da Run Hoevdi is the prominent stack offshore.
by Julian Paren
Taken from a plane en route from Aberdeen to Sumburgh.
by Mike Pennington
Images used on this page, © Copyright David Dixon, Mike Pennington, Anne Burgess, M J Richardson, Eric Jones, Chris Downer, Steve Fareham, Andy Farrington, James T M Towill, Oast House Archive, Richard Croft, John Allan, Philip Halling, Neil Oakes, John Duckfield, Toby Speight, David Medcalf, Jeremy Bolwell, Ray West, Richard Hoare, Jonathan Wilkins, john m macfarlane, Billy McCrorie, Sarah Charlesworth, Trevor Rickard, Robert Watson, wfmillar, Andy Stephenson, Natasha Ceridwen de Chroustchoff, Rossographer, Bob Jones, Norman McMullan, Thomas Nugent, Ben Brooksbank, Colin Wheatley, Hugh Venables, Jim Osley, Des Colhoun, Lis Burke, Martyn Gorman, Derek Robertson, Jerzy Morkis, Walter Baxter, Mick Garratt, N Chadwick, Russel Wills, Mike Quinn, Johnny Durnan, Scott Robinson, Dave Farmer, Chris, Ian Paterson, Chris Whippet, Mike Smith, Marathon, Alan Vincent, Nigel Mykura, John Lucas, David Purchase, Oliver Dixon, Bob Embleton, Graham Horn and Julian Paren;
licensed for re-use under a Creative Commons Licence. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/