22nd October 2022. Hailed as ‘the eyes along the coast” the National Coastwatch Institution station at Wooltack Point can stride into winter knowing it can weather whatever the winter storms may produce.

Over the course of a week, a group of volunteers and supporters repainted the outside of the station using what’s been described as ‘a painstakingly laborious three-step process’. After treating hundreds of screws fastening the cladding boards, filling holes and giving it several coats of paint, all the external walls have been painted which means that NCI Wooltack Point is safe for many more winters to come. “We want to say a huge thank you to deputy station manager David Hill and Watchkeepers Heather Royal, Phillip Morris, Lloyd Davies and Supporter Richard Royal for giving their time and effort for this extensive undertaking,” commented a spokesperson for the National Coastwatch Institution.

Built in 1932, the station continues to provide a crucial life-saving service since it was re-opened in 2009. Sited at more than 50 metres above sea level between St Brides Bay and Milford Haven, the volunteer Watchkeepers at Wooltack Point have a visual horizon of nearly 14 nautical miles and a VHF radio horizon of 21 nautical miles. As well as keeping a visual lookout Watchkeepers monitor the radio channels, provide a listening watch in poor visibility and are trained to deal with  emergencies which require considerable skills and experience.

The dishes which are located on its roof are part of a microwave communication system that serves Skomer Island while a dedicated 4G voice and data link is also used. The mast is part of National Resources Wales’ weather data-gathering system with the result that the station receives real-time weather information that can be relayed to the public.