Welcome to NCI Worms Head lookout station
Visitor Policy
Visitors are normally most welcome at the lookout although, when an incident is ongoing, this may not always be convenient and the duty watchkeeper may ask visitors to call back later.
Access
Pedestrian access is from the National Trust Car Park in Rhossili. Follow the path through the gate out on to the cliffs, walk 3/4 mile on mainly level track (giving views over Rhossili Beach) then carry on up the fairway to the lookout and the view over Worms Head.
Local Hazards
'The Causeway' is a scramble over rocks out to Worm's Head which is open for 2.5 hours either side of low tide, and can be fatal to attempt to wade or swim to when the causeway is flooded.
Disturbed waters round the Worm, connected with the tidal rise and fall, are a danger to small craft, fishing boats, coasteerers and surfers. The tidal rise is the second highest in the world, the highest is The Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia on Canada's East Coast.
There are steep, dangerous cliffs.
Operational capability
This station has Declared Facility Status
This station reports to MRCC Milford Haven
Current weather and sea conditions are available by telephone during watch hours
Defibrillator Available:
Mounted externally available 24 x7 call number displayed on unit for instructions
Station Telephone:
01792 390167
Visual Watch:
Yes
Radar Watch:
No
NAVTEX:
No
AIS Watch:
No
DSC Watch:
Yes
Radio: Listening watch on channels:
16
Radio: Channels in use (call direct not via ch 16):
65
Radio: Channel 00:
Listening watch and ready to transmit as authorised by Coastguard
Station Call Sign:
Worms Head NCI
Visual Horizon:
14 nautical miles
Station Info
Station Address
The Old Coastguard Station,
Rhossili
Gower
Swansea
Abertawe
SA3 1PR
Station telephone number
01792 390167 Station email address
Station contact
Andy Bowen
Station contact role
Station Manager
07824 430601
Station website
Summer opening
Open from:
10.00
Open until:
19:00
Days:
Every Day
Notes:
Summer watches are kept from the start of BST.
During the Summer months watches may be extended to 2100 hrs to cover tidal conditions..
If at the projected close of watch the Causeway has not yet flooded and there are members of the public still out on Worm's Head, the watch is kept open until everyone is safely back on the mainland.
Winter opening
Open from:
10:00
Open until:
16:00
Days:
Every Day
Notes:
Winter watches begin at the end of BST..
If at the projected close of watch the Causeway has not yet flooded and there are members of the public still out on Worm's Head, the watch is kept open until everyone is safely back on the mainland.
Location
Latitude:
51°33.89'N
Longitude:
004°18.28'W
OS Reference:
SS 403 875
Station Elevation:
50m /160ft
what3words:
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Visual features of station
The lookout is a granite single story building built circa 1896.
It has an 8m flagstaff and a 6m wind generator.
Other identifying features