Two Lighthouses walk

Discover two of Britain’s most bizarre-looking lighthouses in a short coastal walk with free car parking and a tea shop finish.

A Chess piece and spaceship by the sea

The distinctive Portishead ligthouse which looks like an upside down lantern with the sun setting over the hills in the distance — The Portishead lighthouse at Battery Point

North Somerset’s coastline is home to some wonderfully odd landmarks – and this walk lets you meet two of the strangest in a single coast path stroll. One looks like a tiny black chess piece balancing on the rocks. The other? More like a spaceship that has crash-landed beside the Bristol Channel.

This easy 3.5-mile out-and-back walk from Portishead combines salty sea air, hidden beaches, dramatic Channel views and two of the quirkiest lighthouses in Britain. And if you still want more, you can reward yourself with coffee, cake or a pub garden pint at the end.

Start at the Lake Grounds on The Esplanade, Portishead (BS20 7HD), where there’s free parking with a sea view.

The Chess Piece on the Water: Battery Point Lighthouse

A huge container ship passing the lighthouse at Battery Point, Portishead

From the car park, head north past Portishead’s much-loved open-air lido and onto Battery Point. Sitting just offshore on its own little platform is the wonderfully unusual Battery Point Lighthouse – a squat black structure that looks more like an oversized chess piece than a traditional lighthouse.

Tiny though it is, this little beacon has been guiding ships through the Bristol Channel since 1931, warning them away from the reefs lurking beneath the tides.

Pause for a moment and look across the water. You can see across to Wales, and also watch huge container ships gliding silently up the Channel towards Avonmouth and Bristol.

Seaside Promenade and the Lake Grounds

Looking across the reed marshlands to the lighthouse at Battery Point, Portishead

Retrace your steps past the lido and continue along Woodhill Bay and the Esplanade. At the end of the promenade, the walk becomes more adventurous as you climb gently uphill past houses before spotting an unmade track on your right leading towards Kilkenny Fields.

This quieter stretch suddenly feels miles away from town. Follow the shoreline path beside the Bristol Channel and you’ll soon join the coast path itself.

Keep your eyes peeled along the way for little pebbled coves, seabirds riding the wind and one of the coast’s most enviable homes – a lone cottage perched dramatically right above the rocks.

You’ll also pass the Portishead Yacht & Sailing Club, where masts clink gently in the breeze and sailors prepare to tackle one of the world’s highest tidal ranges.

The “Spaceship” of the Coast: Black Nore Lighthouse

Then comes the star attraction.

Aerial view of the white-coloured Black Nore Lighthouse and the rocky beach it sits next to with town of Portishead in the background — Black Nore Lighthouse

Black Nore Lighthouse appears suddenly ahead of you – and it genuinely looks unlike almost any lighthouse in Britain. With its wide base, strange shape and elevated structure, many walkers compare it to a sci-fi pod or a miniature Martian outpost dropped onto the shoreline.

Built in 1894, the lighthouse once helped ships navigate safely into the busy docks of Bristol. Today it’s one of the most photographed spots on the North Somerset coast.

There’s a pebbled beach here too, making it the perfect place to stop for sandwiches, watch the waves roll in and enjoy the salty drama of the Bristol Channel before heading back to Portishead.

Want to Go Further?

Still feeling energetic? You can continue along the coast path all the way to Clevedon and its famous Victorian pier. It adds around five miles one way, though check local path diversions before setting off due to occasional cliff fall closures near Ladye Bay.

Refuel With a View

Back at the Lake Grounds you’ll find two excellent refreshment options.

The Lake Grounds Café serves drinks, snacks and ice creams daily, while Café Lido beside the open-air pool is a favourite summer stop run by volunteers.

Or, if you’ve earned something stronger after your lighthouse adventure, head up to the dog-friendly Windmill Inn for a well-deserved drink with panoramic Channel views.