We Love Lighthouses
Join us on our lighthouse rambles!
„James looked at the Lighthouse. He could see the white-washed rocks; the tower, stark and straight; he could see that it was barred with black and white; he could see windows in it; he could even see washing spread on the rocks to dry. So that was the Lighthouse, was it?“
Lighthouse stories and more
My passion are lighthouses, dogs and mysterious stories.
I like to climb lighthouses and church towers, but I also enjoy long walks across the countryside, particularly with my dog. And I take pleasure in writing in English, in spite of the fact that it’s not my mother tongue. I am Swiss writer Dana Rinder and I’m looking forward to winning you over as a reader of my stories!
Lighthouses in England recently visited
I have just returned from a wonderful holiday in the beautiful counties of Cornwall and Devon. Of course, visiting some of my favourite lighthouses on this fantastic coastline wasn’t to be missed.
Did you know? Well, there’s another type: As much a landmark as the lighthouses are the chimney stacks of the former tin and copper mines that dot the coastline. And some of them are even used as aids to navigation for sailors and mariners.
Needless to say, I photographed a lot while I travelled around. Have a look at my photo stories about the lighthouses of Berry Head, The Longships, Pendeen Watch and Wolf Rock!
Berry Head Lighthouse is one of the smallest in the UK. The high, steep cliffs on which it stands are home to the largest breeding colony of guillemots on the south coast of England.
Get the full story about this nature reserve for plants, birds and butterflies!
Land's End, England's westernmost point, offers stunning coastline and bizarre rock formations. On a clear day you can see two lighthouses: the Longships and Wolf Rock.
Find out why this area has been a magical attraction for wreckers and painters.
The magnificent chimney stacks of the Botallack Mines, which line the coast at St. Just, are a stunning sight to behold. They almost rival the Pendeen Lighthouse in grandeur!
Learn more about lighthouses and chimney stacks in my article now!
a taste for exciting stories?
Selfie With
Virginia Woolf
Virginia Woolf based her famous novel „To the Lighthouse“ on Godrevy Lighthouse at the entrance to St. Ives Bay. My experience of visiting the lighthouse was exactly the same as James Ramsay’s in the book: the boat trip to the island did not materialise. Instead, I had a closer encounter with Virginia Woolf on a bench in Richmond-upon-Thames, London, and she even posed for a selfie with me!
Black Dog H(a)unt
What the Hound of the Baskervilles has in common with the Roy Dog. Why Sherlock Holmes wasn’t needed in Portland. Why I had to take a detour to Dartmoor and past times. Where some black dogs are really friendly. And how I finally found my way back to the Isle of Portland.
Join me on my ramble across Dartmoor and the Isle of Portland and hear some mysterious stories about black dogs!
Addio Italia, Hola Argentina
The Lanterna in Genoa’s harbour was probably the last thing Italian emigrants saw as they left their homeland for a new life in North and South America. In my blog, I’d like to focus on the Italians who emigrated to Argentina – you’ll soon find out why.
A Lighthouse That Truly Thrives!
I discovered a very special lighthouse in the small Swiss town of Frauenfeld. It has a tree growing out of it, and its roots are connected to a smaller lighthouse. With his mural ‘The Mother Tree’, Belgian graffiti artist Gjis Vanhee wants to show us humans how we could solve our problems – if we worked together like the trees in a forest.
A Lighthouse for the First Advent!
I would love to share with you the tradition of Advent windows which is very popular in my home country. I’m happy to say that in Switzerland, it is still widespread in many regions!
