10th August 2019. The National Coastwatch Institution has opened its latest station in Wales on the Great Orme.

This North Wales landmark is now home to a new lookout station. manned by volunteers, who will be keeping an eye out for people at risk around the coast, whether at sea or ashore. They help to protect lives by spotting people in difficulty, plotting their location and then reporting directly to H M Coastguard.

“I am very excited to be a member of this new team of great people who have come together for the benefit of local residents and visitors. It’s not difficult to watch the coast, but there are real skills to learn in taking the bearings of vessels, plotting on charts and using VHF radio.” said Station Secretary and volunteer Watchkeeper Tim Day.

The NCI lookout is situated in the car park of the ‘Rest and be Thankful’ café, on the beautiful Great Orme, from where there is a stunning view out to sea. This summer, it is operating every Saturday and Sunday between 11.00am and 3.00pm and will gradually increase the number of watches as trainees qualify as Watchkeepers and the number of volunteers increases. During opening hours, visitors are welcome to come to see what is happening and to find out more about the NCI which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

The volunteer Deputy Station Manager, Tony Morris, said; “We are thrilled to have opened on the Great Orme and to be attracting so many visitors and new members. We look forward to opening on even more days of the week once we have more volunteers. We hope we will never see anyone in danger, but we keep our eyes wide open, just in case.”

The opening of NCI Great Orme means there are now 56 operational stations around the coast of England and Wales providing the Eyes Along the Coast.