Point No Point Lighthouse
📍Sheringham Point Lighthouse - 1 Sheringham Point Rd., Shirley, Victoria
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Sheringham Point Lighthouse was built in 1912 as one of twelve new lighthouses in the area. It has had 7 lighthouse keepers and it was de-staffed in 1989. In 2003 the Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society(SPLPS) was formed by locals to conserve the site.
In 2015 Sheringham Point Lighthouse was the first lighthouse to be dedicated a Canadian National Heritage Lighthouse and have ownership transferred to a local group. It is fully maintained by donations and the volunteers.
For anyone wanting to get a bird's-eye view, you can book a private tour of the lighthouse (DM me for details). Elani is very knowledgeable about the area, as her father was one of the last full-time lighthouse keepers at Sheringham Point, and she lived there for several years.
Elani has some fascinating stories about the grounds- like her sister climbing the lighthouse in a full wedding dress to get married at the top, or the fact that the lighthouse didn't have a built path and early keepers had to scale the rocks each time to tend to the lighthouse.
As a SPLPS volunteer Elani is involved with the preservation of the lighthouse and its use in media. She mentioned that for the filming of Dead Boy Detectives the cameras on the drones were so heavy that they had to be recharged every 8 minutes.
The lighthouse is beautiful year-round, but if you happen to visit in the Summer you might catch the outbuilding open and you can go inside the lighthouse lens. The nearby Sooke Region Museum also has the original third-order Fresnel lens that was removed in 1976 for viewing.
Getting to the lighthouse can be tricky. The lighthouse is located near Victoria on Vancouver Island. From Vancouver most people take a ferry to Victoria with BC Ferries. For a faster crossing you can also fly YVR-YYJ, fly with a smaller seaplane or by helicopter.
The ferries on this route are large and you can take a car or walk onto the vessel. Ferries have full seating, a cafeteria, quiet areas, and a viewing deck so be sure to explore during your sailing. You may also see marine animals or whales while in transit.
To reach Shirley from Victoria Swartz Bay ferry terminal you will need a car. It is roughly a 90 minute drive from the ferry and unfortunately transit does not reach this area. While in Shirley check out the nearby beaches, hikes and restaurants- I recommend 'Shirley Delicious.'
This is not an area I was super familiar with, but while I was here I discovered that Shirley has its very own Point No Point. Located to the west of the lighthouse, it is a private beach only accessible when dining or staying at the Point No Point Resort cabins.
If you are adventuring to the Island consider a stay in Victoria. As the oldest city in Western Canada it has a lot of history and very calm vibes. Check out the harbour, the peacocks in Beacon Hill Park, Canada's oldest Chinatown, Butchart Gardens, or its many many restaurants.
Victoria and the surrounding areas have a very mild climate compared to the rest of Canada and a slower pace than Vancouver. During the holidays you can find the whole downtown covered in lights and during the Spring the cherry blossom trees are in full bloom.
Though small, Victoria has a robust film industry and often stands in for many other locations. Hallmark Christmas movies particularly love to film in Victoria, and it's not unusual to see a street full of fake snow in June.
If you would like to donate to the preservation of Sheringham Point Lighthouse, please visit their website:
Sheringham Point Lighthouse
