Keunggeut Lighthouse

At the eastern tip of Dolsando Island in Yeosu, at the edge of a seaside wood in Pyeongsa-ri, stands a small white lighthouse. Its name, Keunggeut, means "the far end", and that is exactly where it is. With no car park and hardly any signs, you reach it along a pine-forest path, so mostly locals come here; but the moment the trees end, the open horizon, the tidal rocks and the emerald water appear all at once.

A white lighthouse at the end of the woods

The way to the lighthouse is a narrow path that leaves the side of the road and heads into the forest. After a few minutes on the earth track between the pines, you start to see the glint of the sea through the trunks, and at the edge of the wood the white tower appears on a rocky knoll. Beside it, the shoreline is a jumble of wave-carved rocks and cliffs, and on clear days the water is clear enough to see the bottom. More than the lighthouse itself, it is that short step from forest to open sea that makes the place special.

What to see

• The white lighthouse: a white tower standing on the rocks, especially photogenic when framed by pine branches.
• Rocks and cliffs: beside the lighthouse, wooded cliffs drop into the sea, with wave-battered rocks below.
• The horizon: at the eastern end of Dolsando, the view opens wide across the South Sea.
• The pine path: the short trail to the lighthouse is part of the experience, winding between wind-bent pines as the sound of the waves grows louder.

The eastern tip of Dolsando

Dolsando is a large island linked to central Yeosu by bridges, with a coastal road running down to Hyangiram at its southern tip. Keunggeut Lighthouse lies in the woods by the shore at Pyeongsa-ri, on the island's eastern tip, so it makes a good short stop on a drive around the island. It is not a well-known sight, so there are no big signs, ticket booths or facilities, and the start of the path is a small track beside the road; check the location in a map app before you set off. The upside is that it rarely gets crowded, and you can sit quietly listening to the waves.

Tripto tips

• Time needed: 30 minutes to an hour to walk through the woods, see the lighthouse and return.
• Best time: facing east, the lighthouse is a place to watch the sun rise over the sea. There are no lights on the forest path, so bring a torch if you go before dawn.
• Opening and fees: always open and free. There are no toilets, so plan ahead.
• Parking: there is no car park, so you have to leave your car on the roadside and walk in. Park so that you do not block traffic.
• Footwear: the path is not difficult, but it is earth and rock, so wear comfortable trainers.
• Take care: there are no railings or fences on the rocks and cliffs around the lighthouse. Stay back from the edge, especially when the waves are high. Dogs are welcome.
• Getting there: buses do not get close, so a rental car or taxi is the realistic choice. From central Yeosu, cross to Dolsando by the Dolsan or Geobukseon Bridge and drive to the island's eastern tip.
• Combine it with: Hyangiram Hermitage, about 8 km to the south, for a drive around Dolsando.