Walk - Godrevy Head

0.6 miles (0.9 km)

Godrevy Head Car Park - TR27 5ED Godrevy Head Car Park

Easy - A short walk, with one stile and one gentle climb. Due to the stile, only part of this walk is likely to be suitable for people with impaired mobility or with a pushchair.

This short walk has great views across St Ives Bay, and out to the lighthouse on Godrevy Island just off shore. Children will love the long beach, as well as the island and the lighthouse and the tales of shipwrecks. A good walk in spring, when the coastal grasslands are full of wildflowers and fulmars nest noisily in the cliffs, and in autumn, especially during strong winds, when huge flocks of migrating seabirds pass through, including kittiwakes and sometimes storm petrels.

There are a range of wonderful places to lay your head near the Coast Path for a well-earned sleep. From large and luxurious hotels, to small and personable B&B's, as well as self-catering options and campsites. The businesses that support the Path, where you've chosen to visit, are listed here.

Hope Farm Holidays

Eco campsite situated 1 mile from the coast. Peaceful, quiet, compost toilets, solar showers, ideal for walkers

Loggans Lodge

Loggans Lodge has 3 en-suite bedrooms equipped with Tea/Coffee facilities, fridge, TV, safe, hairdryer. Close to bars, restaurants, take-aways and a supermarket

The Painters Cottage Bed and Breakfast

Small friendly guest house set in historic former artist's residence with arts and crafts period features. Ideal for exploring West Cornwall and the South West Coast Path. One night stays, 4 full ensuite rooms. Evening meal available

Cohort St Ives

Educational Residential Trip Centre. Open to the public over Easter School Holidays and Summer School Holidays. Family rooms. Dorm rooms. Private rooms. Great facilities.

Ayr Holiday Park

We offer luxury holiday caravans, s/c apartments, touring & camping pitches with amazing views and facilities. Less than half a mile from beaches, town centre & harbour. Town centre 10 minute walk from the park or a short bus/taxi ride.

Carnelloe Farm

Panoramic sea and sky views at Carnelloe a very cosy granite home, slps 6, wood burner & comfortable sofa, Chairs, 3 bedrooms, 12 acres of pastural farm land, 2 bathrooms

Portreath Arms Hotel

The Portreath Arms is a family owned and run Bar, Restaurant and Hotel located in the centre of the village. The menu features good home cooked food with ever changing specials and daily locally caught fish dishes.

You'll be spoilt for choice for where to eat and drink along the Path. With lots of local seasonal food on offer, fresh from the farm, field and waters. Try our local ales, ciders, wines and spirits, increasing in variety by the year, as you sit in a cosy pub, fine dining restaurant or chilled café on the beach. The businesses that support the Path, where you've chosen to visit, are listed here.

Tideline Cafe

A SMALL CAFE SERVING BREAKFAST, BRUNCH, LUNCH AND CREAM TEAS. Also daily specials and afternoon teas.

Portreath Arms Hotel

The Portreath Arms is a family owned and run Bar, Restaurant and Hotel located in the centre of the village. The menu features good home cooked food with ever changing specials and daily locally caught fish dishes

What is on your list of things to do when you visit the Path? From walking companies, to help you tailor your visit, with itineraries and experts to enhance your visit, to baggage transfer companies and visitor attractions there are lots to people and places to help you decide what you'd like to do. The businesses that support the Path, where you've chosen to visit, are listed here.

Interactive Elevation

Route Description

  1. From the car park follow the Coast Path out towards the headland keeping the sea on your left.

    A little way offshore is Godrevy Island with its lighthouse – thought to be the inspiration for 'To the Lighthouse' by Virginia Woolf who spent many summer holidays in St Ives.

    As you walk along, keep an eye out in the water for grey seals playing and hunting for fish in the surf, and for the pod of bottlenose dolphins that are often seen further off-shore in St Ives Bay. Guillemots, razorbills, fulmar and cormorant are among the many seabirds that nest on the cliffs around the headland.

    Beyond Godrevy Island a dangerous reef known as the Stones extends out into St Ives Bay, and many vessels have been wrecked here over the years. It was the scene of a famous shipwreck in 1649. In the aftermath of the execution of King Charles I, followers attempted to send his lace trimmed garments and other possessions abroad for safe keeping as relics of the 'Martyr King'. The ship was wrecked and only a few of the clothes were washed ashore.

    Following the loss of the screw steamer ‘Nile’ with all hands in 1859, public pressure led to Trinity House constructing the lighthouse designed by James Walker. It was maintained by a two-man crew. The 26 metre high white octagonal tower is made from rubble stone bedded in mortar. The tower is  28 metres above the sea at high water. 1 white and 1 red light flashes  every 10 seconds and can be seen for 8 nautical miles. The cost of the station,  with its adjoining keepers' cottages, was £7,082 15s 7d.

    The original optic revolved on rollers, driven by a clockwork motor, which was in turn driven by a large weight running down a cavity in the wall of the tower.  Until it was automated in 1939, there was a 3cwt bell used as a Fog signal. This was struck once every 5 seconds. 

    Further modernisation was undertaken in 1995, when it was converted to operate with solar power. It is now monitored and controlled from the Trinity House Operations Control Centre at Harwich in Essex. In 2005 a review proposed closure, but following campaigning, this decision was overturned, and the light continues to provide a warning to mariners. In 2012 the light was moved from the lighthouse tower to a new steel structure on the adjacent rock. 

    1. As you come around to the north side of the headland, the path starts to descend slightly and as you pass Mutton Cove (there is no access down the cliff to the cove), a path leads off on the right, returning you to the car park. Alternatively the walk can be easily extended with a gentle stroll onwards along the Coast Path to the next headland, Navax Point and the Knavocks.

    Here a small herd of Shetland ponies help maintain the mix of grassland merging into heathland and gorse scrub which provide an ideal habitat for nesting birds such as stonechats, and butterflies such as the grayling.

    Public transport

    Buses run between Godrevy, Hayle & Penzance several times a day. For timetable information, zoom in on the interactive map and click on the bus stops, visit Traveline or phone 0871 200 22 33.

    Parking

    Godrevy Head Car Park (Postcode for Sat Navs: TR27 5ED) open from Easter to the end of October. The car park at Gwithian Towans is open all year round.

    Nearby Events

    • Walkabout Trail Blazers

      6-9 June 2024  |  Organised by Sarah Middleton

      Walkabout provides 4 day guided walking adventures with a small group of a maximum of 10 women. This event takes place from 6th - 9th June 2024, with camping pre-arranged and catering and luggage transfers included.

    • Macmillan Mighty Hikes - Cornwall Coast

      31 August 2024  |  Organised by Threshold Sports on behalf of Macmillan

      Hike a full or half marathon Mighty Hike through the fishing port of Padstow, passing spectacular coastlines and beaches finishing in Newquay

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