Godrevy to Portreath National Landscape

A small narrow stretch of Cornwall's National Landscape following the South West Coast Path west from Portreath along North Cliffs to Godrevy and its famous lighthouse.

It runs past the evocative Deadman’s Cove, Hell’s Mouth and the collapsed sea cave known as Ralph's Cupboard. Legend has it this was once home to the giant Wrath who would lie in wait for passing ships, attack them for their treasure and eat the crew. The cliffs along the coast, many slumping seawards, are of unstable, soft slates. There have been several cliff falls in the area in the last 10 years.

Inland, a narrow strip of heathland gives way to large open fields. There are very few dwellings apart from some typical Cornish farmhouses. The Red River forms the southern boundary running through a valley of deciduous and mixed woodland with a nature reserve halfway along. To the east, part of Tehidy Country Park lies in Cornwall's National Landscape, with lakes, woodland walks and excellent birdwatching. Magor Farm with the remains of a Roman villa is just outside the National Landscape boundary here.

At the western end of this stretch is the Knavocks, a rocky promontory around which seals can often be spotted. Guillemots, razorbills, fulmar and cormorant are among the many seabirds that nest on the cliffs around the headland. Godrevy Lighthouse, on the offshore island and above the treacherous ‘Stones’ reef, was built in 1859 and was the inspiration for Virginia Woolf’s book ‘To the Lighthouse’.

You are now on the eastern side of St Ives Bay where Godrevy Beach is the start of three miles of sands running into Hayle Sands. Above the beach are the grass covered dunes of Godrevy Towans which support rare wild flowers. and there are a couple of National Trust carparks.