Godrevy Beach

27th November 2013

The word ‘Godrevy’ comes from the Cornish word ‘Godreve’ which means small farms, Godrevy is an area on the west coast of Cornwall with amazing expanses of sandy beaches and cliffs rich in wildlife and history. It faces the Atlantic Ocean, East of St Ives Bay, and is a popular place for surfers and walkers. Its position on the Northern most tip of Hayle’s  ‘3 miles of golden sand’ means that it takes the brunt of the Atlantic swell and is one of the more exposed beaches of the North coast.

At low tide Godrevy is connected to Gwithian Beach but at high tide the golden sands disappear and this can leave you stranded.

The area is part owned by the National Trust, with several public car parks and a café.   Godrevy lies within the Cornwall area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (ANOB), there are miles of spectacular walks over the coastal grasslands and heathland (South West Coast Path) with seals guillemots, razorbills, fulmars and cormorants nesting on the steep cliffs. (http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/godrevy/).  There is also a nature reserve at St Gothians.

Carbis Bay from Godrevy

There is a large colony of seals at Godrevy, which can be seen from the cliff top looking down onto a beach that is not accessible to visitors. They can be seen swimming in the sea and basking on the beach but are difficult to photograph because of the height of the cliffs.  

Offshore on Godrevy Island is a lighthouse maintained by Trinity House, it was said to be the inspiration for Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse (www.wikipedia.com). 

Hayle Towans from Godrevy Beach

This is a great beach for Surfers

Godrevy is a dog friendly beach with a seasonal ban from Easter day to the 1^st October as are many of the beaches in Cornwall.