GODREVY POINT AND GWITHIAN

A few years ago, on one of our many trips down to Cornwall to visit the folks back home, my husband and I turned off the A30 and made our way to Gwithian, from where we followed a National Trust sign along a minor road around to a parking area with a wonderful view of Godrevy Lighthouse.  I had only ever seen the lighthouse from a distance before.  It was a lovely sunny day, and with the lighthouse in one direction and endless stretches of surf  looking towards St Ives in the other, I was captivated by the view.  Godrevy Point is an excellent spot for looking out for dolphins and porpoises, and Mutton Cove is home to a large colony of Grey Seals.  The lighthouse was started in 1858 and lies on a small island just off Godrevy Point.  The main purpose of the lighthouse is to warn seafarers off a reef called the Stones reef, a long-standing hazard to shipping.

Gwithian beach is backed by sand dunes and is set among the Gwithian Towans Local Nature Reserve, also designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its diverse flora and fauna, including skylarks and butterflies, guillemots, razorbills and cormorants, while Common Seals can be seen near the beach.  The word ‘Towan’ comes from the Cornish ‘tewyn’, meaning sandhill or dune.  The surfers who flock here are catered for by a couple of laid-back cafes, one of which occupies a former 19^th century coastguard lookout.  There are also rock pools and caves for the kids to explore.  

Map of the area. 

Godrevy Lighthouse, by Barbara Ashley