Cornwall

Godrevy to Hell's Mouth coastal walk

A view towards Godrevy lighthouse at sunset with cliffs to the right of the image — Godrevy Lighthouse at sunset | © National Trust Images/John Miller

Taking you around Godrevy headland to the dramatic Hell's Mouth and back again via exhilarating clifftop pathways and glorious ocean views, this trail also takes in the wonderful heathland of the Knavocks.

Near to

Godrevy

Start point

Godrevy National Trust car park, grid ref: SW583423

Address
Godrevy, Gwithian, near Hayle, TR27 5ED
Directions via Google Maps
Cycling
National Cycle Network Route 3 runs through nearby Hayle and Camborne.
Visit the Sustrans website
By train
Hayle station is 5 miles away (8km).
By bus
See timetables on Transport for Cornwall
By road
Godrevy is just north of Gwithian village and is signposted with a brown tourist sign from the B3301 coast road between Hayle and Portreath. Satnav: TR27 5ED.
Total stages: 12
Total stages: 12
Start point
Godrevy National Trust car park, grid ref: SW583423
Stage 1
From the car park by Godrevy Café and the wooden car park hut make your way along the boardwalk through the Towans (Cornish for sand dunes). Catch your first glimpses of St Ives Bay as you head out of the dunes and walk towards the lifeguard hut. Bear right and follow the path along the grassy clifftop.
Stage 2
Continue along the grassy clifftop as St Ives Bay opens up on your left. Look down to the beach on your left as you walk past the small parking area on your right.
Godrevy Lighthouse
Standing lonely on the reef known as the Stones, the lighthouse was built in 1859 following outcry due to the loss of all hands aboard the SS Nile, a steamer wrecked upon the rocks. At 26m high and with a range of 12 miles (19.2km), depending on the weather, the lighthouse was manned until 1934. The Garland, another steamer, was wrecked here on 30 January 1649, carrying the clothes and possessions of Prince Charles (later King Charles II) on the very same day King Charles I was executed. Of the 60 aboard only a man, a boy and a dog survived.
Stage 3
The path joins the road briefly, and then carries straight on where the road bends to the right. Take care to watch out for vehicles at this point. Follow the coast path along the clifftop with the sands of Godrevy Cove below you. Turn right by the path to the beach and head through the meadow field and up the stony slope towards the headland.
Stage 4
Allow the lighthouse to guide you up on to Godrevy Head. A good place to sit a while to enjoy the view. The path now bends right following round the headland as it leaves St Ives Bay heading east along the north Cornwall coastline.
Stage 5
Follow the established coast path, with the sea on your left and farmland on your right.
Stage 6
The next headland you will discover is called The Knavocks. The track is often muddy through the heathland, so tread carefully. Continue round the headland on this path and you'll reach a wooden stile, closely followed by a stone stile. This next field is often grazed by cattle. Walk through the field, over the stone stile by the farm gate and on to the wide, stony track.
Stage 7
Towards the end of this track turn left through the granite gateposts and follow the path as it winds close to the cliff edge. Continue on the path as it heads along the clifftop towards Hell's Mouth.
Stage 8
Hell's Mouth is the half-way point of the walk. The inlet below is certainly dramatic and it's easy to see why it got its fearsome name. After taking in the view it's time to turn round and head back the way you came, this time keeping the sea on your right as you walk back up the slope.
Stage 9
Follow the path back along the clifftop and then round the short dog-leg just before joining the wide stony track. Continue along the track with the cliffs on your right and the farm fields on your left.
Stage 10
As you reach the end of the track, carry straight on over the stone stile next to the farm gate and into the field. Go through the field and over the two stiles back on to the Knavocks. Several paths run through the Knavocks so you could venture 'off road' if you want to explore. Otherwise, stay on the coast path until you're about to start rounding the curve of the headland, here you can turn left up the path towards the trig point.
Stage 11
At the trig point you can just see over into Mount's Bay on the south coast, with glimpses of the top of St Michael's Mount. Continue on past the trig point and rejoin the main path. Go through the gate and carry on along the path towards Godrevy headland.
Heathland plants
Heathland plants love nutrient-poor soil and thrive on the harsh wind blasted clifftops around here. With just over two per cent of the world's lowland heathland, Cornwall's heathland is important on a global scale. The mix of heathers, gorse, grasses, flowering plants and bare ground is home to a surprising number of animals from bees, birds and butterflies to lizards, adders and foxes. Without management, such as cutting and grazing, heathland will slowly lose its rare plants and animals as gorse and young trees start to take over.
Stage 12
Heading back towards Godrevy Head you can either retrace your steps around the headland, or take the path on the left through the fields to join back up with the coast path above Godrevy Cove. Follow the path past the path to the beach and back along the low clifftop towards the lifeguard hut. Just past the lifeguard hut, turn left and follow the wooden boardwalk path through the dunes and back to the car park and refreshments at Godrevy Café.
End point
Godrevy National Trust car park, grid ref: SW583423
Trail map
A map of the Godrevy to Hell's Mouth coastal walk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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godrevy@nationaltrust.org.uk

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