Accessibility at Godrevy
- Published:
- 20 August 2024
A very popular coastal site with a series of sandy beaches at the far end of St Ives Bay. Views to St Ives, Godrevy Lighthouse and the North Cliffs. The headland is coastal heathland, rich in plant and wildlife. Seals can often be seen out at sea or hauled up at Mutton Cove.
Arrival and parking
There are three parking areas:
- the first car park with 100 spaces including 6 disabled spaces. This is 400 metres from the entrance to the site and next to the café
- the small second car park with two disabled spaces. This is 500 metres further into the site along a single-track road – this has two disabled spaces and room for a further 14 vehicles
- the headland parking at the farthest end of the site, next to the toilet block. With space for up to 700 vehicles, this area is open at times during spring and summer, dependent on local weather and ground conditions
Members, motorcycles and blue badge holders park for free. There are pay and display machines on site in each area for everyone else to pay, and we ask members to scan your cards please too. Cash payment also available here.
Mobile phone signal is patchy across Cornwall, so it's advisable to download the PayByPhone app before you arrive. Please get the app from your app store to ensure that it's the genuine app.
Moving around the site
There are no officially designated wheelchair-friendly routes on this site as the surface and gradients of the paths vary such a lot.
However, on the headland there is a fairly level and even wide path leading up from the parking fields to Mutton Cove. The surface is flattened loose gravel.
Route to Red River and Godrevy beach
Take the path near the café and P&D machine no2 and walk down the steps towards the Red River.
Cross the bridge to the left of the bottom of the steps and go up over the shingle ridge on the other side to get to Godrevy Beach, a wide expanse of shingle and sand.
This area is a popular surfing spot.
South West Coast Path
The coast path runs between the sea and the narrow tarmac road through the site. In places the footpath is next to steep drops to the beach. The gradient, width and surface of the path varies.
There are some stretches of boardwalk and other areas are made of compacted earth, sand and stones. At places along the path there are signs warning visitors to keep well away from undercut cliffs.
Path to Mutton Cove
From the headland car park fields is a gently sloping track leading up to the Mutton Cove viewpoint where, at certain times of year, you are likely to see members of a seal colony hauled up on the beach far below.
Please keep back from the edges, that are undercut in places. Please also take note of the signs asking visitors to be quiet near the seals.
Facilities
There are public toilets near the headland car park at the far end of the site.
- There are no baby changing facilities
- There is an accessible toilet in the middle of this toilet block
- It is opened with a RADAR key
- Please note the tap water is NOT suitable for drinking.
Accessible toilet
- There are two shallow broad steps leading up to the concrete path to the accessible toilet
- There is also a gravelled slope leading up to the toilet with a small 2 cm lip as it joins on to the concrete path
- There is a handrail at waist level along the outside wall of the toilet block
- The door is 90 cm wide
- The toilet is left hand transfer and is 49 cm high
- There is a handrail at the side of the toilet. It is 90 cm high
- From the toilet, the left-hand wall is 41 cm away and the distance to the right is 75 cm
- There is an automatic hand wash/drier
- There is a sanitary bin
- There is an emergency pull cord
- There is a push button light switch at the door. It is 135 cm high.
- Natural light comes in through glass bricks at the back of the room
- There is a mirror and a tissue dispenser
- Please note the tap water is NOT suitable for drinking
There is a toilet at godrevy café, for customers only.
Places to eat
Next to the first car park is Godrevy Café serving light meals, snacks and drinks.
- The serving hatch it on the outside, ground floor level. This is a concession (not managed by the National Trust)
- The access to the café entrance is up a gently sloping path
- Customers queue to place their order, pay and collect their food
- There are picnic benches outside the café on the grass next to the car park
- There is a separate ice cream stand at the rear of the café which is open in high season
- There are picnic benches on an outside deck at the side of the café near the seasonal ice cream stand
- There is inside seating upstairs, this accessed via wooden steps outside. These have handrails, but are fairly steep and may not be suitable for those with mobility issues.
In the summer months there is also an ice cream van on the field area on the headland.
Visiting Godrevy
Discover what to consider when planning your visit to this sandy beach and its surrounding headland, including what facilities are available and the best places to park.