Project

Our work to fight coastal erosion at Godrevy

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

Global warming, weather conditions, farming methods and visitor numbers are all taking their toll on the fragile Cornish coast. With access to the headland and farm at Godrevy becoming threatened by coastal erosion, the National Trust is drawing up plans to combat cliff fall and protect the landscape.

The challenges at Godrevy

Godrevy has one of the National Trust's busiest coastal car parks, with more than 250,000 vehicles logged each year. The volume of cars presents great challenges in terms of how we can manage the fragile coastal grassland and archaeological remains, which are easily damaged.

With coastal erosion undermining the single access road to Godrevy headland, access to the main parking area is under threat. This may jeopardise our ability to provide parking for large numbers of visitors in the future.

A changing scene

The latest geological surveys estimate that the road may become unsafe in a relatively short time – possibly within the next five years. Photos from the 1960s show that there's been a process of constant change at Godrevy over the past 60 years.

We have to ask ourselves: how will images taken five years from now look?

A view over the headland at Godrevy in the 1960s — The coast at Godrevy in the 1960s | © National Trust

Planning for the future

We're currently looking at options to provide continued access for the future while also exploring how we can improve facilities for visitors. A pre-application has been submitted to the local planning authority to gain a steer in principle, before we take the next step of working up the details.

If you have any questions, or comments please drop us a line at godrevy@nationaltrust.org.uk.

You can find out more about the challenges we face at Godrevy by watching this short film. Learn about how the softening of the ground caused by rainfall affects the coast and how cliff falls are surprisingly common during the summer months.