Godrevy Point to Navax Point

Godrevy is seal watching country, and it’s worth taking binoculars with you – they're useful for spotting sea birds as well. The headland stands at the northern end of a long swathe of golden sand that runs for 3 miles (4.8km) from the mouth of the Hayle River and marks the eastern arm of St Ives Bay.

To the lighthouse

Godrevy is an inspiring place, not least for the dramatic lighthouse that lies offshore on the rocky Godrevy Island. The light warns shipping of the long reef called The Stones that extends out to sea for over 2 miles (3.2km). Today the lighthouse is automated and no lighthouse keepers occupy the tall, handsome building or cultivate the kitchen garden within its walled compound. Godrevy Light inspired the novelist Virginia Woolf, who spent many family holidays in St Ives. The headland is made up of two blunt-faced promontories, which are backed by sweeping grassland. The National Trust owns most of the this today.

Grey seals

There are very high cliffs at Godrevy, a dramatic contrast to the wide sweep of sand that lies due south and projects for nearly 0.5 miles (800m) inland at Gwithian. The cliffs are notably high along the eastern edge of the headland, bordering an area known as The Knavocks. A subsidiary headland here is called Navax Point. Large numbers of grey seals may often be seen, hauled out at the base of the headland’s cliffs – especially at Mutton Cove, just east of Godrevy Point (the headland directly opposite Godrevy Island). The grey seal is Britain’s commonest. At one time the seals happily gathered, bred and gave birth to their pups on the beaches that are now so popular with human holidaymakers. Over the years the seals have retreated to sea caves, rocky islands and the less accessible shores – they should be left in peace, so please avoid disturbing them.

Join the coastal footpath at the seaward edge of the car park and go right. Go over a stile and keep straight ahead on the main path. Keep right at a fork in 50yds (46m). Follow a well-defined path that eventually leads along the edge of the cliff. Pass above Mutton Cove, where you may see grey seals.

Go through a gate and into a field. In about 100yds (92m) leave the main path and follow a grassy path diagonally right across the field.

About 20yds (20m) before a trig point, take a narrow path to the right, and keep straight ahead where the path widens. Join a track and turn left. Reach a wooden field gate and take the narrow path leading left. Meet the coast path and turn left.

Follow the stony path round the headland of The Knavocks. Continue across a field and go through the gate previously encountered at Point 2. Retrace your outgoing route along the cliff top.

Reach a fenced section of the cliff edge, and in a few paces turn left down a grassy track to return to the car park.