Godrevy, NE of Hayle, is a National Trust owned stretch of coast with a famous lighthouse.
The name Godrevy comes from the plural of "godref", which means hut or homestead. Godrevy Island has been the site of many shipwrecks. The most famous being after Charles I's execution ship carrying much of his property was wrecked here, and the royal belongings scattered along the coast. Artifacts from SS Kintuck, sunk 1917, are at the Shipwreck Museum in Charlestown . Not far from the remains of the Mohegan are those of the Spyridion Vagliano, a 1708-ton steamer, laden with grain from the Black Sea for Falmouth, hit the Voices in the dark on 8 February, 1890, ripped a hole in her 258ft-long hull, and then bounced off to the north. Her crew abandoned her at once. Her captain was drowned when his boat overturned at midnight on Godrevy Cove beach.
The Godrevy lighthouse dates from 1857, and was the inspiration for Virginia Woolf's book "To the Lighthouse" Godrevy Headland is owned by the National Trust, and has a long history of human settlement right back to the middle Stone Age.
The earthwork at Godrevy Head is believed to have been constructed against the threat of the Spanish Armada in 1588.
The Towans have yielded archaeological evidence of a middle and late Bronze Age culture.
If you watch the sea today, you will sea a reddening of the sea from the Red River, which carries with it washings from inland mine workings.
The National Trust owns the coastline from Godrevy to Navax Point. The main beach below the summer car park connects to Gwithian Beach, forming a sweep of unbroken sand around the edge of St Ives bay. There is open access for miles of walking. Seals are a common sight and guillemot, razorbill, fulmar and cormorant breed on the cliffs
Godrevy has a rocky beach opposite the island lighthouse, with good surfing conditions.The Red River discolouration is not harmful. The beach is perfectly safe if you keep away from the stretch of water between the island and the mainland, because of the strong tides and currents there. There is a large car park and a lifeguard on duty during summer months. No dogs permitted on the beach.