Godrevy lighthouse, Cornwall

Godrevy lighthouse

Godrevy is a spectacular stretch of North Cornwall coastline that is owned and managed by the National Trust. At the North end of the beach, where this panorama was shot there is an abundance of rocky outcrops which, at low tide provide shady picnic spots and the opportunity to explore rockpools. It's also a popular spot for climbing and bouldering.

Directly ahead you can see Godrevy lighthouse, which was built in 1859 to protect shipping from a dangerous reef called the Stones which extends across the bay in the direction of St Ives. The solar powered lighthouse is automatic and is controlled by Trinity House from its operations control centre in Harwich. It is believed to have been an influence in Virginia Woolf's novel To the Lighthouse. Although the book's lighthouse is in Scotland, as a child Woolf regularly holidayed with her family in St Ives, where they owned a house.

Behind you to the South the rocks give way to a vast expanse of sandy beach which extends to Gwithian, Hayle and beyond to St Ives Bay. In the summer Godrevy is a popular spot with tourists but, because of its size, the beach is rarely crowded. It's one of Cornwall's best surfing beaches and often picks up a westerly swell when other locations are very small to flat.

During the summer the beaches at Godrevy and Gwithian are lifeguarded by the RNLI.