- Best for
- Lessons, improvers, experienced surfers
- Break
- Exposed beach break with rock near the headland
- Lifeguards
- Seasonal
- Dogs
- Seasonal restrictions on parts — check the map
- Parking
- Gwithian and National Trust Godrevy
- Wildlife
- Seals at Mutton Cove
Cornwall beach guide
Gwithian & Godrevy at a glance
Gwithian and Godrevy share the north-eastern end of St Ives Bay, where around three miles of sand runs from the Hayle river mouth to the Red River at Godrevy. The Red River gets its name from the mining waste that once stained its water. Beyond it is Godrevy Point, with the lighthouse on Godrevy Island just offshore. First lit in 1859 to mark the Stones reef, it's the light Virginia Woolf visited in 1892 and which is said to have inspired To the Lighthouse.
At low tide there's a huge amount of sand, with big areas of rock pools and some caves to explore. Gwithian and Godrevy are really opposite ends of the same beach, but they have separate car parks, cafés and walks, so pick your end before you set off. The dunes behind, Gwithian Towans, are protected for wildlife and cover a long history, including an excavated Bronze Age farm and an early chapel that the shifting sand uncovered and then buried again.
This is one of west Cornwall's most consistent surf zones, and it gets busy with lessons in summer. The waves generally get bigger the closer you are to Godrevy, so you can often find something to suit your level just by walking along the beach. RNLI lifeguards patrol in season. Grey seals haul out in Mutton Cove below the headland; watch them from the clifftop and never go down to them.
Surf guide
Surfing Gwithian & Godrevy
Gwithian faces into St Ives Bay and picks up most north-coast swell, which is why it's so consistent. On a good day it gives long, walling lefts and rights, with the chance of something hollower around low tide. Size builds towards Godrevy, and so does the influence of rock near the headland.
The classic recipe is a medium-sized north-coast swell with a southerly or easterly wind; south-east is straight offshore. The beach is very open, so wind direction makes a big difference. Peaks move with the sandbanks, so take time to watch before you paddle out.
All levels
Smaller waves towards Gwithian, bigger towards Godrevy. Walk the beach to find what suits you.
South-easterly offshore
Southerly to easterly winds clean it up; it's very exposed to anything onshore.
Rocks towards Godrevy
Rock reefs, pools and caves near the headland. Stay in the flagged areas when lifeguards are on duty.
Learn & hire
Surf lessons and hire at Gwithian & Godrevy
Gwithian Academy of Surfing
Teaches at Gwithian and Godrevy, Cornwall.
Compare lessonsGlobal Boarders
Teaches at Gwithian and Praa Sands, Cornwall.
Compare lessonsGlobal Boarders Surf Hire
Equipment, published prices and where to collect — see the full hire profile.
See hire detailsSurf schools marked 'Listed on Surfbooker' have profiles on this site with lesson formats and current-price guidance; Surfbooker passes enquiries on but has not reviewed them in person.
Parking, facilities & safety
Know before you go
Gwithian or National Trust Godrevy
At Gwithian there's parking between the road and the beach, with a path through the dunes to the sand. At Godrevy, the National Trust runs a year-round car park with limited spaces, an overflow field in warmer months (weather and ground permitting) and a small area on the way up to the headland. National Trust members park free but need to register.
Cafés at both ends
There's a café and beach shop by Gwithian's main car park. At Godrevy, the café (not run by the National Trust) sits near the beach, and toilets, including an accessible one, are in the field car park on the headland.
Seasonal RNLI patrol
Swim between the red and yellow flags and surf between the black and white flags. Check the RNLI website for this year's dates.
July and August daytime ban
Cornwall Council prohibits dogs on the beach from Harveys Towans to Godrevy Point from 10am to 6pm, 1 July to 31 August.
B3301, bus or train
Godrevy is just off the B3301 north of Gwithian village. Hayle station is about five miles away, and buses stop in Gwithian, from where it's a quarter of a mile to a mile on foot depending on where you start.
Accommodation
Where to stay near Gwithian & Godrevy
Campsites, holiday parks and cottages sit behind the Towans, with Hayle and St Ives nearby.
On Surfbooker
The Godrevy Beach Hotel
View accommodationGwithian Farm Campsite
A campsite in the middle of Gwithian village, opposite the Red River Inn, with pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes laid out among landscaped.
View accommodationThe Old Quay House, Hayle
View accommodationThe White Hart Hotel, Hayle
View accommodationUpton Towans holiday cottages
View accommodationThe Beachcomber, Gwithian
View accommodationThe Penellen Bed and Breakfast
A guest house at Riviere Towans in Phillack, on the Hayle side of St Ives Bay, offering room-only en-suite bedrooms, some with balconies, and a separate.
View accommodationCornish Gems (Gwithian homes)
Cornish Gems runs a small collection of self-catering homes at Gwithian, several set in the dunes behind the beach and one on the edge of the nature.
View accommodationSurfbooker only marks a stay as reviewed when we have stayed there ourselves. Other listings are researched or owner-supplied; check rates, board storage and cancellation terms directly.
Beyond the surf
Things to do around Gwithian & Godrevy
Mutton Cove seals
A National Trust viewpoint above the cove.
Godrevy Point
Views of Godrevy Lighthouse on its island.
Travel
Getting to Gwithian & Godrevy
From Hayle
About 10 minutes via the B3301.
Worth the short drive
Nearby beaches and places
FAQs
Gwithian & Godrevy: quick answers
Can I see seals at Godrevy?
Yes, grey seals often haul out in Mutton Cove below the headland. Watch from the clifftop, keep your distance and keep dogs on leads.
Should I go to Gwithian or Godrevy?
It's the same stretch of sand, but the access is different. Gwithian is handy for the village cafés and dune paths; Godrevy has National Trust parking, the headland walks and the lighthouse views. Waves are usually a little bigger at the Godrevy end.
Can dogs go on the beach?
Yes, apart from 10am to 6pm between 1 July and 31 August, when Cornwall Council bans dogs from Harveys Towans to Godrevy Point.
Can I walk to Hayle along the beach?
The sand runs for about three miles from the Red River to the Hayle river mouth. Keep an eye on the tide, and stay well away from the estuary channel at the Hayle end.
Sources
How we checked this guide
Surfbooker desk research, checked October 2026. This guide is based on official and operator sources listed below, not on a personal visit. Parking charges, lifeguard dates, dog rules and opening times change — always check the latest information before you travel.
- National Trust — Godrevy
- Cornwall Council — dogs on beaches (restrictions table)
- RNLI — find a lifeguarded beach
- Visit Cornwall TV — Gwithian Towans Beach
- Wikipedia — Godrevy Lighthouse
- Wikipedia — Gwithian
Photo: Trevor Rickard, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. All image credits.