Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

The Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2011 - 2016

06 Godrevy to Portreath

(also known as "North Cliffs")

Location

North of Camborne between Navax Point in the west, the North Cliffs coast to the north, Tregea Hill to the east and the Red River to the south.

Extent

Approximately 650 hectares or just under 2.5 square miles making up 1% of the Cornwall AONB.

Statement of Significance

High cliffs of unstable soft Devonian slates, greywakes and siltstones are sculpted into small
coves, small islands and numerous rocky stacks by the relentless pounding of the Atlantic Ocean. At Hell’s Mouth and Hudder Cove precipitous drops fall sheer to the rocks and surf below. The coast at Godrevy Point however is softer in profile with a low rocky coast backed by gentle slopes just offshore of which is the low craggy outcrop of Godrevy Island topped by its landmark white lighthouse.

Behind the sharp cliff edge is a broad plateau. Unusually the land then slopes downwards away from the sea toward the valley of the Red River. This river flows parallel to the cliffs eventually emerging to cross open level ground near the coast adjacent to rounded stabilised sand dunes at Godrevy point and finally flows across the beach into the sea.

From the exposure of the open cliff tops there are panoramic views along the coast and inland that contrast with the enclosed intimacy of the valleys of the Red River and its tributaries. At Carvannel a single small local stream cascades through a notch in the cliffs to the rocky shore below.

The coastal plateau and landward slopes support mixed arable and pastoral farming. The mostly large, recently enclosed, rectangular fields enhance the impression of expansive openness close to the cliff tops. However toward the mouth of the Red River anciently enclosed land with its much smaller irregularly shaped fields creates a distinct change in scale and character. The surrounding low stone Cornish hedges are clothed by rough vegetation mixed with occasional wind sculpted blackthorn and hawthorn.

An almost continuous belt of coastal heath interspersed with other coarse vegetation creates
a varying texture that enhances the wildness of the abrupt cliff edge. Reaching close to these
cliffs the woodland plantations of Tehidy are windpruned to a low sloping outer edge by the salt laden winds but gradually achieve greater stature with the progressively increasing shelter of the Red River valley. In spring the sheltered partially ancient Sessile Oakwoods woods are spectacularly carpeted with bluebells.

Along the course of the Red River and its tributaries are other areas of mixed broadleaved woodlands adding to the seclusion and shelter along the valley. The stabilised sand dunes at Godrevy include countless broken sea shells resulting in calcareous sandy soils where colourful flora such as cowslips thrive amongst the rough unenclosed grassland. The rocky coast of Godrevy Head is renowned for its readily observable and spectacular seal colonies.

Due to its geology, coastal land here is largely free of known historic mining remains unlike the adjacent AONB sections to the east and west. It is however rich in other important archaeological features including vestiges of prehistoric settlements and fortifications. Unusually it is along the course of the Red River valley that significant early industrial archaeology is found dating from the medieval period onward and possibly far earlier.

Settlement is sparse and limited to scattered dwellings and a few farmhouses. The only exception being the edge of Portreath which lies just inside the AONB boundary. Small quiet lanes and tracks connect the fields and dwellings whilst the still rural B3301 provides ready access to the numerous popular small informal car park view points adjacent to the cliff top coast path. At Tehidy the designed ornamental landscape and drives and the extensive and partially ancient sessile oak woodland is accessible by the many footpaths associated with
its current use as a popular Country Park.

Management

• The National Trust manage most of the coastal land including car parks, a café, toilets and the access road to Godrevy Head. Grazing by ponies is used to maintain coastal heathland.

• Gwinear – Gwithian Parish Plans have been prepared.

• Tehidy Country Park is managed by Cornwall Council who run educational and environmental activities.

• The Towans Partnership seeks to address local issues some of which affect the AONB.

• Cornwall Biodiversity Initiative aims include linking up non designated sites – such as native
broadleaved valley woodlands.

• The AONB coastline is included in the Godrevy head to St Agnes SSSI.

Condition

• Some of the existing visitor development in the AONB at Godrevy and Hell’s Mouth is out of
character.

• It is anticipated that the access road to the car park at Godrevy Point will be severed by coastal erosion.

• At the Red River valley the historic environment and woodland not within Tehidy Country Park lack management.

• This section of the AONB includes the greatest proportion of SSSI land in ‘favourable’ condition.

• Developing broadleaved woodland along the Red River valley outside Tehidy Country Park is largely unmanaged and includes colonisation by sycamore.

• Coastal rough ground is in places subject to developing scrub growth.

Godrevy to Portreath - Guiding Principles

It is intended that these local guiding principles will support the actions of the AONB Partnership and other stakeholders and that their actions will be informed by them. Note: Some local issues may be addressed by strategic policies.

GP06.1	Seek measures for the enhancement of the appearance of visitor developments and their setting at Godrevy and Hell’s Mouth consistent with local vernacular for example, including locally characteristic use of killas in hedging and walling and granite detailing.
GP06.2	Seek Community Infrastructure Levies and developer contributions for management initiatives within the AONB and Green Infrastructure links to the AONB from an early stage of proposals for urban expansion at Camborne, Pool, Illogan, Redruth (CPIR) and Hayle
GP06.3	Seek protection of undeveloped and sparsely settled rural character and open views, free of tall structures.
GP06.4	Seek conservation and enhancement of the rural character of all lanes and roads including the B3301 through the retention of hedges, narrow winding character and low levels of signage.
GP06.5	Support relocation of the car park at Godrevy Point in the light of the anticipated future severance of the access road by the sea and restore the headland to natural coastal habitats.
GP06.6	Seek improvement in the landscape integration of all locations used for visitor car parking including those at Godrevy and along the B3301 and North Cliffs.
GP06.7	Seek use of locally characteristic slate in new stiles and steps and other rights of way works in a manner consistent for example with those found near Godrevy Point in order to reinforce local character along the coast path and other footpaths. Consider new design solutions that enhance access for those with mobility impairments.
GP06.8	Support awareness-raising and a sense of ownership and responsibility for the AONB in the communities of nearby settlements including Camborne, Pool, Redruth, Illogan, Hayle, and Portreath.
GP06.9	Support measures to reduce anti-social behaviour such as fly tipping, fires and dumping of cars at coastal car parks such as Tehidy North Cliffs, Godrevy and smaller informal parking along the B3301.
GP06.10	Support a landscape scale approach to the integrated management of the historic and natural environments including linking across and beyond the AONB existing habitats such as native lowland mixed deciduous and particularly Sessile Oak woodland; coastal sand dunes; rivers; maritime cliffs and slopes; lowland meadows favourable to birds; lowland heathland and reedbeds.