Godrevy Rockpool: a slice of the Mediterranean in Cornwall

A deep blue pool sits on the rockshelf with stunning views out to the iconic Godrevy Lighthouse. Surrounding the pool are numerous smaller tidal pools and rock channels, which could be mistaken for somewhere in the Mediterranean on a sunny day.

If you pass by on the coastal path above, it can look like an inaccessible paradise, but if you know where to look you’ll find the scramble down is relatively easy. It should be saved for a dry day when the rock is grippy allowing safe passage onto the rock shelf.

Here’s how to find the Godrevy rockpools.

The walk to the Godrevy Rockpools

The stats

Distance: 450m (0.3 miles) each way
Elevation gain: 50m
Difficulty: Moderate due to the scramble
Trailhead: Godrevy Headland Car Park, National Trust

The required tide and swell

As with all rockpools, accessing them is entirely dependent on the tide and swell. For the main rockpool you can visit around 3 hours either side of low tide and it’s set far enough back from the sea that a slight - moderate swell is fine.

Don’t go when it’s rough as large waves could crash into the pool. If you want to swim in the channels, it’s best 2 hours either side of low tide and when the swell is slight.

You can swim in the channels outside of this tide, but the water colour becomes darker and access is less straightforward unless you like jumping in and climbing out again.

The trail

From the Godrevy Headland car park (full details below) you need to head onto the coastal path and after 50m turn left at the stone stile/gap in the wall.

Follow the cliffline on a flat well maintained path and don’t take any track heading uphill. You’ll see the main rockpool below you and hopefully a twinkling turquoise rock channel too (the colour is tide and weather dependent).

At the 280m mark you will see the trail fork (it’s by the third oyster catcher sign). Heading right will take you along the coast path, left will take you to the rockpool platform. From here you have a 70m rock scramble to reach the rock shelf.

It is quite steep but well tiered. There is one very short (few steps) which have been worn smooth and is a little slippery so go carefully.

The rest is on very grippy rock provided you have good shoes or go barefoot. Personally I took my usual tack which is to sit and lower myself down at the steepest points for that added bit of security.

It takes just a couple of minutes to get down and less than half the downclimb feels a touch exposed, the rest has the reassurance of the cliff wall if needed.

In reverse the climb is easy. There’s no feeling of possible forwards momentum and excellent hand and foot placements throughout - again provided it’s not wet when the rock could become slippery.

Once down at the rock shelf the main rockpool is to the left and the smaller rockpool and turquoise rock channel is to the right.

The main Godrevy Rockpool

The large deep blue rockpool can be found 50m to the left of the bottom of the scramble. You’ll traverse the rock shelf, which is quite easy, but made more enjoyable with shoes as you will find sharp bits of rock around.

Once you reach the pool you will find yourself in what appears to be the barnacles’ stronghold and you need to carefully make your way across the encrusted rocks to the edge of the water.

However, once you reach the pool, getting in is easy, you can simply sit down and step into shallow water and then you can swim off almost immediately.

The pool looked so much smaller from above, there’s actually a lot of room to swim and the water is a deep blue with excellent clarity.

It’s so deep that you don’t need to worry about rocks and can enjoy a long leisurely swim completely cut off from any currents making it a great choice if you’re not a massive fan of swimming in the sea.

The views are gorgeous, it’s definitely one of my favourite rockpools in Cornwall. Though there were plenty of people around on our visit in July, no one swam in the pool, preferring the rock channels to the left and right, so I got the whole thing to myself which was very special.

The rock channels

The channel I swam in with the turquoise water is 50m north of the main rockpool and you’ll see it after the initial scramble down to the rock platform, it’s only a minute’s walk from the bottom.

If you’re keen on seeing the turquoise colour (in the sunshine only!), it’s best two hours either side of low tide. Otherwise the water gets darker, though it’s still beautiful. When the water rises it gets choppier too.

Though people did jump in, I personally chose to do ‘the squeeze’ instead. To do this you walk to the far end of the rocks beside the channel (the first side you’ll come to from the scramble) and walk onto the pebbly ‘beach’.

There is then a narrow gap between the rocks you can shimmy through to get into the pool. Even when the swell is slight some waves will enter this area, so keep an eye on those as you do it.

There’s a bit of shallow water and then it’s deep enough to swim when you reach the wider part.

The water clarity is superb and the pebbly bottom means it glitters turquoise. It really does look like somewhere in the Mediterranean.

There are waves and current so it’s not as relaxing as the rockpool, but it’s still very manageable on a slight swell.

Behind this pool, reached by climbing up the rocks close to the squeeze (or further behind if you want a shallower route) you will find a tiny but glorious blue rockpool.

It’s only big enough for a float, but the colour is really special. It has a steeper entry point than the main rockpool so it won’t necessarily be for everyone.

There’s also another rock channel to the left of the main rockpool too, though with trickier access unless you like jumping from the cliffs. My preferred way is to swim round from the turquoise rock channel if the sea is calm as I’m no jumper!

The water here is stunning and there’s plenty of room to swim, but it’s also exposed to the waves and current in the same way the other channel is, so you do want a slight swell here ideally.

Keep them wild

Please remember to take all rubbish with you and keep these places wild and pristine - as with anywhere in the outdoors. It’s important to leave them exactly as you found them so they will remain beautiful for generations to come.

Litter tends to breed litter, so if you do spot any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the area, it will go a long way to keeping the area clean.

Where to park for the Godrevy Rockpool

There are two National Trust operated car parks at Godrevy, you want the second of the two, at the headland, postcode TR27 5ED, you can see it here on Google maps.

If you’re not a member you can see the current charges at the prices tab on this page. There’s a large amount of space at the car park as well as a toilet.

Godrevy is located 45 minutes from Newquay and around 50 minutes from Falmouth and Lizard.