A flying visit

Hannah Collin shares with us her mini adventure at Gwithian, as she showed her visiting friend around this stunning stretch of the north coast.

When her friend announced a flying visit to Cornwall, demanding to see ‘the best bit’, Hannah knew exactly where to go. “The decision to stay at Gwithian Towans, with its mixture of traditional chalets and contemporary beach houses, on the western side of St Ives bay, was not a difficult one. Gwithian is a fabulously long and very family friendly stretch of golden sand, with plentiful rock pools, great surf and lifeguards, all backed by miles of wild sand dunes.”

“…we made our way along the headland, with sun sparkling on the sea and no more than a brisk breeze”

“We started our mini-adventure with a fortifying breakfast at Sunset Surf Café, a laid back beach café and bar at the heart of the Gwithian Towans, next door to our beachside bolthole. I’d heard great things about the eggs Florentine there and they didn’t disappoint. The lunch menu looked fantastic, too! When we finished, Annabelle the owner recommended that we head to Godrevy headland to see the seals at Mutton Cove, so off we went!” An easy walk took the pair along Gwithian beach, over the locally named ‘Red River’ and around the gorgeous Godrevy headland. From here, you can see the iconic octagonal lighthouse, which was built in 1859 following the tragic wreck of the steamer Nile during a bad storm. “As we made our way along the headland, with sun sparkling on the sea and no more than a brisk breeze, it was difficult to imagine such a storm. Mutton Cove, just east of the headland, is inaccessible and thus the perfect home to scores of seals, and we weren’t disappointed! Some were basking in the spring sunshine, others in the sea, and some we didn’t even know were there, at least until they moved and we realised they weren’t rocks. As you can imagine, it was quite a sight for my city dwelling companion!”

After such a beautiful day spent on the north coast, it was clear that Hannah’s friend would be returning, and next time for more than just a fleeting visit.

“We headed back to Annabelle’s café and quickly booked ourselves in for a spot of summer surfing, something we’re both looking forward to. You can try more extreme sports here too, like stand-up paddle boarding and kitesurfing. Maybe next time!”