Godrevy Lighthouse, Maritime lighthouse in St Ives Bay, Cornwall
Godrevy Lighthouse is a white octagonal tower standing 26 meters tall on an island about 300 meters from the Cornwall mainland. The structure marks the dangerous Stones reef and now operates on solar power, with its main light relocated to a steel platform in 2012.
Construction of the lighthouse followed the 1854 wreck of the steamer Nile, prompted by petitions from local seaman Richard Short to Trinity House. The tower was built in direct response to this maritime disaster and the recognized danger posed by the reef.
The lighthouse inspired Virginia Woolf's novel 'To the Lighthouse' following her 1892 visit to the Cornwall coast. The book brought the location wider attention beyond its maritime role and continues to draw visitors curious about this literary connection.
The island is visible from the mainland and accessible on foot at low tide, though you should check tide tables before visiting. The location sits in St Ives Bay with good access options from nearby coastal paths.
Three lighthouse keepers maintained the beacon manually until 1934, when automation took over and the original fog bell fell silent. This shift to automated lighting marked a major turning point in how this stretch of coast was protected.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
