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St Martin's Head

Coastal Feature, Headland, Point in Cornwall

England

St Martin's Head

Trig pillar
Trig pillar Credit: Alex McGregor

St Martin's Head is a prominent headland located on the southern coast of Cornwall, England. It is situated approximately 3 miles east of Lizard Point, which is the southernmost point of mainland Great Britain. This coastal feature is known for its stunning natural beauty and its significance as a navigational landmark.

The headland is characterized by its rugged cliffs, which reach heights of up to 100 meters above sea level. These cliffs provide breathtaking views of the surrounding coastline and the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. The area is also dotted with numerous sea caves and rock formations, adding to its scenic appeal.

St Martin's Head is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. The headland offers several walking trails that allow visitors to explore its diverse natural habitats, including heathland, grasslands, and coastal scrub. These habitats support a wide range of plant and animal species, including rare and protected ones.

In addition to its natural beauty, St Martin's Head is of historical and cultural importance. The headland is home to an ancient chapel dedicated to St Martin, which dates back to the 12th century. This chapel has been a place of worship for centuries and attracts pilgrims and tourists alike.

Overall, St Martin's Head is a stunning coastal feature that offers a unique combination of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and recreational opportunities. Whether it is for a leisurely walk along the cliffs, a visit to the historic chapel, or to simply take in the breathtaking views, this headland is a must-see destination for anyone visiting Cornwall.

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St Martin's Head Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 49.966365/-6.266109 or Grid Reference SV9416. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Trig pillar
Trig pillar
A track on eastern St Martin’s The track runs uphill from the eastern end of Higher Town Bay to the Chapel Down and the Daymark.
A track on eastern St Martin’s
The track runs uphill from the eastern end of Higher Town Bay to the Chapel Down and the Daymark.
The Daymark From within the ruins of the Admiralty signal station of 1805. The signal station is included in the Scheduled Monument comprising the whole of Chapel down and is described thus: In 1804, an Admiralty signal station was built on northern Chapel Down to communicate with naval vessels by signal mast and to report on enemy shipping movements. It was decommissioned in 1815, superseded by semaphore operated from St Mary's. Its main building stands to 2.3m high in the north of a subrectangular enclosure 38m long, NNW-SSE, by up to 21m wide. List Entry Number:1016508 <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1016508?section=official-list-entry" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1016508?section=official-list-entry">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> The Daymark is separately listed Grade II* List Entry Number:1141204 <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1141204?section=official-list-entry" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1141204?section=official-list-entry">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
The Daymark
From within the ruins of the Admiralty signal station of 1805. The signal station is included in the Scheduled Monument comprising the whole of Chapel down and is described thus: In 1804, an Admiralty signal station was built on northern Chapel Down to communicate with naval vessels by signal mast and to report on enemy shipping movements. It was decommissioned in 1815, superseded by semaphore operated from St Mary's. Its main building stands to 2.3m high in the north of a subrectangular enclosure 38m long, NNW-SSE, by up to 21m wide. List Entry Number:1016508 LinkExternal link The Daymark is separately listed Grade II* List Entry Number:1141204 LinkExternal link
Great Bay panorama On of the most beautiful spots on the islands.
Great Bay panorama
On of the most beautiful spots on the islands.
Great Ganilly, West Porth Great Ganilly (Cornish: Goonhyli Meur) is the largest of the Eastern Isles and consists of two hills joined together by a low sandy neck.
Great Ganilly, West Porth
Great Ganilly (Cornish: Goonhyli Meur) is the largest of the Eastern Isles and consists of two hills joined together by a low sandy neck.
Isles of Scilly, Nornour Nornour (Cornish: Ar No) consists of one hill covered in bracken. It lies to the north of Great Ganilly to which it is joined by a boulder causeway at low tide. There is a small area of heath on the hill with heather and bell heather.
Isles of Scilly, Nornour
Nornour (Cornish: Ar No) consists of one hill covered in bracken. It lies to the north of Great Ganilly to which it is joined by a boulder causeway at low tide. There is a small area of heath on the hill with heather and bell heather.
Rocky Ledge between Nornour and Great Ganilly Nornour (Cornish: Ar No) consists of one hill covered in bracken. It is connected to Great Ganilly by a boulder causeway during low tide. The pyramidal island in the background is Hanjague, which is approximately 1 kilometre away.
Rocky Ledge between Nornour and Great Ganilly
Nornour (Cornish: Ar No) consists of one hill covered in bracken. It is connected to Great Ganilly by a boulder causeway during low tide. The pyramidal island in the background is Hanjague, which is approximately 1 kilometre away.
The Eastern Isles, Nornour Nornour (Cornish: Ar No) consists of one hill covered in bracken. It lies to the north of Great Ganilly and is connected to it by a boulder causeway that is visible only during low tide. There is a small area of heath on the hill with heather and bell heather.
The Eastern Isles, Nornour
Nornour (Cornish: Ar No) consists of one hill covered in bracken. It lies to the north of Great Ganilly and is connected to it by a boulder causeway that is visible only during low tide. There is a small area of heath on the hill with heather and bell heather.
Isles of Scilly, Nornour Nornour (Cornish: Ar No) consists of one hill covered in bracken. It lies to the north of Great Ganilly to which it is joined by a boulder causeway at low tide.
Isles of Scilly, Nornour
Nornour (Cornish: Ar No) consists of one hill covered in bracken. It lies to the north of Great Ganilly to which it is joined by a boulder causeway at low tide.
Rocks on the North Coast of Nornour The Eastern Isles (Cornish: Enesow Goonhyli) are a group of twelve small uninhabited islands located to the south–east of St Martin's. The islands lie within the Isles of Scilly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, part of the Scilly Heritage Coast and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) first designated in 1971 for its flora and fauna (<span class="nowrap"><a title="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Isles" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Isles">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> Wikipedia).
Rocks on the North Coast of Nornour
The Eastern Isles (Cornish: Enesow Goonhyli) are a group of twelve small uninhabited islands located to the south–east of St Martin's. The islands lie within the Isles of Scilly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, part of the Scilly Heritage Coast and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) first designated in 1971 for its flora and fauna (LinkExternal link Wikipedia).
Isles of Scilly, Nornour The Eastern Isles (Cornish: Enesow Goonhyli) are a group of twelve small uninhabited islands located to the south–east of St Martin's. The islands lie within the Isles of Scilly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, part of the Scilly Heritage Coast and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) first designated in 1971 for its flora and fauna (<span class="nowrap"><a title="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Isles" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Isles">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> Wikipedia).
Isles of Scilly, Nornour
The Eastern Isles (Cornish: Enesow Goonhyli) are a group of twelve small uninhabited islands located to the south–east of St Martin's. The islands lie within the Isles of Scilly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, part of the Scilly Heritage Coast and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) first designated in 1971 for its flora and fauna (LinkExternal link Wikipedia).
Isles of Scilly Eastern Isles Looking through the gap between Nornour (on the right) and Great Ganilly.
Isles of Scilly Eastern Isles
Looking through the gap between Nornour (on the right) and Great Ganilly.
Seal Swimming in the Sea off Great Ganilly The Eastern Scilly Isles are one of three main grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) pupping areas.
Seal Swimming in the Sea off Great Ganilly
The Eastern Scilly Isles are one of three main grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) pupping areas.
Great Ganilly, Eastern Scilly Isles Great Ganilly (Cornish: Goonhyli Meur) is the largest of the Eastern Isles and consists of two hills joined together by a low sandy neck.
Great Ganilly, Eastern Scilly Isles
Great Ganilly (Cornish: Goonhyli Meur) is the largest of the Eastern Isles and consists of two hills joined together by a low sandy neck.
Grey Seals on the Beach at East Porth (Great Ganilly) The Eastern Scilly Isles are one of three main grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) pupping areas.
Grey Seals on the Beach at East Porth (Great Ganilly)
The Eastern Scilly Isles are one of three main grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) pupping areas.
Great Ganilly, East Porth The Eastern Scilly Isles are one of three main grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) pupping areas.
Great Ganilly, East Porth
The Eastern Scilly Isles are one of three main grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) pupping areas.
The Eastern Isles, Hanjague Hanjague (Cornish: An Wynjek, the windy one) is a sea stack approximately one kilometre north-east of Great Gannilly, and is the easternmost island in the archipelago. The island has no vegetation and is used as a roost by birds.
The Eastern Isles, Hanjague
Hanjague (Cornish: An Wynjek, the windy one) is a sea stack approximately one kilometre north-east of Great Gannilly, and is the easternmost island in the archipelago. The island has no vegetation and is used as a roost by birds.
St Martin's Daymark Erected in 1683, St Martin’s Daymark is the earliest surviving beacon in the British Isles. The 40 feet high stone beacon was built by Thomas Ekins, near the northeast corner of the island island of St Martin’s. Originally white, the beacon was later painted red and now boasts red and white bands. Its daymark is visible from miles away, situated as it is on one of the Isles of Scilly's highest points. It is a Grade II* listed building (List Entry Number:1141204 <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1141204" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1141204">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> Historic England).
St Martin's Daymark
Erected in 1683, St Martin’s Daymark is the earliest surviving beacon in the British Isles. The 40 feet high stone beacon was built by Thomas Ekins, near the northeast corner of the island island of St Martin’s. Originally white, the beacon was later painted red and now boasts red and white bands. Its daymark is visible from miles away, situated as it is on one of the Isles of Scilly's highest points. It is a Grade II* listed building (List Entry Number:1141204 LinkExternal link Historic England).
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St Martin's Head is located at Grid Ref: SV9416 (Lat: 49.966365, Lng: -6.266109)

Division: Isles of Scilly

Unitary Authority: Isles of Scilly

Police Authority: Devon and Cornwall

What 3 Words

///couches.rejoins.buzzards. Near St Martin's, Isles of Scilly

Nearby Locations

North Chapel St Martin's Head South Chapel

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 49.966365,-6.266109
Chapel Down
Place: locality
Lat/Long: 49.9645213/-6.2651179
OpenStreetMap
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St Martin's Head
Place: locality
Lat/Long: 49.9674429/-6.2657758
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Mullet Pool
Natural: bay
Lat/Long: 49.9635851/-6.2610873
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Northward Bight
Natural: bay
Lat/Long: 49.9655865/-6.2622675
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Southward Bight
Natural: bay
Lat/Long: 49.9649309/-6.2616345
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Pope's Hole
Natural: cave_entrance
Lat/Long: 49.964402/-6.2624195
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
St Martins Head
Description: OS trig pillar
Ele: 47.137
Man Made: survey_point
Note: Accurate location import for imagery offset calibration
Ref: 10
Source: Ordnance Survey (OGL)
Survey Point: pillar
Lat/Long: 49.9664239/-6.2660514
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.
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