Black Rock

Island in Cornwall

England

Black Rock

Sandymouth Holiday Resort Credit: Charli

Black Rock is a small island located off the coast of Cornwall, England. Situated in the Celtic Sea, it is approximately 1.5 miles southeast of the town of Portreath. The island covers an area of around 8 acres and has a maximum elevation of 135 feet above sea level.

Black Rock is known for its rugged beauty and dramatic cliffs that surround its perimeter. The island is predominantly composed of granite, which gives it a distinctive dark appearance, hence its name. The cliffs are home to a variety of seabirds, including kittiwakes, fulmars, and guillemots, making it a popular spot for birdwatching enthusiasts.

Access to Black Rock is limited due to its remote location and treacherous waters. However, during low tide, it is possible to reach the island on foot by crossing a rocky causeway. Visitors are advised to check the tide times and exercise caution when attempting the crossing, as the causeway can become submerged at high tide.

In addition to its natural beauty, Black Rock is also steeped in history. It is believed to have been inhabited since prehistoric times, with evidence of Bronze Age settlements found on the island. The ruins of a small chapel dedicated to St. Helen can also be found, dating back to the 13th century.

Overall, Black Rock offers a unique and captivating experience for nature lovers and history enthusiasts alike. Its picturesque cliffs, diverse wildlife, and historical significance make it a must-visit destination for those exploring the Cornwall coastline.

Show me another place!

If you have any feedback on the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

Black Rock Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 50.861193/-4.5579339 or Grid Reference SS2009. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Sandymouth Holiday Resort

Charli

Car Park at Sandy Mouth

Viewed from up on the hills, looking down onto the car park at Sandy Mouth.

Oscar Taylor

Sandy Mouth Beach

The beach at Sandy Mouth from the cliff.

Oscar Taylor

Ordnance Survey Cut Mark

This OS cut mark can be found on the roadside barn at Stowe Barton. It marks a point 102.376m above mean sea level.

Adrian Dust

Ordnance Survey Cut Mark

This OS cut mark can be found on the west parapet of King William's Bridge. It marks a point 21.199m above mean sea level.

Adrian Dust

Low tide at Northcott Mouth

The tide has turned and is starting to come in.

Julian P Guffogg

Sandy Mouth on a misty day

This is a strip of sand below cliffs. Much of the country was basking in sunshine, but this part of the North Cornish coast was misty - it cleared in the afternoon.

David Hawgood

Shipwreck remains at Menachurch Point

Walking down the beach in the mist we suddenly came across these rusting iron remains of a ship. As we walked on we saw the prop shaft, then the boiler, laid out along the sand.

David Hawgood

Boiler and propeller shaft of wreck, Menachurch Point

This wreck can be seen at very low tides - this was spring tide of a new moon in April. We bought a tide table from the Inn on the Green pub the night before to make sure we would be able to walk from Sandy Mouth to Bude on the beach. Pity about the mist!

David Hawgood

Mussels near Menachurch Point

On rocks at low tide.

David Hawgood

Low tide at Sandy Mouth

Low tide was at 14.46 on this day; the picture being taken just two minutes before this time. Ahead stretches the Atlantic Ocean.

Peter Kazmierczak

Heavy sky at Sandymouth Bay, near Bude, Cornwall

Derek Voller

Beach at Sandy Mouth Bay

Looking more or less north along the beach at relatively low tide, towards one of the radio dishes of the GCHQ Satellite Station at Morwenstow.

Richard Law

Warren Long Beach

The map assigns names to several stretches of sand along here, of which we are approaching Warren Long Beach a little way north of Sandy Mouth Bay.

Richard Law

On Warren Little Beach

These colonies of honeycomb worms (Sabellaria alveolata) decorate the tidal rocks along a stretch of the coast here.

Richard Law

Internal structure of a honeycomb worm colony

One of many colonies on the rocks here; this one's suffered a little at the hands of a storm which has broken a large chunk off, exposing the interior. Each tube contains a single worm of the species Sabellaria alveolata, and is roughly 10-12" long. The worm settles into the colony after 5 or 6 weeks as a drifting larva, and then spends the rest of its life filter-feeding from the upper end of the tube (and presumably extending it to solidify the colony)

Richard Law