Gribbin Head Circular Walk
This circular walk explores Gribbin Head on the Cornish coast. The prominent headland near Fowey offers sweeping views over St Austell Bay, the English Channel, and the surrounding countryside.
You start off at the headland car park and then coastal paths along dramatic cliff edges before heading inland through fields and wooded areas. The headland is best known for its distinctive red-and-white striped Gribbin Tower, a navigation aid built in 1832 to help sailors distinguish Gribbin Head from nearby headlands. The tower stands on a high point, providing a panoramic viewpoint over the coastline, including views towards Dodman Point, Polperro, and Looe.
The walk passes through a mix of open clifftop terrain and sheltered valleys, with opportunities to spot coves and inlets along the rugged shoreline. The headland is part of the South West Coast Path, making it a well-maintained but occasionally steep route with some uneven sections. On clear days, the view stretches far out to sea, while inland, the landscape is characterised by rolling farmland and small wooded areas that provide a contrast to the exposed coastal environment.
Gribbin Head Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Gribbin Head Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Gribbin Head OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Gribbin Head Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Daymark, Gribbin Tower. The flora on Gribbin Head varies with the seasons. The clifftops are home to tough coastal plants that can withstand the salty winds, including a mix of wildflowers, grasses, and low shrubs. In spring and summer, the area is bright with colour from species such as thrift and gorse, while bluebells can be found in the sheltered woodland sections of the walk. The fields and hedgerows are rich with plants that attract butterflies and other insects.
Cliffs, Gribbin Head. The fauna of the headland includes a variety of seabirds that can be seen soaring along the cliffs, such as fulmars and cormorants, while kestrels are often spotted hovering overhead. The coastal grasslands provide habitat for small mammals, which in turn attract birds of prey. Dolphins and porpoises are occasionally sighted offshore, particularly in calm weather. The inland wooded areas are home to a range of songbirds, and the surrounding farmland supports populations of buzzards and kestrels.
Platt Cove, Gribbin Head