List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Cornwall

Map of SSSIs in Cornwall within the UK

St Michael's Mount, a SSSI in west Cornwall

There are 167 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in Cornwall (including the Isles of Scilly). Cornwall, in the south-west of England, UK, has a population of 545,335 (mid-2014 est.) across an area of 3,546 km² (876,235.7 acres), making it one of the least densely populated counties within England.^[1] The north coast of Cornwall falls on the Celtic Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, which also surrounds the Isles of Scilly, the south coast falls on the English Channel and the county is bounded by the River Tamar, forming the border with Devon, to the east. Cornish geology consists mainly of rocks from the Devonian and Carboniferous geological periods. Granite forms a large part of these, with mineralisations of tin, copper, lead and arsenic having been mined in the area.^[2] This gives rise to many distinct habitats, with strong marine influences, including sand dunes, rocky reefs, stacks and headlands as well as heathland, moorland and unusual river profiles.^[3]

In England the body responsible for designating SSSIs is Natural England, which chooses a site "because of its flora, fauna, or geological or physiographical features".^[4] Natural England took over the role of designating and managing SSSIs from English Nature in October 2006 when it was formed from the amalgamation of English Nature, parts of the Countryside Agency and the Rural Development Service. Natural England, like its predecessor, uses the 1974–96 county system^[5] and as such the same approach is followed here, rather than adopting the current local government or ceremonial county boundaries.

Of the 167 sites designated in this Area of Search, the greatest number, 81, have been designated due to their biological interest, with 54 due to their geological interest and 32 for both.^[6] The data in the table is taken from English Nature in the form of citation sheets for each SSSI.^[7]

Sites

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z

Site name	Biological Interest^[A]	Geological Interest^[A]	Area (hectares)^[B]	Area (acres)^[B]	Grid reference^[C]	Year in which notified	Map^[D]
Aire Point to Carrick Du			704.8	1741.6	SW432385	1972	Map
Amble Marshes			57.3	141.6	SW994746	1951	Map
Annet			119.5	295.3	SV862088	1971	Map
Baulk Head to Mullion			152.3	376.3	SW663200	1995	Map
Bedruthan Steps and Park Head			80.8	200.0	SW850700	1951	Map
Belowda Beacon			0.5	1.2	SW973627	1996	Map
Big Pool and Browarth Point			10.0	25.0	SV879087	1971	Map
Boconnoc Park and Woods			50.4	124.5	SX144603	1977	Map
Bodmin Moor, North			4957.0	12248.0	SX160810	1951	Map
Borlasevath and Retallack Moor			54.1	133.6	SW937667	1994	Map
Boscastle to Widemouth			639.0	1579.0	SX140970	1972	Map
Boscawen			8.8	21.8	SW425231	1997	Map
Brendonmoor			11.7	29.0	SX264955	1990	Map
Breney Common			114.6	283.2	SX056614	1979	Map
Bude Coast			92.5	228.6	SS200069	1987	Map
Cabilla Manor Wood			15.1	37.3	SX150697	1989	Map
Caerthillian to Kennack			141.1	349.6	SW720140	1951	Map
Cameron Quarry			0.5	1.2	SW704507	1996	Map
Carn Grey Rock and Quarry			1.9	4.8	SX034551	1991	Map
Carnkief Pond			11.2	27.7	SW787520	1951	Map
Carrick Heaths			42.7	105.5	SW800490	1973	Map
Carricknath Point to Porthbean Beach			49.5	122.3	SW870330	2000	Map
Carrine Common & Penwethers			45.8	113.3	SW797434	1973	Map
Castle Down			58.1	143.6	SV885160	1971	Map
Chapel Down (St. Martin's)			34.9	86.2	SV942159	1971	Map
Chyenhal Moor			11.9	29.4	SW448279	1951	Map
Clicker Tor Quarry			4.3	10.6	SX285614	1967	Map
Cligga Head			113.5	280.5	SW738537	1951	Map
Coombe Mill			0.5	1.2	SS210117	2000	Map
Coverack Cove and Dolor Point			5.6	13.9	SW785181	1951	Map
Coverack to Porthoustock			173.5	428.6	SW785189	1951	Map
Crocadon Quarry			0.2	0.4	SX392658	1998	Map
Crow's Nest			18.9	46.8	SX265700	1999	Map
Crowhill Valley			42.5	105.0	SW934513	1951	Map
Cuckoo Rock to Turbot Point			102.5	253.4	SW990404	1998	Map
Cudden Point to Prussia Cove			15.9	39.2	SW553278	1991	Map
De Lank Quarries			21.9	54.1	SX101753	1994	Map
Dozmary Pool			104.2	257.5	SX195745	1951	Map
Draynes Wood			38.0	93.9	SX222685	1951	Map
Duckpool to Furzey Cove			87.3	215.7	SS200090	1996	Map
East Lizard Heathlands			287.4	710.1	SW775192	1951	Map
Eastern Isles			83.8	207.1	SV947144	1971	Map
Eglarooze Cliff			30.8	76.1	SX349539	1951	Map
Folly Rocks			2.4	6.0	SW573280	1990	Map
Gerrans Bay to Camels Cove			139.5	344.7	SW920371	1951	Map
Godrevy Head to St Agnes			627.4	1550.3	SW582423	1951	Map
Goonhilly Downs			1271.0	3140.7	SW720200	1951	Map
Goss and Tregoss Moors			701.9	1734.4	SW950600	1988	Map
Great Pool (Tresco)			17.5	43.2	SV894146	1971	Map
Great Wheal Fortune			0.6	1.4	SW627289	1991	Map
Greenamoor			32.5	80.3	SX240955	1992	Map
Greenscoombe Wood, Luckett			29.3	72.4	SX394725	1973	Map
Greystone Quarry			4.4	10.9	SX366805	1994	Map
Grimscott			11.0	27.1	SS279076	1992	Map
Gugh			37.7	93.2	SV890083	1976	Map
Gwithian to Mexico Towans			371.1	917.2	SW570395	1953	Map
Harbour Cove			29.1	71.9	SW915768	1990	Map
Hawkstor Pit			5.9	14.7	SX150749	1993	Map
Hayle Estuary & Carrack Gladden			190.3	470.2	SW55037	1951	Map
Higher Moors and Porth Hellick Pool (St Mary's)			16.2	40.0	SV924108	1971	Map
Hingston Down Quarry & Consols			24.2	59.8	SX410718	1995	Map
Kelsey Head			227.6	562.4	SW775600	1951	Map
Kennack to Coverack			265.7	656.5	SW733164	1951	Map
Kernick and Ottery Meadows			29.8	71.6	SX185913	1992	Map
Kingsand to Sandway Point			6.7	15.3	SX439508	1994	Map
Lidcott Mine			0.1	0.3	SX241851	1987	Map
Loe Pool			128.7	318.0	SW647250	1951	Map
Loggans Moor			10.7	26.4	SW577390	1986	Map
Lower Bostraze and Leswidden			2.3	5.7	SW385315	1996	Map
Lower Fal & Helford Intertidal			277.7	686.2	SW860334	1997	Map
Lower Moors			10.2	25.2	SV912106	1971	Map
Luxulyan Quarry			49.9	123.5	SX055590	1993	Map
Lymsworthy Meadows			7.7	19.0	SS272108	1992	Map
Lynher Estuary			687.3	1698.3	SX375565	1951	Map
Malpas Estuary			101.5	250.8	SW835430	1951	Map
Marazion Marsh			59.9	148.0	SW515318	1951	Map
Meddon Moor			32.0	79.0	SS272173	1992	Map
Meneage Coastal Section			79.7	197.0	SW777261	1994	Map
Merthen Wood			72.2	178.4	SW730263	1972	Map
Minster Church			0.7	1.7	SX111905	1998	Map
Mulberry Downs Quarry			3.2	7.9	SX019658	1973	Map
Mullion Cliff to Predannack Cliff			108.5	268.1	SW670156	1951	Map
Nance Wood			9.8	24.2	SW665450	1951	Map
Newlyn Downs			115.7	285.9	SW834545	1997	Map
Norrard Rocks			35.6	88.0	SV860135	1971	Map
Ottery Valley			32.5	80.3	SX161895	1994	Map
Park Wood			32.7	80.9	SX345667	1988	Map
Penberthy Croft Mine			2.3	5.7	SW552324	1993	Map
Penhale Dunes			1070.4	2645.0	SW771572	1953	Map
Peninnis Head (St. Mary's)			16.1	39.7	SV911094	1971	Map
Penlee Point			1.8	4.4	SW473269	1990	Map
Penlee Quarry			25.8	64.0	SW468278	1997	Map
Pentire Peninsula			113.7	281.0	SW934798	1951	Map
Pentle Bay, Merrick And Round Islands			42.8	105.7	SV896139	1976	Map
Phoenix United Mine			29.8	73.6	SX266724	1996	Map
Plains and Great Bay (St. Martin's)			15.0	37.1	SV924163	1971	Map
Plymouth Sound Shores And Cliffs			45.0	111.2	SX442488	1997	Map
Polruan to Polperro			213.4	527.3	SX122508	1951	Map
Polyne Quarry			0.1	0.2	SX225531	1988	Map
Polyphant			3.4	8.4	SX260825	1994	Map
Pool of Bryher & Popplestone Bank (Bryher)			5.9	14.6	SV875148	1971	Map
Porth Seal (St. Martin's)			1.1	2.6	SV918166	1976	Map
Porthcew			9.6	23.7	SW593270	1990	Map
Porthgwarra to Pordenack Point			157.9	390.2	SW371217	1977	Map
Porthleven Cliffs			8.8	21.7	SW623257	1973	Map
Porthleven Cliffs East			13.1	32.4	SW634250	1990	Map
Porthloo			0.7	1.7	SV907117	1996	Map
Rame Head & Whitsand Bay			160.1	395.6	SX367537	1996	Map
Red Moor			89.1	220.2	SX072613	1979	Map
Redlake Meadows & Hoggs Moor			30.5	75.4	SX128590	1995	Map
Retire Common			61.8	152.7	SX005635	1951	Map
River Camel Valley and Tributaries			621.2	1534.9	SX060707	1998	Map
Roche Rock			2.2	5.4	SW991596	1991	Map
Rock Dunes			68.1	168.3	SW926765	1953	Map
Rosemullion			20.5	50.7	SW795281	1990	Map
Rosenannon Bog and Downs			135.5	334.7	SW955675	1951	Map
Rosenun Lane			0.4	0.9	SX249617	1988	Map
Rushy Bay and Heathy Hill			12.2	30.1	SV874142	1971	Map
Samson (with Green, White, Puffin & Stony Islands)			38.7	95.6	SV878125	1971	Map
Shipman Head & Shipman Down			40.7	100.6	SV877158	1971	Map
South Terras Mine			0.6	1.5	SW934523	1996	Map
St Agnes Beacon Pits			7.9	19.5	SW705510	1951	Map
St Austell Clay Pits			0.6	1.5	SW996586	2000	Map
St Erth Sand Pits			3.9	9.6	SW557351	1962	Map
St Helen's (With Northwethel & Men-a-vaur)			26.6	65.7	SV900170	1971	Map
St John's Lake			279.2	689.9	SX430540	1973	Map
St Martin's Sedimentary Shore			34.1	84.2	SV20160	1996	Map
St Mewan Beacon			0.7	1.7	SW986534	1993	Map
St Michael's Mount			2.6	6.3	SW515298	1995	Map
St Nectan's Glen			3.4	8.4	SX080885	1985	Map
Steeple Point to Marsland Mouth			342.8	847.1	SS212174	1973	Map
Stepper Point			1.6	3.9	SW915783	1990	Map
Stourscombe Quarry			0.5	1.2	SX344839	1953	Map
Swanpool			8.9	22.0	SW802315	1995	Map
Sylvia's Meadow			4.5	11.4	SX412708	1992	Map
Talland Barton			2.0	5.0	SX227515	2009	Map
Tamar–Tavy Estuary			1422.3	3514.6	SX435591	1991	Map
Tater-du			4.8	11.9	SW440231	1992	Map
Teän			18.8	46.4	SV909166	1971	Map
Tintagel Cliffs			221.8	548.1	SX042857	1951	Map
Trebetherick Point			20.6	50.9	SW925780	1951	Map
Treen Cliff			49.3	121.8	SW395224	1951	Map
Tregargus Quarries			1.8	4.4	SW949541	1951	Map
Tregonetha & Belowda Downs			105.1	259.8	SW960630	2000	Map
Tregonning Hill			5.2	12.9	SW601299	1994	Map
Trehane Barton			0.0	0.0	SW866482	1989	Map
Trelavour Downs			0.3	0.7	SW960575	1990	Map
Trelow Downs			149.8	370.2	SW925683	1999	Map
Tremearne Par			14.5	35.9	SW610266	1992	Map
Trevaunance Cove			6.8	16.9	SW723517	1993	Map
Trevone Bay			9.4	23.2	SW889763	1990	Map
Trevose Head and Constantine Bay			158.5	391.7	SW858753	1951	Map
Upper Fal Estuary and Woods			603.5	1490.6	SW850410	1968	Map
Upper Fowey Valley			124.0	306.4	SX215730	1989	Map
Ventongimps Moor			8.2	20.4	SW781510	1951	Map
Viverdon Quarry			0.4	1.0	SX374675	1985	Map
Watermill Cove			0.5	1.2	SV925122	1996	Map
West Cornwall Bryophytes			53.9	133.3	SW661407	1999	Map
West Lizard			776.3	1917.4	SW671154	1968	Map
Western Rocks			62.7	154.9	SV850070	1971	Map
Wheal Alfred			1.1	2.8	SW580370	1990	Map
Wheal Gorland			0.6	1.5	SW732429	1988	Map
Wheal Martyn			0.1	0.3	SX002555	1990	Map
Wheal Penrose			0.9	2.2	SW634252	1993	Map
White Island (off St. Martin's)			16.6	40.9	SV925176	1971	Map
Wingletang Down			28.9	71.4	SV884075	1971	Map
Yeolmbridge Quarry			0.7	1.7	SX322874	1990	Map

See also

• List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest by Area of Search
• List of Special Areas of Conservation in Cornwall

Notes

^A Reason for designation; either for the site's biological interest, or its geological interest.

^B Data rounded to one decimal place.

^C Grid reference is based on the British national grid reference system, also known as OSGB36, and is the system used by the Ordnance Survey.^[8]

^D Link to maps using the Nature on the Map service provided by Natural England.

References

1. "Population estimates for UK mid-2014 analysis tool" (zip). Office for National Statistics. 25 June 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
2. "Geodiversity: Cornwall (inc Isles of Scilly)". Natural England. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
3. "AONB: Cornwall". Natural England. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
4. "Guidelines for selection of biological SSSIs". Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
5. "County search of SSSIs". Natural England. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
6. "SSSIs in Cornwall". Natural England. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
7. Natural England citation sheets for each SSSI (PDF). Retrieved 1 November 2011.
   • "Aire Point to Carrack Du" (PDF).
   • "Amble Marshes" (PDF).
   • "Annet" (PDF).
   • "Baulk Head to Mullion" (PDF).
   • "Bedruthan Steps and Park Head" (PDF).
   • "Belowda Beacon" (PDF).
   • "Big Pool and Browarth Point (St Agnes)" (PDF).
   • "Boconnoc Park and Woods" (PDF).
   • "Bodmin Moor, North" (PDF).
   • "Borlasevath and Retallack Moor" (PDF).
   • "Boscastle to Widemouth" (PDF).
   • "Boscawen" (PDF).
   • "Brendonmoor" (PDF).
   • "Breney Common" (PDF).
   • "Bude Coast" (PDF).
   • "Cabilla Manor Wood" (PDF).
   • "Caerthillian to Kennack" (PDF).
   • "Cameron Quarry" (PDF).
   • "Carn Grey Rock and Quarry" (PDF).
   • "Carnkeif Pond" (PDF).
   • "Carrick Heaths" (PDF).
   • "Carricknath Point to Porthbean Beach" (PDF).
   • "Carrine Common & Penwethers" (PDF).
   • "Castle Down (Tresco)" (PDF).
   • "Chapel Down (St Martin's)" (PDF).
   • "Chyenhal Moor" (PDF).
   • "Clicker Tor Quarry" (PDF).
   • "Cligga Head" (PDF).
   • "Coombe Mill" (PDF).
   • "Coverack Cove and Dolor Point" (PDF).
   • "Coverack to Porthoustock" (PDF).
   • "Crocadon Quarry" (PDF).
   • "Crow's Nest" (PDF).
   • "Crowhill Valley" (PDF).
   • "Cuckoo Rock to Turbot Point" (PDF).
   • "Cudden Point to Prussia Cove" (PDF).
   • "De Lank Quarries" (PDF).
   • "Dozmary Pool" (PDF).
   • "Draynes Wood" (PDF).
   • "Duckpool to Furzey Cove" (PDF).
   • "East Lizard Heathlands" (PDF).
   • "Eastern Isles" (PDF).
   • "Eglarooze Cliff" (PDF).
   • "Folly Rocks" (PDF).
   • "Gerrans Bay to Camels Cove" (PDF).
   • "Godrevy Head to St Agnes" (PDF).
   • "Goonhilly Downs" (PDF).
   • "Goss and Tregoss Moors" (PDF).
   • "Great Pool (Tresco)" (PDF).
   • "Great Wheal Fortune" (PDF).
   • "Greenamoor" (PDF).
   • "Greenscoombe Wood, Luckett" (PDF).
   • "Greystone Quarry" (PDF).
   • "Grimmscott" (PDF).
   • "Gugh" (PDF).
   • "Gwithian to Mexico Towans" (PDF).
   • "Harbour Cove" (PDF).
   • "Hawkstor Pit" (PDF).
   • "Hayle Estuary & Carrack Gladden" (PDF).
   • "Higher Moors and Porth Hellick Pool (St Mary's)" (PDF).
   • "Hingston Down Quarry & Consols" (PDF).
   • "Kelsey Head" (PDF).
   • "Kennack to Coverack" (PDF).
   • "Kernick and Ottery Meadows" (PDF).
   • "Kingsand to Sandway Point" (PDF).
   • "Lidcott Mine" (PDF).
   • "Loe Pool" (PDF).
   • "Loggans Moor" (PDF).
   • "Lower Bostraze and Leswidden" (PDF).
   • "Lower Fal & Helford Intertidal" (PDF).
   • "Lower Moor (St Mary's)" (PDF).
   • "Luxulyan Quarry" (PDF).
   • "Lymsworthy Meadows" (PDF).
   • "Lynher Estuary" (PDF).
   • "Malpas Estuary" (PDF).
   • "Marazion Marsh" (PDF).
   • "Meddon Moor" (PDF).
   • "Meneage Coastal Section" (PDF).
   • "Merthen Wood" (PDF).
   • "Minster Church" (PDF).
   • "Mulberry Downs Quarry" (PDF).
   • "Mullion Cliff to Predannack Cliff" (PDF).
   • "Nance Wood" (PDF).
   • "Newlyn Downs" (PDF).
   • "Norrard Rocks" (PDF).
   • "Ottery Valley" (PDF).
   • "Park Wood" (PDF).
   • "Penberthy Croft Mine" (PDF).
   • "Penhale Dunes" (PDF).
   • "Peninnis Head (St. Mary's)" (PDF).
   • "Penlee Point" (PDF).
   • "Penlee Quarry" (PDF).
   • "Pentire Peninsula" (PDF).
   • "Pentle Bay, Merrick and Round Islands" (PDF).
   • "Phoenix United Mine" (PDF).
   • "Plains and Great Bay (St Martin's)" (PDF).
   • "Plymouth Sound Shores and Cliffs" (PDF).
   • "Polruan to Polperro" (PDF).
   • "Polyne Quarry" (PDF).
   • "Polyphant" (PDF).
   • "Pool of Bryher & Popplestone Bank (Bryher)" (PDF).
   • "Porth Seal (St Martin's)" (PDF).
   • "Porthcew" (PDF).
   • "Porthgwarra to Pordenack Point" (PDF).
   • "Porthleven Cliffs" (PDF).
   • "Porthleven Cliffs East" (PDF).
   • "Porthloo" (PDF).
   • "Rame Head & Whitsand Bay" (PDF).
   • "Red Moor" (PDF).
   • "Redlake Meadows & Hoggs Moor" (PDF).
   • "Retire Common" (PDF).
   • "River Camel Valley and Tributaries" (PDF).
   • "Roche Rock" (PDF).
   • "Rock Dunes" (PDF).
   • "Rosemullion" (PDF).
   • "Rosenannon Bog and Downs" (PDF).
   • "Rosenun Lane" (PDF).
   • "Rushy Bay and Heathy Hill" (PDF).
   • "Samson (with Green, White, Puffin and Stony Islands)" (PDF).
   • "Shipman Head & Shipman Down (Bryher)" (PDF).
   • "South Terras Mine" (PDF).
   • "St Agnes Beacon Pits" (PDF).
   • "St Austell Clay Pits" (PDF).
   • "St Erth Sand Pits" (PDF).
   • "St Helen's (With Northwethel & Men-a-vaur)" (PDF).
   • "St John's Lake" (PDF).
   • "St Martin's Sedimentary Shore" (PDF).
   • "St Mewan Beacon" (PDF).
   • "St Michael’s Mount" (PDF).
   • "St Nectan's Glen" (PDF).
   • "Steeple Point to Marsland Mouth" (PDF).
   • "Stepper Point" (PDF).
   • "Stourscombe Quarry" (PDF).
   • "Swanpool" (PDF).
   • "Sylvia’s Meadow" (PDF).
   • "Talland Barton" (PDF).
   • "Tamar – Tavy Estuary" (PDF).
   • "Tater–du" (PDF).
   • "Teän" (PDF).
   • "Tintagel Cliffs" (PDF).
   • "Trebetherick Point" (PDF).
   • "Treen Cliff" (PDF).
   • "Tregargus Quarries" (PDF).
   • "Tregonetha & Belowda Downs" (PDF).
   • "Tregonning Hill" (PDF).
   • "Trehane Barton" (PDF).
   • "Trelavour Downs" (PDF).
   • "Trelow Downs" (PDF).
   • "Tremearne Par" (PDF).
   • "Trevaunance Cove" (PDF).
   • "Trevone Bay" (PDF).
   • "Trevose Head And Constantine Bay" (PDF).
   • "Upper Fal Estuary And Woods" (PDF).
   • "Upper Fowey Valley" (PDF).
   • "Ventongimps Moor" (PDF).
   • "Viverdon Quarry" (PDF).
   • "Watermill Cove" (PDF).
   • "West Cornwall Bryophytes" (PDF).
   • "West Lizard" (PDF).
   • "Western Rocks" (PDF).
   • "Wheal Alfred" (PDF).
   • "Wheal Gorland" (PDF).
   • "Wheal Martyn" (PDF).
   • "Wheal Penrose" (PDF).
   • "White Island (Off St. Martin's)" (PDF).
   • "Wingletang Down (St Agnes)" (PDF).
   • "Yeolmbridge Quarry" (PDF).
8. "Guide to National Grid". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 2 July 2007.