The headland features a surviving Cold War bunker that was once part of a network monitoring radar tracking for the UK.
St Anthony's Lighthouse, located at the tip of the headland, was used as a filming location for the television series Fraggle Rock.
The coastal waters around the headland are part of the Fal and Helford Special Area of Conservation.
During World War II, the headland was heavily fortified with gun emplacements to prevent German E-boats from entering Falmouth Harbour.
The geology of the headland is primarily composed of Devonian slates, which have been eroded into dramatic cliff formations.
St Anthony Head is a strategic headland located on the Roseland Peninsula that marks the eastern entrance to the Carrick Roads and Falmouth Harbour. Managed by the National Trust, the site features a network of coastal footpaths passing through former Cold War military installations and 19th-century coastal defenses. The landscape consists of maritime grassland, rocky cliffs, and secluded beaches, including Porthbeor Beach. Visitors can explore the remnants of the St Anthony Battery, which was constructed to protect the harbor from naval attack. The area serves as a significant vantage point for observing maritime traffic entering the deep-water port of Falmouth. Birdwatching is a common activity, as the headland acts as a migration corridor for various seabirds. The site offers expansive views across the English Channel and toward the lighthouse at St Anthony's Head, which remains an active navigational aid.
The elevated military observation point looking back toward the lighthouse with Falmouth in the distant background.
Wear sturdy, waterproof hiking boots as the cliff paths can become slippery and uneven in wet conditions.
Bring binoculars for viewing the lighthouse and spotting marine life like seals or dolphins in the harbour entrance.
Check local tide tables before descending to Porthbeor Beach, as the sand is significantly submerged at high tide.
Attempting to reach the lighthouse base via the steep cliffs, as there is no public access to the lighthouse structure itself.
Keep dogs on leads near cliff edges and livestock, and follow the Countryside Code by taking all litter home.
