List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Cornwall

Map of SSSIs in Cornwall within the UK

Map of SSSIs in Cornwall within the UK

An island surrounded by water and rocks in the foreground

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 Template:English district population (Template:United Kingdom statistics year) across an area of Template:Convert, making it one of the least densely populated counties within England. 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. 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.

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". 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 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. The data in the table is taken from English Nature in the form of citation sheets for each SSSI.

Sites

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	Green tickY	Green tickY	704.8	1741.6		1972	Template:Nature on the map
Amble Marshes	Green tickY		57.3	141.6		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Annet	Green tickY		119.5	295.3		1971	Template:Nature on the map
Baulk Head to Mullion	Green tickY	Green tickY	152.3	376.3		1995	Template:Nature on the map
Bedruthan Steps and Park Head	Green tickY	Green tickY	80.8	200.0		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Belowda Beacon		Green tickY	0.5	1.2		1996	Template:Nature on the map
Big Pool and Browarth Point	Green tickY		10.0	25.0		1971	Template:Nature on the map
Boconnoc Park and Woods	Green tickY		50.4	124.5		1977	Template:Nature on the map
Bodmin Moor, North	Green tickY		4957.0	12248.0		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Borlasevath and Retallack Moor	Green tickY		54.1	133.6		1994	Template:Nature on the map
Boscastle to Widemouth	Green tickY	Green tickY	639.0	1579.0		1972	Template:Nature on the map
Boscawen		Green tickY	8.8	21.8		1997	Template:Nature on the map
Brendonmoor	Green tickY		11.7	29.0		1990	Template:Nature on the map
Breney Common	Green tickY		114.6	283.2		1979	Template:Nature on the map
Bude Coast	Green tickY	Green tickY	92.5	228.6		1987	Template:Nature on the map
Cabilla Manor Wood	Green tickY		15.1	37.3		1989	Template:Nature on the map
Caerthillian to Kennack	Green tickY	Green tickY	141.1	349.6		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Cameron Quarry		Green tickY	0.5	1.2		1996	Template:Nature on the map
Carn Grey Rock and Quarry		Green tickY	1.9	4.8		1991	Template:Nature on the map
Carnkief Pond	Green tickY		11.2	27.7		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Carrick Heaths	Green tickY		42.7	105.5		1973	Template:Nature on the map
Carricknath Point to Porthbean Beach	Green tickY		49.5	122.3		2000	Template:Nature on the map
Carrine Common & Penwethers	Green tickY		45.8	113.3		1973	Template:Nature on the map
Castle Down	Green tickY	Green tickY	58.1	143.6		1971	Template:Nature on the map
Chapel Down (St. Martin's)	Green tickY	Green tickY	34.9	86.2		1971	Template:Nature on the map
Chyenhal Moor	Green tickY		11.9	29.4		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Clicker Tor Quarry		Green tickY	4.3	10.6		1967	Template:Nature on the map
Cligga Head	Green tickY	Green tickY	113.5	280.5		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Coombe Mill	Green tickY		0.5	1.2		2000	Template:Nature on the map
Coverack Cove and Dolor Point		Green tickY	5.6	13.9		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Coverack to Porthoustock	Green tickY	Green tickY	173.5	428.6		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Crocadon Quarry		Green tickY	0.2	0.4		1998	Template:Nature on the map
Crow's Nest	Green tickY	Green tickY	18.9	46.8		1999	Template:Nature on the map
Crowhill Valley	Green tickY		42.5	105.0		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Cuckoo Rock to Turbot Point		Green tickY	102.5	253.4		1998	Template:Nature on the map
Cudden Point to Prussia Cove		Green tickY	15.9	39.2		1991	Template:Nature on the map
De Lank Quarries		Green tickY	21.9	54.1		1994	Template:Nature on the map
Dozmary Pool	Green tickY		104.2	257.5		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Draynes Wood	Green tickY		38.0	93.9		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Duckpool to Furzey Cove		Green tickY	87.3	215.7		1996	Template:Nature on the map
East Lizard Heathlands	Green tickY	Green tickY	287.4	710.1		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Eastern Isles	Green tickY		83.8	207.1		1971	Template:Nature on the map
Eglarooze Cliff	Green tickY		30.8	76.1		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Folly Rocks		Green tickY	2.4	6.0		1990	Template:Nature on the map
Gerrans Bay to Camels Cove	Green tickY	Green tickY	139.5	344.7		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Godrevy Head to St Agnes	Green tickY	Green tickY	627.4	1550.3		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Goonhilly Downs	Green tickY		1271.0	3140.7		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Goss and Tregoss Moors	Green tickY		701.9	1734.4		1988	Template:Nature on the map
Great Pool (Tresco)	Green tickY		17.5	43.2		1971	Template:Nature on the map
Great Wheal Fortune		Green tickY	0.6	1.4		1991	Template:Nature on the map
Greenamoor	Green tickY		32.5	80.3		1992	Template:Nature on the map
Greenscoombe Wood, Luckett	Green tickY		29.3	72.4		1973	Template:Nature on the map
Greystone Quarry		Green tickY	4.4	10.9		1994	Template:Nature on the map
Grimscott	Green tickY		11.0	27.1		1992	Template:Nature on the map
Gugh	Green tickY		37.7	93.2		1976	Template:Nature on the map
Gwithian to Mexico Towans	Green tickY	Green tickY	371.1	917.2		1953	Template:Nature on the map
Harbour Cove		Green tickY	29.1	71.9		1990	Template:Nature on the map
Hawks Tor Pit		Green tickY	5.9	14.7		1993	Template:Nature on the map
Hayle Estuary & Carrack Gladden	Green tickY		190.3	470.2		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Higher Moors and Porth Hellick Pool (St Mary's)	Green tickY		16.2	40.0		1971	Template:Nature on the map
Hingston Down Quarry & Consols		Green tickY	24.2	59.8		1995	Template:Nature on the map
Kelsey Head	Green tickY		227.6	562.4		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Kennack to Coverack	Green tickY	Green tickY	265.7	656.5		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Kernick and Ottery Meadows	Green tickY		29.8	71.6		1992	Template:Nature on the map
Kingsand to Sandway Point		Green tickY	6.7	15.3		1994	Template:Nature on the map
Lidcott Mine		Green tickY	0.1	0.3		1987	Template:Nature on the map
Loe Pool	Green tickY	Green tickY	128.7	318.0		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Loggans Moor	Green tickY		10.7	26.4		1986	Template:Nature on the map
Lower Bostraze and Leswidden	Green tickY		2.3	5.7		1996	Template:Nature on the map
Lower Fal & Helford Intertidal	Green tickY	Green tickY	277.7	686.2		1997	Template:Nature on the map
Lower Moors	Green tickY		10.2	25.2		1971	Template:Nature on the map
Luxulyan Quarry		Green tickY	49.9	123.5		1993	Template:Nature on the map
Lymsworthy Meadows	Green tickY		7.7	19.0		1992	Template:Nature on the map
Lynher Estuary	Green tickY		687.3	1698.3		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Malpas Estuary	Green tickY		101.5	250.8		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Marazion Marsh	Green tickY		59.9	148.0		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Meddon Moor	Green tickY		32.0	79.0		1992	Template:Nature on the map
Meneage Coastal Section	Green tickY	Green tickY	79.7	197.0		1994	Template:Nature on the map
Merthen Wood	Green tickY		72.2	178.4		1972	Template:Nature on the map
Minster Church	Green tickY		0.7	1.7		1998	Template:Nature on the map
Mulberry Downs Quarry		Green tickY	3.2	7.9		1973	Template:Nature on the map
Mullion Cliff to Predannack Cliff	Green tickY	Green tickY	108.5	268.1		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Nance Wood	Green tickY		9.8	24.2		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Newlyn Downs	Green tickY		115.7	285.9		1997	Template:Nature on the map
Norrard Rocks	Green tickY		35.6	88.0		1971	Template:Nature on the map
Ottery Valley	Green tickY		32.5	80.3		1994	Template:Nature on the map
Park Wood	Green tickY		32.7	80.9		1988	Template:Nature on the map
Penberthy Croft Mine		Green tickY	2.3	5.7		1993	Template:Nature on the map
Penhale Dunes	Green tickY		1070.4	2645.0		1953	Template:Nature on the map
Peninnis Head (St. Mary's)	Green tickY	Green tickY	16.1	39.7		1971	Template:Nature on the map
Penlee Point		Green tickY	1.8	4.4		1990	Template:Nature on the map
Penlee Quarry		Green tickY	25.8	64.0		1997	Template:Nature on the map
Pentire Peninsula	Green tickY	Green tickY	113.7	281.0		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Pentle Bay, Merrick And Round Islands	Green tickY		42.8	105.7		1976	Template:Nature on the map
Phoenix United Mine	Green tickY		29.8	73.6		1996	Template:Nature on the map
Plains and Great Bay (St. Martin's)	Green tickY		15.0	37.1		1971	Template:Nature on the map
Plymouth Sound Shores And Cliffs	Green tickY		45.0	111.2		1997	Template:Nature on the map
Polruan to Polperro	Green tickY		213.4	527.3		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Polyne Quarry		Green tickY	0.1	0.2		1988	Template:Nature on the map
Polyphant		Green tickY	3.4	8.4		1994	Template:Nature on the map
Pool of Bryher & Popplestone Bank (Bryher)	Green tickY		5.9	14.6		1971	Template:Nature on the map
Porth Seal (St. Martin's)		Green tickY	1.1	2.6		1976	Template:Nature on the map
Porthcew		Green tickY	9.6	23.7		1990	Template:Nature on the map
Porthgwarra to Pordenack Point	Green tickY		157.9	390.2		1977	Template:Nature on the map
Porthleven Cliffs		Green tickY	8.8	21.7		1973	Template:Nature on the map
Porthleven Cliffs East		Green tickY	13.1	32.4		1990	Template:Nature on the map
Porthloo		Green tickY	0.7	1.7		1996	Template:Nature on the map
Rame Head & Whitsand Bay	Green tickY	Green tickY	160.1	395.6		1996	Template:Nature on the map
Red Moor	Green tickY		89.1	220.2		1979	Template:Nature on the map
Redlake Meadows & Hoggs Moor	Green tickY		30.5	75.4		1995	Template:Nature on the map
Retire Common	Green tickY		61.8	152.7		1951	Template:Nature on the map
River Camel Valley and Tributaries	Green tickY		621.2	1534.9		1998	Template:Nature on the map
Roche Rock		Green tickY	2.2	5.4		1991	Template:Nature on the map
Rock Dunes	Green tickY	Green tickY	68.1	168.3		1953	Template:Nature on the map
Rosemullion	Green tickY	Green tickY	20.5	50.7		1990	Template:Nature on the map
Rosenannon Bog and Downs	Green tickY		135.5	334.7		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Rosenun Lane		Green tickY	0.4	0.9		1988	Template:Nature on the map
Rushy Bay and Heathy Hill	Green tickY		12.2	30.1		1971	Template:Nature on the map
Samson (with Green, White, Puffin & Stony Islands)	Green tickY		38.7	95.6		1971	Template:Nature on the map
Shipman Head & Shipman Down	Green tickY	Green tickY	40.7	100.6		1971	Template:Nature on the map
South Terras Mine		Green tickY	0.6	1.5		1996	Map
St Agnes Beacon Pits		Green tickY	7.9	19.5		1951	Template:Nature on the map
St Austell Clay Pits	Green tickY		0.6	1.5		2000	Template:Nature on the map
St Erth Sand Pits		Green tickY	3.9	9.6		1962	Template:Nature on the map
St Helen's (With Northwethel & Men-a-vaur)	Green tickY		26.6	65.7		1971	Template:Nature on the map
St John's Lake	Green tickY		279.2	689.9		1973	Template:Nature on the map
St Martin's Sedimentary Shore	Green tickY	Green tickY	34.1	84.2		1996	Template:Nature on the map
St Mewan Beacon		Green tickY	0.7	1.7		1993	Template:Nature on the map
St Michael's Mount		Green tickY	2.6	6.3		1995	Template:Nature on the map
St Nectan's Glen	Green tickY		3.4	8.4		1985	Template:Nature on the map
Steeple Point to Marsland Mouth	Green tickY		342.8	847.1		1973	Template:Nature on the map
Stepper Point		Green tickY	1.6	3.9		1990	Template:Nature on the map
Stourscombe Quarry		Green tickY	0.5	1.2		1953	Template:Nature on the map
Swanpool	Green tickY	Green tickY	8.9	22.0		1995	Template:Nature on the map
Sylvia's Meadow	Green tickY		4.5	11.4		1992	Template:Nature on the map
Talland Barton	Green tickY		2.0	5.0		2009	Template:Nature on the map
Tamar–Tavy Estuary	Green tickY		1422.3	3514.6		1991	Template:Nature on the map
Tater-du		Green tickY	4.8	11.9		1992	Template:Nature on the map
Teän	Green tickY	Green tickY	18.8	46.4		1971	Template:Nature on the map
Tintagel Cliffs	Green tickY	Green tickY	221.8	548.1		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Trebetherick Point		Green tickY	20.6	50.9		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Treen Cliff	Green tickY		49.3	121.8		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Tregargus Quarries		Green tickY	1.8	4.4		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Tregonetha & Belowda Downs	Green tickY		105.1	259.8		2000	Template:Nature on the map
Tregonning Hill	Green tickY		5.2	12.9		1994	Template:Nature on the map
Trehane Barton	Green tickY		0.0	0.0		1989	Template:Nature on the map
Trelavour Downs		Green tickY	0.3	0.7		1990	Template:Nature on the map
Trelow Downs	Green tickY		149.8	370.2		1999	Template:Nature on the map
Tremearne Par		Green tickY	14.5	35.9		1992	Template:Nature on the map
Trevaunance Cove		Green tickY	6.8	16.9		1993	Template:Nature on the map
Trevone Bay		Green tickY	9.4	23.2		1990	Template:Nature on the map
Trevose Head and Constantine Bay	Green tickY	Green tickY	158.5	391.7		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Upper Fal Estuary and Woods	Green tickY		603.5	1490.6		1968	Template:Nature on the map
Upper Fowey Valley	Green tickY		124.0	306.4		1989	Template:Nature on the map
Ventongimps Moor	Green tickY		8.2	20.4		1951	Template:Nature on the map
Viverdon Quarry		Green tickY	0.4	1.0		1985	Template:Nature on the map
Watermill Cove		Green tickY	0.5	1.2		1996	Template:Nature on the map
West Cornwall Bryophytes	Green tickY		53.9	133.3		1999	Template:Nature on the map
West Lizard	Green tickY	Green tickY	776.3	1917.4		1968	Template:Nature on the map
Western Rocks	Green tickY		62.7	154.9		1971	Template:Nature on the map
Wheal Alfred		Green tickY	1.1	2.8		1990	Template:Nature on the map
Wheal Gorland		Green tickY	0.6	1.5		1988	Template:Nature on the map
Wheal Martyn		Green tickY	0.1	0.3		1990	Template:Nature on the map
Wheal Penrose		Green tickY	0.9	2.2		1993	Template:Nature on the map
White Island (off St. Martin's)	Green tickY	Green tickY	16.6	40.9		1971	Template:Nature on the map
Wingletang Down	Green tickY		28.9	71.4		1971	Template:Nature on the map
Yeolmbridge Quarry		Green tickY	0.7	1.7		1990	Template:Nature on the 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.

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