Introduction

Goonhilly Downs

Goonhilly Downs is an area of moorland at the centre of the Lizard Peninsula.

It is very flat with sparse vegetation but is the home to some unique species of plants. There are numerous tumilii which date from prehistoric times, some of which give the appearance of being layed out in a grid. They are now very eroded and usually only noticeable during the winter when the vegetation has died back.

It is possible to walk across Goonhilly Downs following the ancient tracks that connect the small hamlets on its outskirts. On the northern edge of Goonhilly Downs is the British Telecom Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station, and at night the illuminated satellite dishes stand out from the black emptiness of the moors.