Holywell Cave

At the north end of Holywell beach (along Kelsey Head), is a sea cave containing a freshwater spring - the Holy Well - which was sadly buried by a landslide in August 2026. Prior to the landslide, it could be reached by walking along the beach at low tide to enter the sea cave.

Calcium carbonate dissolved in the springwater has created a spectacular series of natural basins fed by the well. The source of the calcium carbonate was originally thought to be the fragments of shell in the sand dunes as there are few sedimentary rocks in this part of Cornwall. However, there are thin bands of limestone in this particular area and current thinking is that the source may be one of these, but it is not known for certain.

Depending on the size of the pieces of debris that fell from the cliff immediately in front of the cave entrance, it's likely that the sea will eventually wash away the debris to re-expose the sea cave over the course of a few years. Whilst this process is happening, debris will continually fall from the upper part of the cliff as the sea undercuts the cliff fall, so keep well clear both above and below.