Seaquest Southwest Surveyor Training

Common dolphin and calf, Image by Adrian Langdon

Common dolphin and calf, Image by Adrian Langdon

Seaquest Southwest Surveyor Training

Online with practical sessions at 4 locations
Book
Seaquest Southwest is a citizen science marine recording project run by Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Living Seas Marine Team. It is one of the team’s fantastic marine projects aimed at conserving and protecting marine wildlife and wild places for future generations.

Event details

Date

Time
9:00am - 4:00pm

About the event

Join us for a day course on how to conduct effort based surveys and to improve marine wildlife ID skills for different species of dolphin, porpoise and whales.

No experience necessary and all are very welcome!

The morning session will include online talks about the project, marine mammal identification and survey technique via a Zoom webinar followed by a practical session in the afternoon of sea watching to practice your new skills at multiple locations around the county, choose from:

  • Pendennis Point, Falmouth
  • Huers Hut, Newquay
  • Carlyon Bay, St Austell

There is also an option to attend practical training in St Ives at the NCI station the following day (Sunday 29th March) during our Dawn til Dusk sea watch. This will be at 10am.

You must attend the theory and practical sessions to complete the course. Please let us know what practical location you would like to attend when booking.

Final details and running order of the day will be sent by 5pm on Friday 27th March

Please bring paper and pens, practical clothing and footwear for outdoor work on cliffs and binoculars

Cost is £20 per person and FREE for volunteers from Your Shore Network Groups (use Promo Code*)

* If you are a member of a local Your Shore group, please contact them directly for the Promo code

This event is part of the Your Shore Network

Know before you go

Dogs

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Under effective control

All dogs should be on a lead at all times at practical site locations

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Mobility

Each of the locations for the practical sessions have different accessibility features.

PENDENNIS POINT

Distance & Time: The Pendennis Point car park is located directly at the survey site.

Terrain: You can survey from the flat, tarmacked car park or a steep hill on the left. While uneven footpaths lead down the headland, it’s not necessary to leave the car park.

Parking: The car park features a mostly flat surface with some uneven areas. Accessible parking spaces are available but can fill up quickly. Parking is free for all visitors.

Toilets: There are no public toilets at the car park; the nearest facilities are in Falmouth or at Gyllyngvase Beach, requiring a short travel.

Accessibility Features:

  • Path: Accessible from the car park, but terrain may be challenging for wheelchair users nearer the sea.
  • Signage: Clear signage is available in the car park and throughout the point.
  • Quiet Space & Benches: The area is busy but typically peaceful off-peak, with several seating areas around the headland.
  • Assistance Animals: Welcome but should be leashed near cliff edges and in the car park.
  • Shade: Mostly exposed area with no natural shade.
  • Nearby Café: Refreshments are available in Falmouth and at Gyllyngvase Beach.

 

HUERS HUT, NEWQUAY

Distance & Time: From the car park, there is a short 5 minute walk around to the watch point on tarmacked road that does not have pavements.

Terrain: The road from the car park is smoothed surface with a slight incline. The watchpoint is a flat gravel

Parking: Parking is very limited along the road near Huer’s Hut. We recommend using Dane Road Car Park, Dane Rd, Newquay TR7 1HL. This is a council-run car park and is free from 1 November to 31 March. The car park terrain is slightly uneven gravel with no specifically allocated accessible parking spaces.

Public Transport: By bus: The closest bus stop is Crantock Street, which is approximately a 12-minute walk to the survey site.

Toilets: There are no public toilets at site; the nearest facilities are located at Fistral Beach (10-15minute walk)

Accessibility Features:

  • Path: Accessible from the car park, but terrain may be challenging for wheelchair users at the watchpoint.
  • Signage: Clear signage is available in the car park and throughout the point.
  • Quiet Space & Benches: The area experiences some footfall but typically peaceful off-peak, with (backless) seating on the Huers Hut wall.
  • Assistance Animals: Welcome but should be leashed at all times
  • Shade: Mostly exposed area with no natural shade.
  • Nearby Café: Refreshments are available in Newquay and at Fistral Beach.

 

CARLYON BAY

Distance & Time: The watchpoint is located a short 5 minute walk from the car park along the coast path.

Terrain: The car park is uneven gravel surface with moderate incline. There is a kissing gate to access the coast path from the car park with uneven grassy terrain leading to the watchpoint. Not recommended for wheelchair users.

Parking: Parking is avaialble at Carlyon Beach car park. This is a pay and display car park that is free of charge until April.

Toilets: There are public toilets located on Carlyon Beach; please be aware that this requires walking for 5-10minutes down a steep hill.

Accessibility Features:

  • Path: Slightly uneven coast path from the car park, terrain may be challenging for those with low mobility and not recommended for wheelchair users to the watchpoint.
  • Signage: Clear signage is available in the car park and throughout the point.
  • Quiet Space & Benches: There is are benches located in the area of the watchpoint.
  • Assistance Animals: Welcome but should be leashed at all times
  • Shade: Mostly exposed area with no natural shade.
  • Nearby Café: Refreshments are available on Carlyon Beach; please be aware that this requires walking for 5-10minutes down a steep hill.

 

ST IVES NCI

Distance & Time: The walk from The Island car park to St Ives Head is about 0.1 miles (200m), taking around 5–10 minutes at a moderate pace.

Terrain: The path starts as a flat, well-defined trail but becomes steep and rocky near St Ives Head, which may challenge those with limited mobility.

Parking: The car park features a mostly flat gravel surface with some uneven patches. Accessible parking spaces are available but can fill up quickly. Parking charges apply all year round.

Toilets: There are no public toilets at the point; the nearest facilities are at Porthgwidden and elsewhere in St Ives.

Accessibility Features:

  • Path: There’s a stepped footpath and an accessible road route, though the last 20 meters may be uneven and challenging for wheelchair users. Surveying from near the NCI is a more accessible location.
  • Signage: Clear signage is present at the car park but limited along the path.
  • Quiet Space & Benches: The area can be busy but is generally quiet, with limited seating and scenic resting spots.
  • Assistance Animals: Assistance animals are welcome but should be kept on a lead near steep drops.
  • Shade: The path offers limited natural shade.
  • Nearby Café: St Ives has cafes and shops for refreshments.
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Wheelchair access

At some practical locations - see site information
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What to bring

Please bring paper and pens, practical clothing and footwear for outdoor work on cliffs and binoculars

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Parking information

See site information

Contact us

Gemma Newman