Gillan Creek lies off the southern entrance to the Helford River, which enters the sea on England's southwest coast about 10 miles northeast of Lizard Point and 4 miles southwest of the entrance to the River Fal.

The creek provides good shelter in winds from the north around through west to south. Although Gillan may appear to provide shelter to the southeast it is not the case as winds from this direction create an easterly swell inside the Helford River. Vessels that can take to the mud will find better, if not complete, protection by penetrating deep into the creek on the tide. If a vessel can take to the ground, excellent shelter can be obtained off Flushing Beach over a hard, level sand bottom. The entrance may be easily identified by its prominent heads and the creek's central danger is marked, making the approach straightforward during daylight and at any stage of the tide.

Keyfacts for Gillan Creek

Position and approaches

Haven position

50° 5.207' N, 005° 5.493' W

This is in a depth of about 3 metres. Inside and to the southwest of the central Car Croc Rock, which is marked by an unlit east cardinal and off the outer moorings.

What are the initial fixes?

The following waypoints will set up a final approach:

(i) Gillan Creek Initial Fix

50° 5.366' N, 005° 4.890' W

This is on the 10 metre contour about ½ mile east of Dennis Head and ¼ mile north of the Pareban Cove anchorage, nestled behind Nare Point.

(ii) Gillan Creek Initial Fix

50° 5.366' N, 005° 4.890' W

This is on the 10 metre contour about ½ mile east of Dennis Head and ¼ mile north of the Pareban Cove anchorage, nestled behind Nare Point.

(iii) Gillan Creek Initial Fix

50° 5.366' N, 005° 4.890' W

This is on the 10 metre contour about ½ mile east of Dennis Head and ¼ mile north of the Pareban Cove anchorage, nestled behind Nare Point.

(iv) Gillan Creek Initial Fix

50° 5.366' N, 005° 4.890' W

This is on the 10 metre contour about ½ mile east of Dennis Head and ¼ mile north of the Pareban Cove anchorage, nestled behind Nare Point.

What are the key points of the approach?

Not what you need?

To find locations with the specific attributes you need try:

What's the story here?

The hamlet of Gillan is located on the south side of the creek and close inside its entrance. It is fronted by a sand and shingle beach that forms Gillan Harbour, with a handful of houses overlooking from the woods above almost adjoining another small hamlet called Flushing. On the northern side of the creek is the more prominent St Anthony-in-Meneage, which largely consists of a boatyard focusing on hire boats and an ancient church with some stone houses clustered around it. Located close to the southern entrance to the Helford River, this pretty, natural environment is popular with boat owners and yachtsmen.



The creek has many seasonal moorings and because the bulk of the creek dries at low tide, most of the moorings are concentrated in the deeper waters around the mouth. There is, however, usually ample space to anchor in the mouth of Gillan Creek in about 3.5 metres LAT. It makes for a very good anchorage even in a westerly gale and especially so if the gale is expected to veer from south-west round to north-west, where the anchorage outside the entrance offers better protection than the Helford River. It offers no shelter in east winds unless a vessel can proceed on the tide about a mile up the creek and take to the mud when the water is away. The non-drying anchorage of Parbean Cove, technically located just outside Gillan Creek and close inside Nare Point, provides good shelter from south-easterly conditions.




There is no relevant authority for Gillan Creek, but Sailaway St Anthony, situated on the shingle foreshore of St Anthony, offers deepwater and drying visitor moorings that can accommodate craft up to 13.5 metres LOA.
Prior booking is essential +44 1326 231 357, info@stanthony.co.uk,
www.sailawaystanthony.co.uk. Sailaway runs a ferry service for access to the moorings during high season.

How to get in?

Use south-west England’s coastal overview from Start Point to Lizard Point for seaward approaches and the Helford River for approaches to the river.

Gillan Creek is situated close within the river entrance on the south side. It is entered between Nare Point and Dennis Head. The low lying Nare Point is readily identified by its Coastwatch station, while the distinctive 44-metre-high hump of Dennis Head will be obvious for many miles. Nare Point should be given a wide berth at all states of the tide as it has rocky ledges extending 200 metres to seaward.




Those approaching Parbean Cove can come south from the initial fix. During fine weather, a boat or two will often be seen lying at anchor in the cove, but it is still ideally approached at low tide when its protective circle of drying ledges can be seen. These extend north and north-eastward from Men-aver Point to then circle around to Nare Point. Enter through its north-facing opening and anchor over a central patch of mixed soft sand, rocks and some smaller boulders with 2.2 metres LAT.




Those approaching Gillan Creek should steer towards the southern corner of Dennis Head until the Car Croc east cardinal buoy is identified. Car Croc is a large rock that dries to 0.7 metres and sits almost in the middle of the entrance. Its cardinal is situated about 50 metres to the north-east.

Although the rock may be passed on either side, Gillan Creek is best entered north-west of Car Croc cardinal buoy and south-west of Dennis Head. This avoids an encounter with the large shelf that extends from Men-aver Point and dries to 2.3 metres. Steer a course midway between the buoy and Dennis Head, slightly favouring the Car Croc side. There is a speed restriction of 6 knots throughout Gillan Creek.





Anchor between Car Croc and the southern shore or a little further in but outside of local moorings, where depths of about 3 metres will be found. Around 100 metres within Car Croc, depths rapidly fall away to about a metre.




The creek dries about 300 metres up-creek from Car Croc, where it is the reserve of shoal draught craft that can take to the bottom when the tide is away.





For this type of vessel, the harbour has considerable delights and complete protection. A particularly attractive location can be found further into the middle of the creek close to the hamlet of St Anthony.




Those anchoring out in the bay can take a dinghy on the tide. A particularly enjoyable trek is to row almost up to the head of the densely wooded creek, the woodland of which is to the largest part protected by the National Trust.

Why visit here?

It is thought that Gillan Creek takes its name from the Cornish word gilenn, meaning a nook or creek, which practically describes it.




Human habitation of this part of Cornwall stretches back to Neolithic times, beginning around 4000 BC. Flint flakes and pebbles have been discovered here from this early period, along with a Bronze Age axe, which is displayed at Truro Museum. A heavily decorated Bronze Age urn unearthed here is housed in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. The overlooking Dennis Head takes its name from a corruption of the Cornish dinas, meaning castle, and it was once home to an Iron Age promontory fort. Finds in and around the headland fort include Romano-British pottery.




Later, the village of St Anthony-in-Meneage became home to one of Cornwall's earliest Christian sites, dating back to the Dark Ages. Its Celtic name was first mentioned in the 10th century as Lanentennin, which is formed from the conjunction of the word lann, the name for a small enclosure built by a Christian religious community and a dedication to St Anthony - Anthony's holy place. Because of a legend that St Anthony of Padua had preached to fish, he became regarded as the patron saint of fishermen. The roots of Celtic religion run deep across this entire district, which is known as the Meneage, meaning Monkish land. It is believed that in the post-Roman period the land was in the possession of a confederacy of small Celtic monasteries.




It is believed that the Normans erected a church here in the 11th century. This was probably on the site of the old Celtic church, which would most likely have been a simpler wooden construct. Legend has it that the Normans were driven ashore at Gillan Creek by a dreadful storm in 1170. During their trial at sea, the knights, expecting they would perish, made a vow to St Anthony that if their lives were spared they would build a church in his honour. This may very well have been true as many a Norman church was built upon such a pledge. Parts of the church overlooking the creek today date back to the 13th century, while its pretty granite tower was a 14th-century addition.




Since then the creek has been largely left behind by time. Some fishing activity is known to have taken place as traces of medieval oyster beds have been found in the muds of the creek, along with the remains of two former quay areas along the creekside. The building that Sailaway converted into their boat hire business was an 18th-century fish store. Due to its being off the beaten track and ill-served by roads, it remains a quiet, rural idyll where time seems to stand still.




The beautiful Gillan Creek is best explored by shoal draught boats. Those prepared to push inland will find its inner arm has steep sides that rise sharply, fringed with trees protected by the National Trust. Just a short walk from the top of the creek is Manaccan, another pretty, tiny village. This may also be visited on foot from the river as the coast path follows Gillan Creek inland. Manaccan's 12th-century church is famous for its 250-year-old fig tree, which grows out of its western wall. The village offers an ideal location to pause for refreshment in the form of its pleasant thatched pub, the New Inn.




From a boating perspective, this whole area is an unspoilt gem within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is little oasis of tranquillity, if somewhat lacking amenities and places to eat or drink. But, to many, that is its attraction and its beauty is mostly shared by those who can enjoy it from a boat.

What facilities are available?

Sailaway St Antony (in St Anthony Maneage) has a jetty and freshwater tap, and sells ice creams. A general small boat chandlery stocks quality sailing and summer wear, while New Inn, Manaccan, is the nearest walkable pub +44 1326 231301.

The most useful bus for getting around the Lizard is the T2, which runs from Helston to Goonhilly, Coverack and St Keverne. From Monday to Saturday 15 buses run daily, with two on Sundays. The T3, twice daily Monday to Saturday, travels from Helston around to Mawgan, Helford, Manaccan, Porthallow, St Keverne, Roskilly’s Farm and Coverack.

With thanks to:

eOceanic & Bruce Carter.