Goonhilly is a large area of open heathland on the Lizard Peninsula, often passed through when travelling to the far south of Cornwall. Managed as a nature reserve by Natural England, it’s known for its wide, open landscape and rare Cornish heath.
The area is also home to the Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station, a major UK site for satellite and space communications that first opened in 1962. Some of the large satellite dishes remain active today, alongside links to historic missions such as Apollo 11 and Live Aid. Nearby, you can also find remains from its wartime past, including buildings from the former RAF Dry Tree radar station, adding another layer of interest for visitors.