Cornwall’s Holywell Cave, known for its colourful rock formations and appearance in Poldark, collapses after an overnight cliff fall, leaving the historic coastal landmark sealed off

A colourful cave on the coast of Cornwall, known for its striking rocks and appearance in the BBC drama Poldark, has collapsed following a cliff fall. Holywell cave, also known as St Cuthbert’s Cave, is located at Holywell Bay in Newquay, beneath the southern cliffs of Kelsey Head. The collapse is believed to have occurred overnight.According to the BBC, Coastguards and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) confirmed the incident, while lifeguards cordoned off the cave, according to witnesses. The site had attracted visitors for years and was included in tours of locations used in Poldark.Holywell cave in Newquay collapsed overnight after a cliff fallHolywell cave, a historical landmark at Holywell Bay in Newquay, Cornwall, collapsed following a cliff fall. The incident is thought to have occurred overnight. The cave was situated beneath the southern cliffs of Kelsey Head and was also known as St Cuthbert’s Cave. Coastguards and the RNLI confirmed the collapse. Lifeguards cordoned off the site, according to witnesses.Kev Richens, a visitor from Swindon in Wiltshire, saw the aftermath while spending a week-long family holiday in the area. He said he had visited Holywell every year for more than 10 years and had last visited the cave just two days before the collapse. The incident left the familiar coastal landmark inaccessible.Colourful rocks made Holywell cave a popular landmark in CornwallHolywell cave was known for the colourful rocks inside it. Chris Barnard, who lives near Callington in Cornwall, had been inside at different times of the day and admired its geology.Chris Barnard said, "I was shocked when I first saw the photographs because it's such an iconic location and such a popular location”."The fact it's gone is not nice... it's gone forever”"The collapse must have happened overnight because, if people were inside, it could have been a catastrophe”.Holywell cave attracted visitors through its Poldark connectionAccording to the National Trust, Holywell was one of the filming locations used in the BBC drama series Poldark. Barnard and his wife previously ran Poldark Tours Cornwall, taking visitors to locations associated with the programme. They launched the tours in 2015 and showed thousands of people from around the world the cave until 2024.Its connection to the television series helped make it a familiar destination for visitors exploring Cornwall’s filming locations. Barnard said he was shocked by the collapse because of the cave’s popularity and iconic status. The bay also appeared in the opening sequence of the James Bond film Die Another Day.How did the overnight collapse affect access to Holywell caveRichens visited Holywell Beach as part of a family holiday and saw the aftermath of the cliff fall. He had visited the area for more than a decade and had last visited the cave just two days before the collapse. Barnard also reflected on the possible danger, saying the collapse must have happened overnight. He warned that the consequences could have been catastrophic if people had been inside at the time.The cave was cordoned off by lifeguards after the incident. Barnard, a professional landscape photographer, had spent years visiting. Its colourful rock formations and geological features had made it a memorable place for him and other visitors.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.