Sedimentary rocks of the Devonian exposed around the shore are turbidites of mudstones, and sandstones. Turbidites are the result of gravitational slumping forming a turbidity current due to seismic activity in deep-sea sedimentary basins. They form graded bedding with the coarser particles settling first, followed by the finer, giving the rocks a banded appearance. These rocks have been deformed by folding during the Variscan orogeny and the silica contained migrated into the folds by the movement of metamorphic fluids. Late quartz veins were formed by hydrothermal activity related to the granite intrusion and cross-cut these earlier quartz veins.

The cliff sections show excellent exposures of Quaternary deposits. These are raised beaches, formed during the ice age during interglacials and consequent rise in sea levels, periglacial head, and stranded glacial erratics on the shore platform from icebergs. During periods of periglaciation the area was subjected to permafrost. During summer melts the top surface of unconsolidated sediments would move downslope under the influence of gravity forming head deposits. This head material of clay-bound gravels would gradually infill valleys systems and/or form aprons covering the bedrock. These at Godrevy clearly post-date the raised beaches.