Penlee Point to St Ives
South of Penlee is the little harbour of Mousehole. Just off the harbour is a rocky reef called St Clement's Isle. Maybe it was once more of an island - the whole of Cornwall shows evidence of the land sinking, and in legend St Michael's Mount is called "the grey rock in the wood". Certainly sea levels have risen since the last Ice age, and perhaps folk memories of faster periods of rise gave rise to legends like the sunken land of Lyonesse.
Mousehole photos 30.07.2009.
The ship is in fact the Gry Maritha, which carries cargo to and from the isles of Scilly.
The two-masted vessel alongside the pier is a Cornish Lugger. Once the Cornish fishing fleet consisted of hundreds of sailing craft like this.
Less than a mile uphill from Mousehole is the village of Paul. Its church tower is visible for miles around, and is a landmark for those at sea.
09.07.2005.
Scillonian III sailing past Mousehole, 25.08.2007.
As she passes Low Lee bouy, a RN Seaking helicopter flies by...
The coastal footpath, Mousehole to Lamorna, 25.08.2007.
A 30 square metre design yacht enjoys a gentle sail in light airs. The Lizard coastline is seen in the first picture, and Lizard Point in the second.
There are many more rugged cliffs and coves on this southern coast. Just a couple of shots from Porth Curno, 27.08.2009:
There is no harbour here, but sandy coves like this are ideal for bringing undersea cables ashore. A large proportion of the cables linking Britain with the world come ashore in Cornwall, and Porthcurno was an important cable terminus until 1970. (Some of these cables were exposed again on
10-01-2014, when a winter storm removed sand from the beach.)
The full story is told in the Telegraph Museum (mentioned before). Also mentioned before is the Minack Theatre, high on the cliffs just west of Porthcurno.
From Porthcurno the coast trends west and then north towards Lands End. There are are high cliffs, off-lying rocks, and the Longships lighthouse to be seen from there (and the Scilly Isles on a clear day), but many people feel that the Theme Park is inappropriate for this setting. For the record, we'll just mention that Lands End is the most westerly point of England, though not of mainland Great Britain (that honour goes to Ardnamurchan Peninsula in Scotland), and move on to Sennen Cove, just to the north.
10-01-2014, when a winter storm removed sand from the beach.)
The full story is told in the Telegraph Museum (mentioned before). Also mentioned before is the Minack Theatre, high on the cliffs just west of Porthcurno.
From Porthcurno the coast trends west and then north towards Lands End. There are are high cliffs, off-lying rocks, and the Longships lighthouse to be seen from there (and the Scilly Isles on a clear day), but many people feel that the Theme Park is inappropriate for this setting. For the record, we'll just mention that Lands End is the most westerly point of England, though not of mainland Great Britain (that honour goes to Ardnamurchan Peninsula in Scotland), and move on to Sennen Cove, just to the north.
Sennen Cove Lifeboat station was founded in 1853. Its slipway is protected from westerlies by a small breakwater,
and the Cowloe rocks to the north and west also provide a degree of protection from that direction.
and the Cowloe rocks to the north and west also provide a degree of protection from that direction.
Sennen Cove is the most westerly seaside resort in England, so its pubs can now claim to be the first in England,
despite the claim of an older pub, up the hill and just inland near Sennen church (although there's not much in it!):
despite the claim of an older pub, up the hill and just inland near Sennen church (although there's not much in it!):
About 4 miles north of Sennen Cove is Cape Cornwall. From there, this is the view to the south:
The reverse view, from Lands End, shows the distinctive shape of Cape Cornwall, and the offlying rocky islets called The Brisons.
Following the coast further, there are no harbours or sandy coves to be found. The next significant headland is Pendeen, with its lighthouse (LH). These two pictures (16.06.2011.) were taken from the vicinity of Geevor Mine, now a museum and heritage centre, which is about three miles to the south of the LH. In the third picture (04.06.2006.), of the mine headgear, the LH can be glimpsed through the headgear itself!
The Zennor Mermaid
Legend says that a mysterious and beautiful lady used to attend Church in the tiny hamlet of Zennor. But one day she and Mathey Trewella, "the best singer in the parish" disappeared, and neither were ever seen again. Some time later, a ship anchored off Pendour Cove, below Zennor, and a mermaid appeared. She asked them to raise their anchor, as it was blocking her door. On hearing this the villagers decided that the mermaid was none other than the mysterious lady who had disappeared, and to commemorate the tale a mermaid was carved into a pew of the church.
For a fuller version of the story, click the image below. (Photos: 26.05.2007.)
For a fuller version of the story, click the image below. (Photos: 26.05.2007.)
This NW part of the coast is very harsh, with no harbours; there are only dangerous headlands separated by stoney coves.
The same two headlands appear in the next view, which shows the coastal footpath that leads west along the cliffs.
Still more rocky headlands, but the next major headland to the west is Gurnards Head.
Foot of 'Penlee Point to St Ives (1)' |