The magic Cornwall – part 2 small and big “cornish loop”

 

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I am in a rush with fantastic pictures and memories from the time, that I spent in Cornwall. Previously I sketched out both my trips. Now I would like to continue by describing a small and big “cornish loop”.

It was 3^rd day of our 2^nd journey to Cornwall, Monday. We slept in YHA Lizard Point and next carried on our trip. We made something like a “big cornish loop” that day and a similar “small cornish loop” on the following day (detailed here).

8. Kynance Cove & Beach

Kynance Beach is the most photographed and painted location in Cornwall, the contrast between the cove’s white sand beach and the dark red and green serpentine rock produces a breathtaking sight.

During the low tide, you can explore the sea stacks or go inside Kynance Cove and a few other coves closely located.

9. Pendennis Castle

Pendennis Castle is located outside Falmouth town. This is the amazing artillery constructed by Henry VIII in the 1540s, located at the end of the peninsula. The fortification includes the original XVI-century Device Fort surrounded by massive outer defences. Closer to the shore you can see well-preserved gun batteries and a blockhouse.

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Read more:

All about Pendennis Castle

Pendennis Castle overview

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10. Mevagissey

Mevagissey is a cosy fishing port located in southeast Cornwall. This village has only 2k inhabitants. The most remarkable place here is the harbour. You can also take a short walk through the narrow lanes and passageways inside the village. The way from St. Austell to Mevagissey is also picturesque and leads along the shore.

11. Eden Project

Eden Project is one of the most popular places in Cornwall. This is a botanical complex, dominated by two huge enclosures consisting of adjoining domes, that house thousands of plant species. The biggest and the most remarkable in my opinion is the tropical biome, which covers more than 1,5 ha. Be ready for GBP 25 admission!

The Eden Project came into being in 2005. It had been built for several years in the former clay pit, which had been used there for more than 150 years.

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Read more in the link below:

The Eden Project main page

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12. Cornish Alps

The Cornish Alps is called the highland region between the A30 express road (villages Summercourt, Fraddon) and St. Austell. The highest mountain there is Hensbarrow Beacon, which rises around 300 m above sea level. These euphemistically named “mountains” are the debris of China’s clay mining, which is the backbone of Cornwall’s economy for the last 250 years. This is probably the best-known source of china clay in Europe. Those sharp, fearful peaks dominate the surrounding landscape. Under China, clay hides the kaolinite clay. This rock develops in the areas of chemical weathering of rocks in hot and moist climates e.g. tropical rainforest areas.

The best view is from the south.  The best access to this area is from St. Austell town, which lies just a few scant miles from the Cornish Alps. Leaving the town you need to go towards Stenalees village and next to Roche village. I can’t advise you on local roads, because some of them may be out of use. This place was the most desired visit for me as a geographer. For people, who don’t want to waste time to find a decent view inside the Cornish Alps I strongly recommend the road A390 to Truro or road A3058 from St. Austell to Newquay (pic. 20). When you back from Mevagissey is also a good opportunity to see the most representant part of this odd mountains.

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Read more:

All about the china clay industry in Cornwall

The Cornish Alps overview

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13. Newquay

Newquay is a small town located on the North Atlantic shore. We hadn’t enough time to visit the town centre. We went to the beach only. I can admit, that beach in Newquay is really nice. This is Lusty Glaze Beach, located in the north part of the town. The access is quite easy. The local airport is only 5 miles. If you are going A30 from Bodmin you must head on A39 and next in Trevarren choose A392. Just before the entrance to the Newquay head on Trevenson Road, next to Henver Road and Arundel Way. Next, you can think about parking your car and next had directly to the seaside.

Lusty Glaze Beach is the most popular beach in Newquay. You have a lot of accommodation here.

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Read more also below:

Visit Newquay

Lusty Glaze Beach main page

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That’s all for the one day commenced in Lizard Point. After Newquay, we headed to our tent camp located near Land’s End Airport. The next day on Tuesday 15.08 we managed to a small “cornish loop”.

14. St. Michel’s Mount

This is the flag place in Cornwall. Everyone, who is going here wants to see the small tidal island with a beautiful castle on the top. The civil parish community on this island counts 35 people.

There is a problem to see the Mount from the centre of Marazion. It’s good to go to some coffee or a hotel to have a beautiful view of the mount. We found one. It was a coffee in the Mount Haven Hotel, located just outside the town. There was a perfect view of St. Michael’s Mount from this elevated place.

The St. Michael’s Mount is linked with the Marazion town by a man-made causeway of granite setts, passable between low tide and mid-water.

You can enter the Mount area, however, admission to the castle on the top is payable. This object belongs to the National Trust. We enjoyed seeing the castle from the bottom. Moreover, you can enjoy a good view of the surrounding area. Penzance and Marazion town are clearly visible from this place.

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Read more also below:

Everything about the St. Michael’s Mount

St. Michael’s Mount – sacred place in Cornwall

St. Michael’s Mount – National Trust main page

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15. The Porthcurno beach

Some people think, that Porthcurno is the best beach in the whole of Britain. The area is stuck between two vast rocky walls and then continues by a small gully extended towards the village centre. This is an amazing triangle-looking sandy beach. Two main downsides of this beach are weather and seawater temperature. We were lucky because during our 4-hour stay the weather was really nice, except for the quite strong wind, which was generating big waves (I enjoyed it). Nevertheless, you should remember, that in this place all year round rain takes hold and temperature higher than 25 deg happens only rarely!. It influences the seawater temperature, which is not higher than 15 deg usually. Anyway, I would strongly recommend this place. Be prepared for big traffic during the nice weather and try to park your car even outside the village. Even a 2 km walk is far better than a jam in traffic.

15b. The Minack Theatre

The Minack Theatre is an open-air theatre located on a rocky outcrop jutting above the sea. “Minack” in the Cornish language means a rocky place. This is one of the most spectacular theatres in the World. The object has been built in 1932 for a local village club player, who had staged Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream every year since 1929.

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Read more also below:

Minack Theatre information

Minack Theatre’s main page

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16. Land’s End

The land’s end is the most westerly point in Cornwall. There are a big holiday complex and a shopping village.

The land’s end is also the place of beautiful cliffs. During the pristine weather, you can see the Isle of Scilly from a distance of around 45 km. I was trying to see it, unfortunately in vain. It was a really hazy day, when we came to the Land’s end, the last day of good and warm weather.

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Read more also below:

Land’s end main page

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17. Cape Cornwall

Cape Cornwall provides really breathtaking scenery. This is the place, from where you can see awe-inspiring cliff rocks, Land’s End and atypical industry buildings in the nearest village.

18. Carn Galver Engine House

Near Cape Cornwall, the Botallack village is located. This is the most popular place to see the former tin mines in Cornwall. We toured another one – Carn Galver Engine House, which lies next to the B3306 road from St. Just to St. Ives. I think, that this object is easily accessible. On top of that, this is not only one, but that is also situated near to the road.

The mining tradition in Cornwall lasted nearly 400 years.

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Read more also below:

 The mining industry in Cornwall

Cornwall – Industrial History

Botallack village – tin mining example

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19. St. Ives

Our last port of call in Cornwall was the ferry town St. Ives, which we saw on Wednesday. On our way down to Okehampton and next to Oxford, we stopped by for 2 hours to scout this place. Formerly the economy of St. Ives was depending on fishing. Now tourism came to the fore and the town is one of the biggest seaside resorts in Cornwall.

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I am aware, that Cornwall is a much more attractive place to see. I described only a dozen or so, that I was able to visit during my double journey to this part of the United Kingdom.

A few words about our accommodation

1. Campsite Numphra Downs Farm

This campsite is very attractive due to the price. I guess that this is the cheapest campsite in the cornish “corner” very close to the Land’s End, St. Michael’s Mount, etc. Unfortunately during your stay, you will have one big enemy – the weather, which is very unforgiving in this place. The wind is really strong even during the night and cloudiness may occur much more often than in different places. The campsite is located on a windward-facing slope. Temperature is also low due to the wind.

During fair-weather days you can see the seaside from this place. This campsite is perfect for people, who like an adventure. Staying here you can feel like a scout. I really liked this place.

2. YHA Lizard Point

Lizard Point was for me one of the best places, where I could sleep. The price of os staying is really nice. This accommodation is located outside the village and easily accessible by car. From here you can take walks alongside the shore. If I would complain a little bit there is no beach in the proximate vicinity. The closest one is Housel Bay Beach located east of the Lizard Point. You need to walk for around 15 min. Anyway, I would recommend this place as (probably) the best place to stay in Whole Cornwall with a nice view of the English Channel and also with a clear night sky. During the good weather, you are able to capture the light glow from Brest, located on the opposite side of the English Channel (Canal La Manche) in France, around 180 km on the beeline from Lizard Point.

Summary

At the finish I would like to tell you, what would I do when I would back to Cornwall again, where would I stay and what trips would I manage.

If I would choose the accommodation I would select the YHA Lizard point again, because the location is nice and the place is really secluded, far from the traffic and turmoil. This is a perfect place to take a rest and watch the world go by. Making daily trips could allow you to make good and quite cheap shopping in the closest Helston town. From Helston, only you can reach the Lizard Point by car anyway.

Mixing those 2 trips I would back to Cornwall for a week. I would take 2 or even 3 days off laying on the near beaches (Housel Hay Beach, Kynance Cove Beach) and visit Cornwall for the rest days making at least 3 “loops”:

1 – Lizard Point – Tintagel – Port Isaac – Newquay
2 – Lizard Point – Helston – Falmouth – Mevagissey – Eden Project – Cornish Alps
3 – Lizard Point – St.Michael’s Mount – Porthcurno – Land’s End – Cape Cornwall – Batallack village
4 – St. Ives – Bodmin Moor (on the way down home or at the beginning)
5. Tamar Bridge (on the way down home or at the beginning).

The distances across Cornwall are not long. Driving from Lizard Point you can reach the Tintagel Castle after around 2 hours. There are two of the most extreme points in Cornwall within one trip. Remember also, that the sightseeing duration recommended may differ between some places. Eden Project will soak you for at least 3 hours, similar to the Tintagel Castle and St. Michael’s Mount (taking into account, that you will pay the admission and go inside) unlike the Cape Cornwall where basically you can take a few pictures, look around and leave this place after half an hour. It’s up to you. I hope, that my article will help you to manage your own trip to this excellent part of the United Kingdom.

Mariusz Krukar