ORNWALL
St Ives (Corn i s h : Porth Ia, meaning St Ia’s cove) is a seaside town, civil parish and port in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The town lies north of Penzance and west of Camborne on the coast of the Celtic
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A strange ripple, a little nose - a seal pops up in the harbour to say hello and to hold court with the intrigued throng. Dolphins, porpoises and basking sharks in the Bay, a myriad of little undersea worlds of shrimp, crab and anemone, rock pools to explore in timeless fashion. A precious twinkling jewel, sparkling colours, wonderful friendly people. The Bay of St Ives has more than its fair share of beaches and for fifty miles along the length of Cornish coastline there are magnificent open stretches of silky white and glowing sands. Awake to the gulls’ cry, dress quickly and jog down the cool granite streets for a solitary early morning walk along t h e beach.
Sea. I n former times it was commercially dependent on fishing. The decline in fishing, however, caused a shift in commercial emphasis and the town is now primarily a popular holiday resort, notably achieving the award ‘Best UK Seaside Town’.
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Cool sand and warm water caress your soles, tickle your toes. Back to the hotel feeling a little pleased with yourself - sand between your toes before breakfast - a very long way from the busy rush of working life. Do this every day of your stay and with so many beaches to choose from here you would never tire. Each beach has its own charm and appeal; there are busy family beaches to popular watersports venues and wideopen flat sands and tucked away hidden suntraps. Most of the beaches employ fully qualified Lifeguards during the summer months. Our tidal, sandy bottomed harbour is still a working port where you can watch the local fishermen landing their daily fresh catches of seafood.
MEVAGISSEY
Narrow streets and steep valley sides lead down to the centre of old Mevagissey where the distinctive twin harbour provides a safe haven for the many fishing boats that land their daily catch of skate, lobster, plaice and sole. In typical picture postcard style, pubs, cafes, galleries and shops cluster around the harbour walls and line the pretty streets. Named after two Irish saints, St Meva and St Issey, the village dates back to at least 1313 and during the 1800s Mevagissey prospered on the back of the abundant source of pilchards out to sea. Around the maze of streets you’ll find plenty of seafood restaurants and there is nothing more sublimely Cornish than tucking into some local scallops or mackerel and ending the evening with a walk along the harbour wall with lights of the village twinkling on the water. Nearby are The Lost Gardens of Heligan which underwent a famous restoration after decades of neglect and now brims with an amazing array of sub- tropical flowers, trees and plants and the Pentewan trail, an easy-going 5 mile round trip from the beach at Pentewan to the village of London Apprentice and back. The trail runs along the bed of an old narrow gauge railway which once took clay and tin ore to the harbour at Pentewan until it silted up and the railway ceased operation in 1916.
COVE
SENNEN
As you approach the village it’s not long before you spot the huge blue rollers heading towards the shore which makes Sennen Cornwall’s most westerly surf hotspot. With a long, sandy beach and small harbour the village combines working fishing port with laid back surf style.
which are moved frequently to follow tidal movements while along the seafront, cafes, restaurants, pubs, galleries and shops provide the onshore niceties.
The Pedn-men-du, a promontory that protects the cove from the westerly Atlantic gales, is a popular haunt for climbers and On the beach there are top rate in the village the lifeboat station surfing conditions and safe established over 150 years ago bathing within flagged areas is open to visitors in summer.
Land’s End, approximately nine miles west of Penzance, is the most westerly point of the English mainland and the closest to the North American continent. Looking out to sea from here allows the mind to appreciate the scale of the Atlantic Ocean, seeming to stretch beyond the horizon for ever. The granite cliffs, which make up the coastline of West Cornwall, are seen at their best here where the combination of the power of the sea and the
strength of the cliffs reduce man to a mere spectator of nature. On a clear day, the Isles of Scilly can be seen lying just on that horizon - a group of small, yet very beautiful, islands of which five are inhabited while the remainder of nearly 100 are given over to sea birds! Closer to shore is the Longships Lighthouse, just over a mile out to sea, while in the distance, about six miles to the south-west, can be seen the Wolf Rock lighthouse.
Kynance Cove
Kynance Cove is a cove in southwest Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated on the Lizard peninsula approximately two miles north of Lizard Point. Kynance Cove and the surrounding coast are owned by the National Trust. The cove became popular in the early Victorian era, with many distinguished visitors including poet Alfred Tennyson. The BBC has described Kynance Cove as “one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the South West.” The Kynance Café relied until recently on spring water, and on a generator for power. When the café became the property of the National Trust in 1999, the Trust renovated it and provided mains water and electricity. If stunning had a big sister then Kynance Cove would be her.
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Located on the west side of the Lizard and probably 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. There’s a steep 10-15 minute walk down to the cove but that doesn’t stop visitors who head to the beach for a family day out, a romantic stroll along the sand or to photograph the moment when in the sunlight on the sea turns a brilliant turquoise colour. At low tide you can explore the towering rocks stacks and the caves with names such as The Parlour and The Drawing Room. From Kynance there is a fantastic 2 mile scenic walk around the coast to Lizard Point.
A flash flood on 16 August 2004 caused extensive damage to the village. Residents were trapped in houses as the roads turned into rivers: people were trapped on roofs, in cars, in buildings and on the river’s banks. and the village’s visitor centre was washed away.[7][8] Two Royal Air Force Westland Sea King rescue helicopters from Chivenor, three Royal Navy Sea Kings from Culdrose, one RAF Sea King from St Mawgan and one Coastguard S61 helicopter
from P o r t land searched for and assisted casualties in and around the village. The operation was coordinated by the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) based at RAF Kinloss in Scotland in the largest peacetime rescue operation ever launched in the UK. A total of 91 people were rescued and there were no fatalities,
on ly one broken thumb. tle was declared temporarily inaccessi Boscastle was flooded again 2007 although the scale tion was not nearly as seriou
ible. n on 21 June of destrucus as in 2004.
Boscastle. a medieval harbour and village hidden in a steep sided valley.