West Cornwall – Beautiful Beaches, Spectacular Scenery and Old Cornish Villages to Explore
West Cornwall – the land of golden sun-drenched beaches, mesmerising blue skies, picturesque fishing villages, and rugged cliffs. 2 coasts are always within easy reach offering a treasure trove of different types of beaches. Most of West Cornwall’s major beaches have been awarded the “Blue Flag” award to denote cleanliness both in and out of the water.
On the top coast of West Cornwall, 3 miles of golden sands offering sun, sea and surf stretch along Hayle beach. Just further along the Cornish coast is the town of St. Ives with a choice of 4 blue flag beaches. Why not take the comfortable train from St Erth to St Ives and enjoy beautiful scenery most of the way.
On the opposite West Cornwall coast, Marazion is the gateway to the enchanting St Michael’s Mount, accessed by a causeway which is revealed at low tide. An enchanting medieval castle and church are perched on top of its craggy slopes. Marazion Bay continues for another 2 miles leading to Longrock Beach and Eastern Green.
West Cornwall has a wealth of wildlife and you feel you are always close to nature. It is one of the richest areas in Britain for sea life – you can often spot grey seals which breed around the coast. You may even get to see bottle-nosed dolphins, harbour porpoises, basking sharks and turtles as they feed in the plankton rich sea. Bird lovers will note many breeds of cliff nesting sea birds.
West Cornwall also has its share of ancient monuments including the 5000 year old Lanyon Quoit and the Bronze Age stone circle known as The Merry Maidens near Lamorna. The famous outdoor Minnack Theatre hosts a number of theatrical events during the summer.
Old Cornish villages and harbours full of character seem to appear with regularity. Don’t miss Mousehole, still a traditional working fishing village which just oozes character. Then there is Pendeen which is well known for its mining history. Visit the thriving fishing town of Newlyn where you can see the Cornish community at work.
