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Out and About Around Lamorna 

Historical Notes of Lamorna

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History of West Penwith

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AROUND AND ABOUT FROM LAMORNA, WEST CORNWALL 

There are many Coves and Beaches accessible from Lamorna.
At the height of the season people tend to congregate and never look around for other places. By just walking east around the cliff for a few yards you will find it possible to have safe fun with the kids with probably no one else in sight.

However there are lots of other places to visit. I have shown a few below. The framed map in the sitting room will show you how to get there.

Lamorna

The beach in the Cove varies considerably in size each year depending upon the  storms and tides moving the sand about. Whatever the size the beach is about as safe as they get. There are no undercurrents to worry about and the water is shallow (and usually cold) when the tide is out. The biggest danger is probably from inflatable dingies being blown out to sea. There is a lifebelt on the quayside ready to be thrown into the sea to anyone in trouble, but it has never been used.

If boats are being launched or retrieved it is wise to give them a wide berth, especially if there is much movement on the sea. The water can swirl around the bottom of the slipway and drive boats on to the quay wall or on to the rocks the other side.

Also remember that the boat is being driven by a totally unprotected propeller which can harm you severely should you make contact.  

You can of course sunbathe and swim from the rocks on the eastside of the cove. To the west of the cove there are at low tide both rocks to sunbathe on and also rock pools. The pools are warm relative to the sea and a great place to teach small children to swim or to catch Blenny fish with a simple hook and cotton line.

Other Coves and Beaches nearby in West Cornwall

Porthguarnon, Penberth Cove, Pedne Founder, Nanjizal, Pendeen, Portheras Cove,

and Porthmear Cove,

Porthleven Sands/Loe Bar/Loe Pool.

This is a two mile stretch of sand which shelves deeply and is dangerous for bathing. The bar itself was flung up by the sea, blocking the mouth of the river Cober and creating a pool of brackish water. The beach is composed of coarse sand and superb small pebbles. Many of the pebbles have such beautiful texture and colours that they have need for little further polishing. Access to Loe Bar is easiest from Porthleven. Follow the narrow coastal road to Loe Pool and park on the cliff top, just off the track.

 Praa Sands

Continuing, round the coast to Mounts Bay brings one to Praa Sands. The sea is normally calm here and the bathing safe and ideal for children. the coastal path over /Cudden Head has magnificent views of the bay and St Michaels Mount with Penzance and Newlyn in the back ground.

 Marazion (Market Jew)  

This town was originally a settlement in the middle ages occupied by Jews who smelted tin. The beach from Marazion to Penzance is ideal for children. There is a wide stretch of sand and beautiful pebbles and shells to be collected. Parking is within easy reach of the beach.

St Michaels Mount 

Penzance

Penzance (holy head) grew on the tin trade, after being rebuilt after the destruction of 1595. In 1769 its Mayor was a well known smuggler.In 1801 the population was 3,382. In the next ten years it grew by 19% to 4,022. In 1813 the large pier was built, allowing for up to 100 vessels to moor there including the largest commercial vessels of the day. By 1821 the population had grown by a further 30% to 5,224 and by 1831 by 27% to 6,563. 

Mousehole 

Original name Porth Enys, Island Port . Whilst the reason is clear, quite when it acquired its new name, and how, is lost as with many things here in the mists of time.Mousehole is a picturesque and sheltered village with a harbour that has numerous small boats moored in the water and there is an ideal small beach for children.
The Keigin Arms, the building with two pillars at the front, is the sole surviving building from the sacking of Mousehole by the Spaniards in 1595.Apart from the road to Mousehole there are two cross country routes for walkers. The coastal path or the inland route. Both are fairly well signposted. Either way you will finish up going down the long steep hill into Mousehole and of course unless you have made other arrangements you will have to return the same way. If you have difficulties with steep hills it is suggested that you do make other arrangements!

 However whether you walk back or not, if you time your walk right, and it takes about an hour from Lamorna, as you enter Mousehole there are numerous small cafes serving traditional Cornish Cream Teas. And after all you will have earned it.

 Both cross country routes require you to cross the stream and walk towards the quarry. The path that goes off to the left by a large cube of granite will take you on the inland walk via Kemyel  Wartha Farm, Kemyel Drea Farm and Kemyel Crease Farm.The path that goes off to the right will take you along the coast via the headland known as Carn-du (black rock) which you can see from the cove, then along the coast until you emerge as with the other walk at the top of the hill that leads down to Mousehole. Whichever way you choose you will have some magnificent views well worth taking a camera along to capture. 

Porth Curno (Kernow) 

Well worth a visit. The location of the original trans-Atlantic cable that ran across the Atlantic to the USA. The Cable and Wireless centre is now closed but some of the early cable remains are exposed to view. The Cove has recently been presented to the National Trust..

High upon the cliffs you can see the famous Minach Open Air Theatre built by Miss Rowena Cade and two men in 1932.. There are regular shows there played against a backdrop of some originality. Warm clothes are recommended for those choosing to attend. A hip flask, with the warming fluid of your choice, will also come in handy not to mention a cushion. Nevertheless the shows are well produced, always well attended and certainly worth a visit.

 The beach itself is fine sand, and like all of the beaches in this area composed of minute grains of shells. The beach shelves very steeply and it is easy for the intrepid to suddenly get out of depth. Children need supervision when bathing here.

 Porthgwarra

 An attractive cove with a small sheltered beach with minute shells.A tunnel through the cliffs leads from the cottages to the base of a steep hard, up which small boats are winched. A feature of the landscape are the massive granite rocks that have weathered into cube shaped blocks, like a giants castle. 

The North Coast

Portheras, Pendeen and Priests Cove (Cape Cornwall). 

These are small coves, with little beaches. They are generally under-populated due to the steepish cliff paths. However the parking spaces are ample and they are the places to go to when the tourist season is at its height. 

Treen

A drive to Treen along the North Coast road provides a pleasant walk out to Treen Dinas, A prominent rock headland on which stands the Logan Rock.There is an excellent 'Pub' at Treen with a family eating room and a garden at the rear also laid out for eating. Past the ;Pub' takes you to a large car park from where you can begin the walk to the headland.

At low tide the beach stretches right round to Purthgurno. You can get down to this beach from Treen but the sea is shallow and the incoming tide can cut you off from the retreat.

In 1824 Lieutenant Goldsmith, nephew of Oliver Goldsmith the celebrated poet and novelist,  commander of an armed vessel, decided to challenge an emphatic statement by the famous Dr Borlase 'that the rock known as the Login Rock, poised so that any hand may move it to and fro: but the extremities of its base are at such a distance from each other, and so well secured by their nearness to the stone , which it stretches itself upon, that it is morally impossible that any lever, or indeed any force (however applied in a mechanical way) can remove it from its present situation'. 

So Lt Goldsmith, accompanied by a dozen of his men, went on eighth of April 1824. to the rock and by the continued application of their united strength caused the rock to slide a short distance from its horizontal base into a narrow chasm. 

The locals were not so jubilant as Lt Goldsmith may have been. Gilbert, the Cornish historian  who tells the story relates that he paid a visit to the Admiralty to speak for Lt Goldsmith and suggest that the Navy should send such apparatus that was necessary to replace the rock  and he for his part would raise such money that might be necessary. He further suggested that the enterprising Lt Goldsmith be charged with replacing the rock in its original position. 

On the 2nd of November, in a fete like  atmosphere, Lt Goldsmith did just that. In addition at the request of Gilbert and by a subscription of  further money they went on to replace Lanyon Quoit with the same apparatus. The capstone had fallen in 1815, reported locally to have been struck down  by lightning. They were not so successful on this occasion, succeeding only after reducing the height of the three upright stones by half. A quoit was a chambered tomb formed by raising oblong boulders on end to support a vast slab for a roof and then walling it all in with small stones or turf. They date from 2,500BC to 1,500BC. In all known cases the walls have long since gone.

 Sennen Cove (Whitesand Bay).

A vast expanse of sand bordered by sand dunes. The parking is good, if you are lucky at the bottom of the hill, otherwise at the top with a steepish walk down to the beach.
Sennen is on the North Coast and if there is sufficient movement in the sea it can be very good for surfing. There can also be a strong undertow and Coast Guards are always present in the season, indicating whether bathing is safe and marking the safe swimming zone.