Helston Museum
sea. Porthleven is one of the
most picturesque of
Cornish villages situated in the centre of Mount’s Bay and regarded as Britain’s most
southerly port. In
Open Mon-Sat, 10-1pm Free Admission Full Disabled Access
Tel: 01326 564027
www.cornwall.gov.uk
the last few years, it has become very well known as the village ‘Portloe’ where the television series Doc Martin is filmed. At one time it was a very busy port but today only a few fishing vessels operate and the harbour is mainly used by pleasure craft and angling boats. A mile long beach
extends to Loe Pool, Cornwall’s largest freshwater lake, unsurpassed for its beauty. Legend says that it is into this pool King Arthur threw his sword, Excalibur. There are many cliff walks giving uninterrupted views of Mounts Bay, the Lizard and Land’s End. Praa Sands has Rinsey Head at one end and Hoe Point at the other. There is probably no finer stretch of sand in Cornwall and has won clean beach awards.
Helston Steps
several squadrons of helicopters. The skill of the pilots and the crews is unmatched. Many a sailor and visitor have been saved from certain death by the efficiency of their rescue skills and bravery. A visit to the Helston Air Show is a must.
Before going on to Penzance take a look at Marazion. There is a traditional story about Marazion. It is said that Joseph of Arimathea was connected with the village when he and other Jews traded with ancient Cornish tin miners. It certainly is reputed to be the oldest town in England with the warmest mean climate. It has a very safe beach with no rip tides or underflow. There are people who will have never heard of Marazion but there are few who do not know something about St Michaels Mount. It is the home of the St Levan family and administered by the National Trust. It is open to the public most week days, tides permitting. In summer a ferry is in service at high tide. It is romantic and mystical.
Three miles south of Helston, just off the A308, in a combe stands the church of St Winwalloe, with only the call of the seabirds for company. Known as the ‘Church of the Storms’ it was founded in the 6th century by Winwalloe. There are sandbanks here where treasure chests were buried by pirates. You should see this lovely church before constant erosion of the cliff threatens to destroy it.
Between Helston and Penzance you will find Porthleven and Praa Sands, two wonderful stretches of sand and
27
The ancient market town of Penzance is the Capital of the far west of Cornwall, and gateway to the Lands End Peninsula, the town is set in beautiful Mounts Bay. The Cornish for Penzance is “Pen Sans” meaning “Holy Headland”, referring to the headland to the western side of the harbour. Located
just 10 miles from Land’s End, an area of Celtic culture and an outstanding natural beauty surrounds the town. With a population of approx 20,000, it is both a market town and a popular tourist destination, with a reputed
30,000
visitors per year, and features the longest promenade in the UK on its sea front. There are several historic houses in the town, amongst Regency and Georgian terraces, along with a number of museums and galleries.
Perhaps the most famous house in Penzance is the ‘Egyptian House’
which was built in 1838. (It really is nothing like anything in Egypt!). Maria Branwell, mother of Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte, was born in the town; the Branwell family home can still be seen on Chapel Street. Sir Humpry Davy is Penzance’s famous son, at first he discovered the aesthetic effect of laughing gas, but his main claim to fame
© Stueytheround 2007
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