penwith

This unusual landmark of a holed island with its corrupted name means the Island (Enys) of Grass/Turf (Tonn) of which it probably had enough for a small field when so named but has dwindled in size both as an island and turfed top! behind it you see the rock called 'the Armed Knight' which is...

THis is the stuff that romantic Cornish novels are made of, and the type of coastal scenery that German people see in their televised soap based on Rosamund Pilcher novels and attracts them to Cornwall in droves lately.

An example of a 'zawn' or cleft-like inlet into the cliffs may be noted here. There exists a Cornish word 'sawn' (cleft/gulley) which has some relevance here.

The legend has it that an Irish boat foundered here and an Irishwoman, one of the passengers on board, clung to this rock for days before sadly, she failed to be rescued. An evocative tale and backed up by this coastal view!

Such beauty for the beholder here in January on a crisp, clear day. The river is running a different course from its usual one and etching a deep groove in the smooth and barely trodden sand.

You certainly get the feeling of Land's End here in this secluded valley that runs right down to where the Channel, the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea join forces beyond the huge, round boulders they mould.

Land's End is 'Penn an Wlas' in Cornish as may be seen at the commercial Land's End on its entrance (which copies the Falmouth Custom House). I think this view may show the official end of the land though in past ages, people incorrectly believed Cape Cornwall to be so. For me though, the real...

This has been moved several times. As you see, it has been used by local apprentices practising the art of drilling granite with hand tools though this was in the base only as the vertical holes were not shown by Blight in his drawing in 1856 and may be 20th Century damage. The cross has a...

This geometric cross does not mark a grave today but may well have done in the past, it is thought.

A timely reminder to us all of our mortality!

One of the real old pubs of Cornwall, built presumably to drink to the reign (1765-1837) of King William IV, nicknamed the sailor king.

This 'Men Skrifa' or 'Stone [of] Incription' bears one of names of the first Cornish people we know of: 'Rialobrani Cunovali Fili', a Latin inscription showing this to be the monument of Rialobran, son of Cunoval. There is another like this at Bleu Bridge, Gulval. These are probably chieftains...

This 'Men Skrifa' or 'Stone [of] Incription' bears one of names of the first Cornish people we know of: 'Rialobrani Cunovali Fili', a Latin inscription showing this to be the monument of Rialobran, son of Cunoval. There is another like this at Bleu Bridge, Gulval. These are probably chieftains...

This 'Men Skrifa' or 'Stone [of] Incription' bears one of names of the first Cornish people we know of: 'Rialobrani Cunovali Fili', a Latin inscription showing this to be the monument of Rialobran, son of Cunoval. There is another like this at Bleu Bridge, Gulval. These are probably chieftains...

As seen through the Churchyard entrance. Notice the old cross (right) and the moulded granite on the left.

Like Lescudjack Castle (which was bigger) and Trencrom (smaller), Chun Castle is a hilltop fortress dating from about 500 BC. It has two stone walls and ditches encircle the summit of the hill. The entrances are staggered to make it harder for the enemy to enter. 'Chun' is a Cornish name derived...

Like Lescudjack Castle (which was bigger) and Trencrom (smaller), Chun Castle is a hilltop fortress dating from about 500 BC. It has two stone walls and ditches encircle the summit of the hill. The entrances are staggered to make it harder for the enemy to enter. 'Chun' is a Cornish name derived...

Like Lescudjack Castle (which was bigger) and Trencrom (smaller), Chun Castle is a hilltop fortress dating from about 500 BC. It has two stone walls and ditches encircle the summit of the hill. The entrances are staggered to make it harder for the enemy to enter. 'Chun' is a Cornish name derived...

Like Lescudjack Castle (which was bigger), Chun Castle is a hilltop fortress dating from about 500 BC. It has two stone walls and ditches encircle the summit of the hill. The entrances are staggered to make it harder for the enemy to enter. 'Chun' is a Cornish name derived from 'Chi Woen' or...