Penzance a delightful town on the Lands End Peninsula, Cornwall

penzance

St Michael's Mount | Newlyn | Lands End | Mousehole | Porthcurno

Penzance, a delightful town on the Lands End Peninsula of Cornwall in the far South West of England. Narrow streets dating back to the sacking of the town by the Spaniards, alleyways crammed with shops to explore, elegant Victorian Terraces, such as Regent St seen left, a working harbour, the gateway to the Isles of Scillies, a promenade stretching towards Newlyn with St Michaels Mount at the other end of the bay with The Lizard in the far distance.

Market Jew Street, the main thoroughfare, stretches back up a hill from the Railway Station, lined on each side with impressive granite clad buildings. Visit the two museums, window shop to your hearts content, pop into the many pubs and inns for a drink or bite to eat. Stroll along to Bolitho Gardens

In Chapel Street is the Admiral Benbow Inn, containing in their words ' a vast array of seafaring antiques' recovered from historic ships' - salvage from wrecks, from ships wheels to figure heads. Have a meal in their reconstruction of sir Admiral Clowdesley Shovel's Dining Cabin. Until recently on the other side of the Street was the William Morris Maritime Museum . On the 14th October 1707 Sir Admiral Clowdesley Shovel's flagship The Association , together with another five vessels of the 21 strong fleet, were returning to England following the destruction of the Mediterranean Fleet.

Sadly they lost their positions in gales and were wrecked on rocks off the Scilly Islands. Over 2000 crew lost their lives. 260 years later the Association's remains were found by a Dive Team led by Roland Morris. Many of the artefacts recovered are now on display at the Charlestown Shipwreck Heritage Museum.

Mention must be made for Penzance's Golowan Festival, celebrating the Feast of St John, a revival of the Mazey Day. Held over a ten day period in Midsummer. A street market. Visiting boats galore in the harbour. A fireworks display. Comedy shows. Music from jazz to flamenco. Not forgetting the Election of Penzance Mock Mayor.

In winter vegetables such as cauliflower's are harvested from the fields surrounding the town, whilst in spring daffodils bring a blaze of welcoming colour to herald the summer.

Stone megaliths from prehistoric times dot the Lands End Peninsula: climb through the Men an Tol and have your rheumatism cured; visit the Nine Maidens Stone Circle, and Lanyon Quoit with its huge granite capstone. Climb Trencrom Hill with its Iron Age Fort and superb views across to photogenic St Ives. You must visit Chysauster Iron Age Village.

Now you've come this far, why not visit the sub-tropical Isles of Scilly? Catch the Scillonian and sail along the lovely coast, past Minack Theatre, before heading out past Lands End and the Longships Lighthouse. No sea legs, then why not fly by British Airways helicopter, or small passenger plane from Lands End Aerodrome?

Walk or cycle to Newlyn , home of the largest fishing fleet in Cornwall, and on to Mousehole with its so picturesque harbour and Xmas Illuminations. Art lovers may also care to visit Penlee House Gallery and Museum, housing exhibits not both of the Newlyn School of Artists, but also of the Lamorna and St Ives' Groups too. Artists such as Stanhope Forbes and Henry Scott Tuke to name but two. The gallery has a dazzling display of photographs from the late 19th century, but with some taken as early as the 1870's.

Click on thumbnails below for larger view

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