Day 20 – Kynance Cove to Kennack Sands

We made a prompt start just before 10 am on a cool, windy, drizzly morning unlike any other that we had experienced on our walks. But the forecast was good so we were ever hopeful of improvements as we went along and we weren’t disappointed.

Once we managed to find our way back up and out of Kynance Cove from the car park we came across this curiously amusing bit of jetsam at Caerthillian Cove, which someone had obviously gathered up from the beach below :

Pretty quickly the old Life Boat station in Polpeor Cove at the Lizard came in to view

and then we were at the Lizard within the hour before we knew it.

This seemed a good spot for our selfie – but it was not the most successful – however it does put on record our reaching the most southerly gift shop in the UK! :

There were a few visitors around despite the weather, but there had been reports of a breeding pair of Cornish Choughs spotted in the area, so that might have generated a bit of extra interest. We didn’t see them, but here’s an archive picture :

They are well-known for their red legs and beak. And interestingly for me they feature on the emblem for the local primary school where I spent some years as a school governor.

Darite Primary School.

The path took us on past the lighthouse above Bumble Rock where there was a fantastic spread of yellow Charlock in the area, also known as wild mustard.

There is strong evidence in the area of the importance this part of Cornwall has played in the progress of telecommunications over the years.

The Lizard Wireless Station …

… is closely followed by the LLoyds Signal Station

A little further on and we were welcomed by the National Coastwatch (NCI) lookout at Bass Point. NCI Bass Point was the first lookout started over 20 years ago where volunteers keep a watch on our coastlines. Each station assists in the protection and preservation of life at sea and around the UK coastline.There are now about 50 NCI stations dotted around the coasts of England and Wales.

Tony was on watch at NCI Bass Point and made us very welcome – giving us a brief tour of the lookout and explaining some of their responsibilities. NCI Bass Point is a single-manned station and is always looking for new volunteers.

On the way towards Church Cove this fanciful house name caught our eye…

..with a huge display of pink Valarian surrounding the property..

..and a small memorial to the sinking of the Bugaled Breizh in 2004.

Kilcobben Cove below Church Cove is now home to the new Lifeboat Station covering the Lizard.

I love the idea of protecting the environment for glow worms..

The coastline here is just beautiful. We both felt that it is one of the prettiest stretches along our way.

Just before we dropped down into Cadgwith we passed ‘The Devil’s Frying-pan’. This amazing natural arch which looks like it is only accessible by sea.

Cadgwith is a lovely little thriving fishing village; fairly unique in being home to so many thatched cottages so close to the sea, which make the whole place really quaint. We were seeing it at its best as, by now the sun was fully out and the place was buzzing. This photo definitely does not do it justice.

After enjoying some more scrumptious Kelly’s ice cream we pushed on for the last mile or so. Just beyond Cadgwith is this tiny little deserted coastguard station which until very recently operated as an outpost to NCI Bass Point.

We reached our destination at Kennack Sands at about 2.45pm. It’s a bit of a hidden gem. It has lovely golden sands and all the facilities. About 8 miles covered today, not our longest by any means but thoroughly enjoyable.