The Far West - Cornwall

Probably the most ‘Cornish’ region of all and covering both the Atlantic and South Coasts, the Far West stretches from St. Ives to Lands End and from Penzance round to the Lizard.

Here we see more of the legacy of traditional industries in Cornwall like mining, and you will notice the area is dotted with chimneys and old mines. Some like Geevor Tin Mine are now thriving as tourist attractions and you can discover how the mines and their owners helped shape the landscape of the region.

The Far West provides big contrasts between the two coast lines with the bracing Atlantic Coast on one side and the tranquillity and calm of the South Coast on the other. St.Ives is the most popular holiday resort, with several superb beaches, a bustling town packed with winding streets, pretty harbour and the Tate Modern Art Gallery.

Travelling from St. Ives to Lands End you will find St. Just, the most westerly town in England, once the capital of the Cornish Mining Industry you will find clues to its claim to fame all around the area. A road from the town leads to Cape Cornwall where magnificent views can be enjoyed along the coast in both directions. A little further down the coast and you will reach Sennen where two lovely beaches Sennen Cove and Gwenver Beach will vie for your attention. Lands End itself has the Visitor Centre and worthy of a visit if only to say you have been to the furthest South Westerly point in England.

From here along the now South Coast and the stunning beach at Porthcurno, where the turquoise/blue sea has more of a Caribbean feel. The Minack Theatre is located here, quite an exceptional feat of architecture and offering a completely unique experience as a venue, carved from the cliff rock itself with the sea as a backdrop to the actors performances.

Heading toward Penzance you come across Mousehole, a very pretty harbour town and famous for the Christmas light display every year. This brings us as we pass the harbour at Newlyn to Penzance, a thriving town offering everything you would expect of a modern Capital. Just to the east of the centre of town in Mounts Bay is St. Michaels Mount, a beautiful National Trust property reached by a causeway or when the tide is in by small boat.
 
The journey around the Far West coast concludes at The Lizard, a sheltered peninsula where rare flowers bloom, unspoilt fishing villages wait to be explored and hidden coves and quiet beaches long to be discovered.

Attractions in the Far West include the The Cornish Seal Sanctuary at Gweek, Nr Helson, Flambards Adventure Park, The Goonhilly Satellite and Earth Station and Poldark Mine.

Inland the industrial town of Redruth is located by the main A30 trunk road and forms the gateway to the area with Camborne close by, both are busy towns and offer the shopping and leisure activities you would expect to find.

The area has a long history traced back prior to the Roman occupation with Chysauster, just north of Penzance, an excellent example of an Iron Age village site.  One of the most well known features in this area is the Merry Maidens stone circle just outside Lamorna which, along with a single standing stone in an adjacent field, is the legendary result of young village maidens and their piper being turned into stone for dancing on a Sunday.

The Far West offers visitors a diverse choice of holiday, whether you want to escape into the peace and calm of The Lizard, choose the golden sands of Sennen Cove, the bustling beauty of St.Ives or a traditional harbour village like Mousehole there is something to suit all ages.

Try our Interactive Map showing all the Places to Visit in Cornwall.