iKnow Cornwall
The Lizard Accommodation
Spectacular Cornwall Coastal Walking and Scenery around Kynance Cove
Kynance Cove Beach on The Lizard Coast
Wild Flowers Carpet the Cliffs around Lizard Point in Spring/Summer
The Lizard Lighthouse at Lizard Point
Perched Pouch on the Lizard Point Cliffs - excellent coastal walking
Hidden Beaches & Coves around The Lizard Point
England's Most Southerly Point on the tip of the Lizard
Panoramic Views and Spectacular Coastal Walking around the LizardLizard Peninsula Lizard Point Kynance Cove Cornwall UK
Cornwall holidaymakers often miss the beauty of the Lizard and Lizard point, heading instead straight to St Michael's Mount and off to the West and Land's End. Do this and you're missing one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in Cornwall! Both the west and east coasts of the Lizard offer a choice of idyllic beaches, particularly on the west at Kynance Cove not far from the point and the Lizard Lighthouse (which offers tours in the summer). Rugged and dramatic landscapes are on the menu on the lower west coast of the Lizard, whilst on the east side discover some magical fishing villages usch as Cadgwith. Scuba Diving is available too around the popular Manacles offshore reef off Manacle Point on the east coast of the Lizard.
Helston Tourist Information Centre, 79 Meneage Street, Helston, Cornwall. TR13 8RB. Tel: 01326 565 431.
Lizard Beaches & Cornwall Surfing
Ready for some of the best beaches in Cornwall? South of Porthleven on the west coast of the Lizard there's a choice of beaches. Poldhu Cove is a most attractive little sandy beach, perfect for swimming (lifeguard present in summer season) with a handy cafe, a shop, toilets and parking all available. No dogs are allowed on Poldhu. Surfers head for Polurrian Cove, a glorious sandy beach. Watch the steep steps down to it though. No dogs allowed here either, and there is a lifeguard present. Little Mullion Island isn't open to the public - it's a special bird sanctuary. View it from Mullion Cove and harbour - Mullion Cove is one of many pretty villages around the Lizard. Here at Mullion Cove there's a pretty beach, shops, toilets and amenities and you can access boat trips from here.
For the jewel in the crown along this stretch of the Lizard coast head to the dramatic Kyance Cove. This idyllic white sandy cove, best for swimming at low tide, is popular and the jagged cliffs which back on the beach make for sublime viewing indeed! Walking the coastal path from Kyance all the way to Lizard Point is highly recommended. Wild flowers cover the cliffs in the summer months to great effect. Kynance Cove beach is reached again by some steep steps, and is equipped with basic amenities including a shop, cafe and toilets. No Dogs are allowed on this beach.
Over on the east coast of the Lizard Peninsula find more picturesque fishing villages, such as Cadgwith and Coverack. Cadgwith has a charming little pebble beach and is a delightful scene, with ample pretty thatched cottages and narrow olde worlde streets. Well worth a stop. Coverack is another picture postcard unspoilt village, with a sand and shingle beach and an attractive mini working harbour.
Head further up the east side for some of the best diving opportunities in Cornwall, around the Manacles - basically a jagged off shore reef where many a ship has come a cropper! St Kerverne's churchyard close to Manacle Point contains the graves of victims of the Mohegan steamship which was wrecked off the coast here in October 1898.
Lizard Point & Lizard Lighthouse Tours
Like dramatic coastal walking, and touring lighthouses? If so, head for the Lizard Point. The Cornish coastal path is well marked along the point, and offers some of the best coastal walking in Cornwall, especially in summer when wild flowers carpet the cliffs - magic!
The stark white Lizard Lighthouse is renowned for it's twin towers. This Cornish lighthouse sits on the most southerly point of mainland UK and has been warning ships off the coast since 1752 when it was first commissioned. It was electrified in 1924, and today has a fascinating visitors centre with various artefacts displayed in the old Engine House. Check out the Trinity House weblink right for details of opening times for the visitor centre and tour dates. Or telephone 01326 290967 for details. Keep your eyes peeled round these here parts for Britain's rarest breeding bird, the Cornish Clough!
Lizard Gardens
Bonython Gardens, Cury Cross Lanes, Helston, TR12 7BA. Tel: +44(0)1326 240550. A tropical and traditional horticulture garden situated at the gateway to the Lizard. Opening times are from 1st April to 30 Sept, Tues, Wed, Thurs & Fri 10am-4.30pm. Plant sales, a cafe, toilets, and parking all on-site. No dogs are allowed.
Bosahan Garden, Bosahan Estate Office, Manaccan, Nr Helston, TR12 6JL. Tel: 01326 231351. Two delightful valley gardens situated next to the River Helston's southern bank. Expect wonderful views of the estuary and sea from these gardens, plus a good sprinkling of rhododendrons and azaleas which are mixed with magnolias and southern hemisphere tree and shrub species. Fantastic! Opening times are from Monday to Friday, 27 March to 29 September, 11.00am - 4.30pm.
Carwinion Gardens, Mawnan Smith, Falmouth, TR11 5JA. Tel: 01326 250258. A lovely 12 acre garden in the Helford Valley. Expect to see bamboo, camellia, hydrangeas and ferns along with wild flowers and exotics. Specialist bamboo nurseries are situated within the garden. Relax and enjoy cream teas on the terrace in the summer months.
Godolphin House, Godolphin Cross, Helston, TR13 9RE. Tel: + 44 (0)1736 763194. A stunning Cornwall garden around a Tudor/Stuart Manor House. Ponds, side gardens, a deer park, formal gardens, a bluebell wood and formal gardens close to the house are all here to be enjoyed at Godolphin! Opening times are Easter Monday - 31 October 2006: every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday 11.00am - 5.00pm. Group bookings & tours by prior arrangement. For details of all these gardens, and gardens all around Cornwall check the Cornwall Gardens weblink to the right.
Lizard & the Manacles Diving
Cornwall diving is some of the best in Britain, with good clear waters for excellent visibility off the coast, and the Atlantic Gulf Stream keep the water temperatures warm. Diving around the Manacles off Cornwall's Lizard Coast is particularly popular, and a number of Diving companies offer great scuba diving courses and day trips to the Manacles and elsewhere along the Cornish Coast.
Basking Sharks, Porpoises and Dolphins all visit the Cornish Coast, you might see some on your scuba diving adventure! The famous off shore reef, the Manacles, just off the coast of the east side of the Lizard, is a top scuba diving haunt. Here, numerous shipwrecks can be viewed underwater - more ships have been wrecked here than anywhere else off the British coast. As well as the shipwrecks the Manacles offers a superb selection of reefs ""with rocks and gullies full of jewel anemones, crustaceans and plenty of fish life. The Manacle reefs are quite literally British scenic diving at itsĘ best - densely covered with soft corals, hydroids, and large plumose anemones"". (so says Dive Action, one of the best scuba diving companies in the area - check there weblink right for more details).
Lizard Diver, Tel: +44 (01326) 221446. Mob: 07966 002795. (weblink right for details)
Dive Action Diving Services, St. Keverne, Helston. Cornwall. Tel: 01326 280719. (weblink to the right for details)
The Marconi Centre, Poldhu Point
Wireless station history fans will certainly be familiar with the importance of the Lizard, with it's oldest surviving Marconi Centre at Poldhu. Marconi himself stayed in the area in 1900, on a mission to establish a coastal radio station receiving signals from ships. The Lizard Wireless Station set up by Marconi still sits next to the Housel Bay Hotel where he stayed, and has been wonderfully restored by the National Trust and is open to the public!
Just two years before the Titanic disaster, this station received an SOS call - in 1910. You can view extracts from the log book of the Minnehaha who issued this SOS call at the Marconi Centre.
Check the Lizard Wireless weblink right, and the Mullion Village Website also linked right for opening times and full details of radio equipment on display at the Marconi Centre.
Lizard Golf Courses Cornwall
Mullion Golf Club, Cury, Helston, Cornwall TR12 7BP. Tel: 01326 241176. 18 Holes, and Par 70, This Cornwall golf course at Mullion is one of the top ten golf courses in the UK! Expect stunning Lizard coastal views at what is the most westerly golf course in the UK! A handicap is required.
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