The Penwith Peninsula in Cornwall

The Penwith Peninsula in the far west of Cornwall entices with impressive coastal landscapes and small, lively harbour towns and villages. Historically shaped by fishing, agriculture, and mining, tourism has long been added – magnificent sandy beaches, walking trails like the South West Coast Path, art, and culture attract numerous travellers to the westernmost tip of the British Isles – including Land’s End, the westernmost point on the wild and rugged rocky coast, with only the rough Isles of Scilly lying offshore. As everywhere in Cornwall, the region benefits from the Gulf Stream, which ensures a mild climate.

Nestled in sheltered coves are small towns like St. Ives, Penzance, or picturesque villages such as St. Just, Porthcurno, or Mousehole. The coves with their sandy beaches, for example at Sennen Cove, are popular with surfers of all ages. I have rarely seen so many old, but well-preserved VW buses; that probably goes with the surfer lifestyle. Early in the morning at low tide, this family prepares for the waves of the incoming tide, wrapped in protective wetsuits despite the warm summer.

The English summer can sometimes be windy and grey, but with the right equipment, summer holidaymakers can still enjoy a relaxing beach stay on such days. Hikers on the coastal path experience further highlights here, such as Porth Chapel Beach, the Minack Amphitheatre on the rocky coast, and the disused tin mines at Geevor. These, along with the impressive beaches and coves of the nearby Lizard Peninsula, the southernmost point of Great Britain, are among Cornwall’s most beautiful coastal sections.

More pictures from Cornwall in the Great Britain picture gallery.