Why is The Lizard called The Lizard? I wondered about that, so a quick google explained:-
Apparently depending on which website you read, it could be from the Cornish ‘Lys Ardh’, ‘Lys’ meaning Place and ‘Ardh’ meaning High or alternatively it is again from the Cornish ‘Lezou’ meaning Headland. Either works for me because it is definitely a High Placed Headland. Whatever is historically correct it is a beautiful area and strangely you do feel rather like you are on an island as it feels so remote from the rest of Cornwall.
We spent a busy 6 days in this Area of outstanding natural beauty and home to the UK's most southernly point. Rather than write a long description of the history, flora and fauna and diverse nature of this isolated and beautiful part of Cornwall I will let the photographs speak for themselves.
Our site was a 20 minute walk from Coverack where there is the only privately owned and still very busy fishing harbour. There are stone seats built into the harbour wall where you can sit a while and watch the fisherman busy about their boats whilst enjoying a coffee from one of the many local cafes.
We also visisted the very French sounding St Anthony-in-Meneage a tiny village at the end of a very narrow and winding lane, with a busy boat yard and coastal walks and where when the tide is out you can walk over the estuary to the wonderful sounding Flushing on the opposite side of the creek. See below:-
Degibna, owned by the National Trust, has a large car park from where we followed a circular walk down through the shady woods towards Loe Bar on what was a beautiful sunny day. We would highly recommend this wonderful walk with the most fabulous views of Loe Bar.
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Cadgwith a lively and bustling fishing village with thatched cottages and popular café. We walked through the narrow lanes of the village, past the tin church and along the coastal path to The Devil’s Frying Pan. I loved this village it had a olde worlde feel to it where time slipped into slow mode and you left the rest of the world behind or in the car park at the top of the village. It is a popular place so like other quaint fishing villages in Cornwall (I am thinking of Polperro particularly) there is a large car park at the head of the main road into the tiny centre.
We took some time to re-visit Gunwalloe Church Cove. Here you find the delightfully named St Winwaloe Church (Church of the Storms) tucked into the dunes, with its unusual detached Tower. Another lovely place to walk or simply spend time on the beach. It is owned by the National Trust who purchased the farm and lands in 2018. There is a small café too. I did rather enjoy a hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows!!!!! Diet starts sometime soon ......
Naturally we couldn’t travel to The Lizard without taking another look at the stunning Kynance Cove. We arrived in the late afternoon when the car park was emptying. So we found a fairly quiet and sheltered spot to enjoy the view and the dipping sun.
For our final couple of days of this trip we moved over to the North Coast at Gwithian Towans and that wonderful 3 miles of sandy beach overlooking St Ives. With Godrevy Lighthouse at one end and Hayle at the other this beach is spectacular. The CMC site Godrevy Park is just over the road from the sand dunes and on what turned out to be some of the hottest days of our trip we explored, walked, paddled and relaxed. A lovely end to an all too short a trip.
Well autumn has truly arrived and with the drop in temperature comes the drop in leaves. We visited Batsford Arboretum a few days ago so I am busy putting together some photos of the wonderful colours and views that greeted us there. Watch out for my next blog. I'll leave you with the vibrant reds of one of our Acers.
Bye for now
Caroline
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