Land's End

About Land's End

As the name suggests, Land's End is, literally, the most westerly point on England's mainland. It is a headland on the Penwith peninsula and lies approximately 13 km (8 mi) southwest of Penzance. Its Cornish name is Pen an Wlas, meaning the “end of the earth”, and you can see why when you look out from the granite cliffs over the Atlantic Ocean, which seems to go on beyond the horizon forever.

The Northern and Southern sections of the Cornish Coastal Footpath appropriately meet at Land's End. The longest continuous footpath in Britain stretches for around 800 km (500 mi) and culminates here in some intensely striking views, especially in winter when you can appreciate the sheer strength of the strong Atlantic currents as huge waves crash on the rocks and cliffs below.

Just over a mile out to sea are The Longships, a group of rocky islets offset by the Longships Lighthouse, and when the weather's fine you can see the Isles of Scilly 45 km (28 mi) to the south west. Only five of these are inhabited by people; the other 100 or so are home to vast colonies of sea birds. Somewhere in between the two, it's said that the lost land of Lyonesse lies, famed in Arthurian legend.

Nearby Sennen Cove is a small village and beach much frequented by surfers due to its great breakers, and an awesome sight to see as you walk around the coast is the Minack Theatre, an open air theatre built into the cliff face. This regularly stages plays against the dramatic scenery naturally provided by the sea.

Land’s End is a vibrant and constantly changing tourist attraction with activities and events all year round. One of the staples is the Land’s End Centre, where you can find out much more of the history and heritage of Cornwall and Land’s End, with a focus on the sea and ships, as well as hosting play areas for children and interactive displays, so there’s plenty to keep all the family interested.