My passion for Cornwall - Free2Read

SOUTH CORNWALLthe largest natural freshwaterlake in Cornwall.The Loe was originally theestuary of the River Cober whichflowed through Helston, twomiles to the north, and downinto the sea near Porthleven. Butthe Loe Bar barrier was createdduring the 12th Century whenviolent storms created a hugeshingle bank which cut the riveroff from the sea. Legend has itthat Loe Pool is the lake intowhich Sir Bedivere threw KingArthur’s sword Excalibur onlyfor the Lady of the Lake to riseup and return it to the king.There is something of abeach on the ocean-side ofLoe Bar although strongundercurrents make swimmingtoo dangerous.PendeenThis superb village on the coastroad between Land’s End and StIves is built on the backs of localtin miners who lived here in the19th Century until the tin industrydisappeared. Its main attractionis the marble white lighthouse atPendeen Watch which sits abovethe village.Portheras Cove is located onone of the wildest stretches ofthe Cowloes but surfing here canbe quite hazardous and is best leftto the experts. The beach does, as aresult, get busy in the summer. Dogsare banned from easter to October.Cornish coast between Pendeenand Morvah and is an ideal spotfor some seal-watching as well asbathing. The beach itself is a lovelysandy cove located at the end of ashallow valley with sheer cliffs atthe northern end.The Geevor Tin Mining Museumis an old tin mine which depictsthe often harsh existence ofCornish tin miners. The highlight isan underground tour into WhealMexico, where Cornish minerstoiled more than 200 years ago.NewlynNewlyn is home of the secondlargest fishing fleet in the countryand is a great example of amodern, thriving Cornish port thatgrafts as hard today to earn itscrust as it ever did.August Bank Holiday Mondaysees the annual Cornishcelebration of the sea, fishingand seafood at the Newlyn FishFestival.Highlights for 2012 at theNewlyn Art Gallery, whichshowcases the very best ofnational and international work,is a solo exhibition by Germanartist Katja Davar from May 5to June 16, works by ShezadDarwood from June to Septemberand a celebration of the workof the eccentric sculptor andperformance artists Bruce Laceyfrom September 2012 rightthrough to January.MouseholeMousehole’s walled harbour isone of the most attractive inCornwall. Along with Marazion,Mousehole was one of themain ports of St Mount’s Bay inthe 16th Century before it wasdestroyed in a Spanish raid in1595 and had to be rebuilt.Today it retains much of itshistoric charm, with narrowstreets crammed with smallshops, restaurants and pubs.Offshore is St Clement’s Isle, aset of rocky outcrops in the baywhich is said to have been hometo a hermit many years ago.Mousehole has a good familybeach and further up the coastis the cave in the cliff face whichlegend says gave the village itsname.It is home to the famousMousehole Bird Hospital onthe Cornish Cliffs at ReginnisHill was founded in 1928 bythe Misses Dorothy and PhyllisYglesias.Over the years the Sanctuaryhas worked for bird welfare,especially so, during the TorreyCanyon disaster in the 1960s,when over 8,000 oiled sea birdspassed through the Hospital.It is open to the public andadmission is free, althoughdonations are always welcome.LamornaA sheltered cove at the headof a wooded valley, just alongthe coast from Mousehole,Lamorna is a lot morepeaceful now than when itwas the centre of graniteproduction at a nearbyquarry. Now it’s just a quietharbour hamlet, ideal for arelaxing holiday. Nearby isthe Neolithic Merry Maidensstone circle.Cornwall Tourism Magazine in association with www.cornwalltouristpass.com discover the extraordinary 45