The Lizard coastal walk, Cornwall

The Lizard, Cornwall This walk around the Lizard Peninsula, the southerly tip TRAIL of mainland Britain, takes in Walking dramatic cliff scenery, rare wild flowers and an interesting GRADE coastal history. Kynance Cove Hard has a sandy beach and islands of serpentine stone. The bay DISTANCE attracted visitors in Victorian times 7 miles (11km) and still captivates people today.

TIME 2 hours 20 minutes Terrain OS MAP Landranger 203 Along sandy beaches and stony cliff top paths. Some slopes and steps: height gain of over 700ft (220m). Contact Things to see 01326 561407 [email protected] Facilities

Kynance Cove Wild flowers Seals and basking

A favourite spot for day-trippers One of the richest botanical areas sharks nationaltrust.org.uk/walks since Victorian times, many of in the UK, the cliffs are a colourful Seals and basking sharks are the caves around Kynance have picture in spring, carpeted in commonly spotted on this route. names from that era like the the blue, white and pink of wild Basking sharks can be nearly 30ft Ladies Bathing Pool, the Parlour flowers like squill, campion and (9m) long but cruise these warm and the Drawing Room. Today, thrift. Many more quirkily named waters feeding on nothing more the café at the Cove is full of eco- wild flowers bloom along the than tiny plankton. In summer friendly features including solar coast through spring and summer 2007 over 40 were spotted in one panels, a turf roof, wool insulation like dropwort, bloody cranes- day. and compost toilets. bill, ladies bedstraw, milkwort and self-heal. The exotic looking pink and yellow flowers of the hottentot fig can be seen near to the lighthouse. Although it looks pretty it's actually a botanical bully and can smother our native flora. Cornish heath is a rare plant which grows here but nowhere else in Britain. The Lizard, Cornwall

Start/end

Start: Kynance Cove, grid ref: SW703125 End: Kynance Cove, grid ref: SW703125 How to get there

By bus: Regular bus service from Helston throughout the year 1. Set out from Kynance Cove, heading towards Lizard Point. Look for the Devils Letterbox on the By car: Lizard village is 11 north side of Asparagus Island a cave crack with powerful suction caused by the pull of air from the miles (17.7km) from Helston. waves below. Car parks at Kynance and 2. Steps lead to a headland from the eastern end of Kynance beach. Walk through the car park and Lizard rejoin the cliff path. 3. Follow the cliff path, passing above Pentreath beach. 4. Look down towards the disused Victorian lifeboat station at Polpeor Cove. 5. The Lizard Lighthouse is just round the headland from Lizard Point. 6. Lions Den is a 39ft (12m) hole in the cliff created when a cave collapsed one night in the mid-1800s. 7. With stunning views, Pen Olver is the perfect spot for a picnic. Please take your rubbish home. 8. From Bass Point Old Signal Station, head left inland to Lizard village. nationaltrust.org.uk/walks 9. Pass the village green taking a path towards Kynance Cove.