Landewednack Church Cove
OS Grid ref:- SW 661204
Picturesque Church Cove is situated around 10 miles to the south of Helston, on the Lizard Peninsula. It is a narrow rocky cove which nestles between cliffs at Landewednack (Cornish Lanndewynnek).
There is a slipway for launching boats. The beach contains numerous small rock pools and gullies. Crabbing boats are still pulled up the beach by wire rope and winch. There is no lifeguard cover at Church Cove. The lane to the beach can be reached from the main road at Culdrose Naval Base. There is a small free car park about half a mile up the road in Landwednack.
The cove derives its name from the church of St Winwaloe, which bears the distinction of being the most southerly in England. The building is constructed of local serpentine stone. The church was founded in around 600 AD, the oldest part of the present building is the twelfth century Norman doorway. The church was restored in the thirteenth century when the porch was added and in the fifteenth century when a a new window was placed in the tower. The last Cornish language sermon was said to have been preached here in 1674, though the same claim has also been made for the churches of Towednack and Ludgvan.
St. Winwaloe was born in Brittany in the sixth century and was of of Cornish parentage, his feast day is held on 28th April.
Characterful thatched cottages stand on the cliffs above. There is reputed to be lost treasure from a wrecked Spanish ship in nearby Dollar Cove. The new Lizard Lifeboat Station is located at Kilcobben Cove and a little further along the coast path towards Lizard Point is the National Coastwatch Instution station, NCI Bass Point.
Access to cliff walks, car park and toilets.