Land's End
Land's End, with its spectacular crashing waves
which lash the rugged Cornish cliffs, is the most westerly point in England and one of the most visited places in the county of Cornwall.
Land's End was known to the Romans as 'Belerion' meaning the sea of storms, while it is known in the Cornish language as Pedn a Wollaz.
The Longships Lighthouse stands solitary beyond the granite grandeur of the cliffs about a mile out to sea, the island on which it stands is composed of serpentine and quartz, The current lighthouse is the second tower to be built on the rocks and has been unmanned since 1967.
On a clear day the Isles of Scilly are visible on the horizon, a beautiful group of islands of which five are inhabited.
Midway between Land's End and the Isles of Scilly is the supposed location of the mythical lost land of Lyonesse, an English Atlantis, referred to in Arthurian literature. Legend clings to the stories of Lyonesse and sailor's tales report that the sound of ghostly bells beneath the waves can sometimes be heard.
Land's End offers some of the most spectacular scenery in Cornwall, although visitors are advised that care must be exercised as some sections of the path traverse the high cliff edges.
A short walk along the cliff tops, which are strewn with a profusion of colourful wild flowers in the spring and summer months, offers unrivalled panoramic views and brings the visitor to Sennen Cove.
The Northern and Southern sections of South West Coastal Footpath meet at Lands End. The South West Coastal Footpath is the longest continuous footpath in Britain, traversing the coast for 630 miles from Minehead, on the edge of the Exmoor National Park, along the highly attractive coasts of Devon and Cornwall to Poole in Dorset.
On a small rise just inland of Land's End stands the famous monolith of Table Men. The huge flat stone was the capstone of a now ruined Dark Age tomb. Cornish legend states that King Arthur and four British Kings dined here before leading an army into battle against the ferocious Vikings in a battle known as Vellan Drucher.
Access is via the road from Penzance or the coast road from St. Ives.
The tourist complex at Land's End is one of Cornwall's most varied attractions and has displays on the history and heritage of Cornwall, with particular emphasis placed on ships and the sea and the hazards faced by seamen in the past.
A multi sensory audio visual experience entitled 'The Last Labyrinth' covers the local legends of King Arthur and the lost land of Lyonnesse. There is also a discovery trail, RSPB hide, shops, a bar and restaurants. Open:- daily, 10am - 5pm.