Lizard Point
The Lizard Point is the most southerly point on mainland Britain. The area is famous for the local serpentine rock, a dark green metamorphic rock veined with red.
The peninsula derives its curious name from the old Cornish Lis-ardh, meaning a fortress. The area is famed for its treacherous stretch of coastline and has been the site of many disasters at sea. The Lizard Lighthouse at Lizard Point was built in 1751 and is open to the public. There are spectacular views from the Point and its twin-towered, lighthouse.
The area was once the haunt of smugglers, amongst the many attractive coves on the Lizard peninsula are Kynance Cove, Mullion Cove and Cadgwith Cove .
Amongst the many birds that can be sighted at the Lizard is the Cornish Chough, now returning to the area after many years of being nearly extinct in Cornwall.
The Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) is a member of the crow family and has a red beak and legs. Iit has an excitable, high-pitched 'chi-ow' call from which its name is derived. The chough is extremely acrobatic bird and its tumbling display flights make a truly impressive sight. Its inclusion in Cornwall's coat of arms along with the miner and the fisherman, reflects the chough's importance in Cornish culture.
Lizard Point is also notable for Cornish heath and other plants similar to those found in southwest Europe.
The Lizard has figured highly in the history of modern communications. Marconi's wireless experiments took place here in 1901. The Lizard Wireless Station at Bass Point and the Marconi Centre at Poldhu are certainly worth a visit and make an interesting day out.
The Cornish coastal path is well marked all the way around the point, the path offers some of the most spectacular coastal walking in Cornwall, particularly in the
spring and summer months when colourful wild flowers proliferate on the cliffs
A walk from Lizard Point to Kynance Cove
Distance- Around 4.5 miles
*From the car park at Lizard Point follow the path from Lizard to Kynance and beyond. Continue on this path looking out for the following features:-
(1) View of Lizard Lighthouse
(2) Old Lifeboat station
(3) Bass Point - site of early experiments in radio radio communication
Return to car park towards Lizard Point