On our last full day in Cornwall we crammed in visits to three places highlighted in my photography guide books of Cornwall.
Our planned break in Cornwall had been originally planned for February had been postponed and we re-booked at the same cottage later in the year in September.
Thursday 23rd September 2021 – St Michael’s Mount
This was the first day since we arrived in Cornwall that we used our car. Backing the car out of the narrow drive was an experience as not only was there very little room but we were having to avoid passing busses and cars!
St Michael’s Mount is a National Trust property and we were not sure about how Covid restrictions were being handled there. Despite the not so promising weather we decided to take the chance and visit.
The walk along the causeway gave us a great view.
We clearly were not the only visitors to brave the weather. At the entrance we had an interesting discussion as visitors had to have booked a time slot but given that the property was offline we were still allowed in.
Once past the entrance we explored the buildings at the lower level and this building had a mural on its wall depicting the surrounding area. The climb up to the house was a cobbled path with intermittent steps, unfortunately all very slippy due to the rain.
We passed what looked like guard houses before we reached the top.
Entry to the house was very busy so after exploring around at the top we went back down to the lower buildings. Once at the bottom we went to the cafe and joined the queue for a cup of coffee.
From this patio we had a view looking back over the causeway.
As we left the Internet must be working again and visitors without a pass were being turned away.
From the car park I took this last image as the sky was slowly clearing.
St Michael’s Mount in the photo guidebooks
Thursday 23rd September 2021 – Porth Nanven
We then drove back past the outskirts of Penzance towards St Just. The road to Port Nanven was narrow and we stopped at what we thought was the place to park and starting walking down the steep road. After a few hundred yards we realised that we were nowhere near the sea so I went back and brought the car down. The road narrowed even more and this made passing interesting as we met cars coming back up from the sea. Then we were in a valley with a stream at the side and came to the promised car park.
At the end of the road we could see the Brisons and below us the famous round granite boulders.
I walked back a little way and then crossed the stream and went down to the beach on the other side to get closer to the boulders.
Along the path were the remains of buildings.
Port Nanven in the photo guidebooks
Thursday 23rd September 2021 – Priest’s Cove
After Port Nanven we drove back into St Just and back down the road to Cape Cornwall. Our plan was to pick up some food and a drink at the cafe in the car park there. But being the end of the season the cafe was now closed for the day..
Priest’s Cove is just to the west side of Cape Cornwall. Looking up from above the slip way the houses and the restored mine chimney can be seen of Cape Cornwall.
There were boats hauled up on the slipway.
Below us we could see a small group of people taking a lot of interest in the rock pools. As we moved closer we could see the seal swimming in and out of the kelp. We went down the slipway and joined them on the rocks.
We spent a lot of time watching the seal and by now we were getting quite hungry so it was time to leave!
Looking back down we could see swimmers in the man-made rock pool and the seal still swimming about at the bottom of the slipway.
After packing and tidying up the cottage ready for our departure the next day we walked down to the Queens Arms for one last drink before dinner. We were able to use a table that was booked later in the evening.
Our cottage in Botallack
Crown Cottage is at the top of Botallack’s only street on a sharp 90 degree bend.
The garden in front of the cottage is completely paved with a small hut at the end. The door into the cottage is inside a glass porch which even in September became very warm from the sun.
The cottage is advertised to have private parking but there is no mention that the driveway is very narrow, has high walls and is on a 90 degree bend with lots of traffic including buses! The gate maybe gone from the drive but the two stones for the gate narrowed the space quite considerably!
The front door lead straight into the downstairs’ one room which was kitchen, dining and sitting. The stairs ran up the opposite wall.
Upstairs there were two bedrooms and a bathroom. The shower had some interesting beams just where my head wanted to be to wash my hair!
