Family Holiday March 2017 - Lands End 26.3.2017

Lands End, the most westerly point of mainland England, 838 miles(1349km) to John O Groats in Scotland. The sun was out but the wind howled - the weather was changing.

It's really beautiful out here. We thought we might have a picnic, but the wind didn't allow for that, so we had a quick look around and kept moving.

Besides the shop, that is. My daughters are excellent shoppers. It was hard to get them out of there.

As to be expected with this bunch, there was much hilarity - this is called 'finding the light' - apparently the most favourable light for the most flattering photograph. Who knew?

"If you can see the Scillies, it's going to rain. If you can't see them, it is raining." - local wisdom.

Closed today...

I'm not sure what this building is - they have spectacular views, but the wind!

Leaving Lands End, we took a side road down towards the Minack Theatre - the open air theatre perched on the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. 

 We decided not to attempt the path over to the theatre side as the wind was mean! So this is the view from the other side. Awesome beach.

By then it was past lunch time and we hadn't found that sheltered beach we were looking for so we headed back to the cottage and had egg sandwiches and giraffe bread (yes, it's a thing here and really good), in comfort, with tea.

Family Holiday March 2017 - Penzance 25.3.2017

The sun came out at last and here's the opportunity to show you what the outside of the Tin Miner's cottage looks like. It's the last in a row of semi detached cottages with a large garden overlooking fields.

 

And there we are, basking like lizards in the warmth, with tea and toasted hot cross buns. Bliss.

But, things to do and places to see, so off we headed to Penzance of Pirates fame. Penzance is on the other side of the western spur of England facing on to the English Channel. I had expected it to be similar to St Ives. Not at all, as it happens.

Not facing the wrath of the Atlantic Ocean, it's much flatter and more sheltered though why this little boat is sinking and no one is taking any notice, worries me.

St Michael's Mount, when the tide is low, you can walk across. The oldest buildings on the island date back to the 12th century. We didn't get there this time. First sight of a place is always so superficial, it's a real luxury to be able to go back and explore more in depth than the first visit allows.

We parked the car and then walked for miles along the seafront.

The art deco Jubilee Pool which, after a ferocious storm in 2014 which caused structural damage, was recently reopened - all spruced up and sparkling. I want to swim!

Ommm...

Newlyn Harbour, home to one of the largest fishing fleets in the UK with 40 acres of harbour!

I really liked these Ants. Such unusual graffitti.

The Newlyn Fisherman, a bronze casting by local sculptor Tom Leaper to commemorate the more than 20 local fishermen who have died at sea since 1980.

The crew, though missing one. Matt had stayed home today. The St Ives hills yesterday blew his brain.

By the end of this walk we were looking for food, but couldn't agree on anything! I wanted crab - a local delicacy - so we found a pub where I had the salad, they had drinks, then we had to find a pizza place.

This had the better view.

Yum...

Another sinking boat - what is going here?