CORNWALL - England 2012 and the Best of Wales - page 409

a self-catering barn. Good local food is served at breakfast, pets are welcome, and
complimentary tai-chi sessions are available for guests. The rooms are set in tranquil
gardens, with a wildflower meadow.
Manaccan, Helston, Cornwall TR12 6EW. www.thehenhouse-cornwall.co.uk. & 01326/280236. 3 units
(1 self-catering unit). £90 double (including breakfast); self-catering barn £200-£500 per week. MC, V.
No children 11 and under. Free parking. Discounts on B&B bookings of more than 4 nights. In room: TV/
DVD, hair dryer, fridge, Wi-Fi (free).

THE REMOTE WEST PENZANCE
280 miles SW of London; 77 miles SW of Plymouth
With its Iron Age settlements, beguiling beaches, and working fishing ports, this is
where you'll feel the heart of Celtic Cornwall beating. It is the western-most corner
of England, the delicious air of remoteness enhanced by the fact that the railway line
terminates at the Penzance, the largest town in this area. Artists and sculptors have
long been attracted to this region and you'll have plenty of opportunities to purchase
works in local galleries.
Penzance has a rich history—not surprising given that its name means “Holy
Headland” in Cornish. It was raided and burned by Spanish pirates in the 16th cen-
tury, but rose from the ashes to become an important “coinage” town where tin was
assayed. When the railway arrived in Victorian times it became a popular seaside
resort and still makes a good base for exploring Cornwall's western tip. Land's End,
St. Michael's Mount, and the old fishing ports of Newlyn and Mousehole are all close
by, and regular ferries leave for the Isles of Scilly. Popular white sandy beaches are at
Sennen Cove and Porthcurno.
Essentials
GETTING THERE There are daily trains and buses to Penzance from London.
The train takes around 5 1 ⁄ 2 hours from Paddington Station (costing around £65 for a
round-trip), the bus 8 1 ⁄ 2 -9 hours from Victoria Coach Station. The A30 runs through
the heart of Cornwall down to Penzance, where an unclassified road leads into the
town itself.
VISITOR INFORMATION Penzance Tourist Office, at Station Approach,
Penzance ( & 01736/362207; www.purelypenzance.co.uk), is open Easter to Sep-
tember, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 4pm; rest of year Monday
to Friday 9am to 5pm.
Exploring the Area
Botallack Mine HISTORIC SITE On the western tip of Cornwall, the
remains of the Crowns engine houses at Botallack are one of the county's most
romantic sights. This former metal mine had shafts that stretched 800m (2,625 ft.)
under the seabed and was so famous that Queen Victoria paid a visit. It closed in
1914, but the remains of the buildings still cling to the cliffs, and there are some great
walks in the area.
Short drive from Botallack, nr. St. Just in Penwith. & 01736/788588.
Minack Theatre THEATRE One of the most unusual theatres in Britain,
this open-air amphitheatre was cut from the side of a rocky Cornish hill near the vil-
lage of Porthcurno, 9 miles southwest of Penzance. Its legendary creator was Rowena

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