Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The scenery doesn't get much more dramatic - black granite cliffs and heather-covered
headland teeter above the booming Atlantic surf, and in good weather you can glimpse the
Isles of Scilly, 28 miles out to sea. Even the construction of a tacky
theme park
( 0871-720
0044;
www.landsend-landmark.co.uk
; adult/child £10/7; 10am-5pm Easter-Oct, 10.30am-3.30pm Nov-Mar)
on
the headland in the 1980s hasn't quite spoiled the scenery, although it certainly hasn't
helped - wiser heads will give it a wide berth and just pay for the car park (£3) and head
off along the coast path instead. If you must take a peek, the rather lame attractions in-
clude an Arthur's Quest exhibit, a 4D film and a display on Air-Sea Rescue. Kids will
probably most enjoy the Greeb Farm petting zoo and, of course, getting their picture
snapped next to the Land's End sign.
The stretch of coast path which runs south from Land's End is as wild and beautiful as
any in Cornwall, and windy pretty much year-round - umbrellas are never a good idea
here. Looking west you might just be able to spy the silhouettes of the Isles of Scilly on a
clear day but if not, you'll definitely be able to spy the famous
Longships Lighthouse
, perched
on a rocky reef 1.25 miles out to sea. This is still an infamously dangerous patch of coast-
line, and the site of many wrecks, but the construction of the lighthouse was a formidable
engineering challenge: the first one was built in 1795 but was frequently swamped by
waves, and subsequently replaced in 1873 at the considerable cost of £43,870. Since then
it's somehow withstood even the worst of the Atlantic storms, and has been unmanned
since 1988.
Just inland from the point in Trevescan is the arty
Apple Tree Cafe
(
01736-872753;
10am-4pm)
, which makes its own bread and serves a su-
www.theappletreecafe.co.uk
;
mains £4-8;
perb sourdough burger.
