St Just on the Penwith peninsula
in west Cornwall is Britain’s most westerly town, the former
centre of mining in West Penwith. The remains of the area’s
mining history can be seen along the coast, especially the section
between Cape Cornwall and Levant. There are several hotels, guesthouses,
campsites, a Youth Hostel, cafes, restaurants and pubs. Due west
is Cape Cornwall, to the north and south dramatic cliff scenery
and beaches.
Cape Cornwall
Defined as a headland where two oceans or channels meet, here it
is the English Channel and St George's Channel. It is the point
at which the Atlantic currents split, either going south to the
English Channel, or north to the Bristol Channel and Irish Sea.
Two offshore rocks known as the Brisons, are located approx. one
mile southwest of Cape Cornwall and mark the start of the annual
swim to Priest's Cove where there is a beach.
St. Helen's Oratory, the remains of an early christian chapel with
cross.
Cot Valley half a mile south of St. Just has a stream that runs
down the valley into the Atlantic, once a mining area, because of
its seclusion it is home to a variety of wildlife such as Choughs,
tawny owls, and buzzards. At the mouth of the valley dolphins, seals
and basking sharks are occasionally seen.
St. Just in Penwith Parish Church
Dates from the 15th century, built of granite blocks, there are
two medieval wall paintings which have been restored. The Selus
Stone thought to date from the 5th or 6th centuries.
Events in St. Just::
Lafrowda Festival – http://www.lafrowda-festival.co.uk/
Annual event held in July, is a festival of arts and music.with
workshops, music and processions.
Beaches near St. Just:
Gwenver Beach
Approx.one mile north east of Sennen Cove. Sandy and secluded, lovely
scenery, very strong rip tides so good for surfing, on calms days
good for swimming. No facilities, car park above Gwenver approx
10min walk.
Portheras Cove Beach
Approx. 3 miles from St. Just.
Porth Nanven Beach
Here you will find deposits of ovoid boulders, the boulders come
in varying sizes, people have taken them as souvenirs, they are
now legally protected by the National Trust who own the beach.
Places to visits:
Levant Mine and Beam Engine – http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/
National Trust owned property. The mine was opened in 1820 to mine
tin and copper, it closed in 1930. It has the only Cornish beam
engine anywhere in the world still in steam on its original site.
Geevor Tin Mine Museum – http://www.geevor.com/
2 acre site on one of the largest preserved mines in the country,
with listed buildings. Underground Tours, Museum, Mineral Panning
and shop.
Villages near St. Just:
Botallack
Is a village and former tin mining area, two engine houses can be
seen north of Botallack. This area is also a World Heritage site
within the Cornwall & West Devon Mining Landscape.
Morvah
4 miles east of St. Just, this is one of the smallest parishes
in Cornwall. There is a Bronze Age Holy Well on the cliffs at
Tregaminion near the remains of a Christian chapel which may date
to the 6th - 8th Century AD, the water from the well was used
by the villagers until the 1960's when mains water was provided.
Morvah Church dates from the early 19th century.
Pendeen
Approx. 3 miles from St. Just, is a small village with a history
of mining. The nearby Pendeen Lighthouse takes it name from the
village. The church of St John the Baptist, dates from 1852.
Pendeen Lighthouse - http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/
On the cliffs below Pendeen, was completed in 1900 and automated
in 1995. There were cottages for the lighthouse keepers and their
families, these are now let as holiday homes.
Tregeseal East
Stone Circles, also known as The Dancing Stones are the remains
of what was a pair, or even three adjacent circles. At the southern
edge of the open moorland above Tregeseal.
Cornwall Tourist Information Office - http://www.visitcornwall.com/
