Cornwall, U.K Part 2
Our live like locals, Cornwall, U.K. journey continues. Being based in Porthgwarra placed us equi-distant from many different things to do and see in south-west Cornwall. Not least among them, the Minack Theatre, Porthcurno.
Besides its breath-takingingly beautiful location; carved into the side of the Porthcurno cliffs, Minack, ‘meynek‘ in Cornish means a rocky place, has a unique and amazing history. The theatre is completely open to the sky and performances are rarely cancelled due to weather.
Minack Theatre is the fruition of an extraordinary woman’s dream. Rowena Cade designed and built the Minack almost completly by hand, without heavy equipment or power tools. The building began in early 1930 and continued into the mid-20th century. It was a lifetime labor of love for Rowena, who even well into her seventies would haul sand from below on Porthcurno beach to make cement.
Within the Minack Exhibition Center the fascinating story of this unique woman is told visually and is certainly worth the trip, even if you don’t see a live performance in the theatre. In my opinion, the beauty of Minack is not only the theatre; the grounds are full of beautiful plants and flowers and the view is simply incredible.
St. Michael’s Mount, Marazion
An island in itself, St. Michael’s Mount has harbor, castle, chapel and gardens. Time your visit with low tide and you can walk across the exposed causeway while taking in the magnificent surroundings on the approach. It’s an unforgettable experience.
The mount has a history as an important trade center as far back as the Romans, becoming a small Benedictine community in 1135, and later placed prominently in the War of the Roses. The Mount remained under the Crown until sold by Queen Elizabeth I to Robert Cecil and then onto Francis Bassett before being purchased by John St. Aubyn in 1659 and remained in the St. Aubyn family until it was gifted to the National Trust in 1954. The St. Aubyn family still reside in the castle.
The castle is an imposing sight, looming above the island, but once you climb the cobblestone path and reach the chapel and then the castle, your efforts will be rewarded. Stained glass windows with intricate pictorials provide a beautiful display. Inside the castle, be sure to view the rooms that are open to the public.
We ventured out onto the gun batteries from the 17th century. The batteries were re-fortified during World War II to protect Cornwall against a possible attack from the Germans. From here we stood looking down at the gardens directly below, the sea just beyond and Marazion. Just enjoying the beauty around us of an incredible panorama. Afterward, a small boat (it was high tide by then) took us back to the mainland. We opted to explore Marazion and stopped to do a little shopping. Just before heading back to the cottage (because I’m always hungry) we snacked on thickly sliced sweet potato chips (fries) and a pint.
Sennen Cove, surfer’s dream beach
Traveling back to Porthgwarra via the A30 afforded the perfect opportunity to stop at Sennen Cove and take in the western-most surf spot in the U.K. With its tremendous waves, it is one of a surfer’s dream beaches, if not the beach, in Cornwall.
Watching the tide crashing in against the jetty is exhilarating with the roar of the sea and spume of foam against the rocks. Watching braver souls venture out onto the jetty was fine with me; normally I would not have missed the opportunity but if you look closely, this jetty did not become wet from rain and someone has to snap the pics….
Sennen was not so far from our base in Porthgwarra and we were able to head back before the tea and cake we had consumed were replaced by pangs of hunger. That night we prepared a dinner of fresh, roasted chicken and Cornish potatoes. Fresh food, simply prepared, a bottle of wine and a cozy cottage. Lived like locals, if only for a little while.
