First training walk for the Camino - Kynance Cove

With such a beautiful day ahead of us, we decided to explore a nearby coastline walk called Kynance Cove. Its only a few Kms from The Lizard and is considered by many as one of the most beautiful parts of the coastline in the UK.

Even with the grey skies and the crashing seas, I could see that it would be a glorious spot in the summertime ( as is, arguably anywhere in the UK)

Kynance Cove has been a popular spot for sightseers for eons.. though Queen Victoria made it a definite tourist destination after she made her trip here. The stones - a black shiny type called serpentine is - apparently - the highest concentration in any place in the world here. With the crashing waves into a tiny stony cove and hidden caves,  its a romantic spot screaming to tell tales of pirates and smugglers. Whether there were any actually here is another story, but the Victorians loved a good story.. and truth often just got in the way of a good one.

The teahouse and buildings which stood on the cliff face for nearly a century have been pulled down by National Trust in order for the natural beauty to return to the spot.

At the moment, the hills are covered in gorse - all brown and spiky; and I had to explain to the kids how beautiful it will look in the spring when the heather and wildflowers come out.

In anycase.... the track was slippery and muddy, and I need to remember to actually get our walking poles out and use them next time.. they are in the boot of the car - so no excuses!  It was a few Km round walk - down to the cove and back up over the cliffs - so a perfect starter training walk for us and the Camino. We plan only to be walking 12 - 15 km a day - so nice and steady with opportunities to stop and enjoy the scenery - for me to take LOTS of photos and to explore the little villages we go to.

It was nearing high tide when we got down to the cove. The waves were crashing in every seventh - so it was a good opportunity for me to let the kids watch and predict when it was a good time to try to cross over the stones and to safety to the next rocky beach.

I felt so blessed we had a great day weatherwise today. After a few days or dreary misery, it was good to get some fresh air and warm the leg muscles up.

The Lizard - Cornwall.

For a blustery January, we were blessed with a few glimpses of the sun today as we walked part of the coast track and explored The UKs most Southerly point, The Lizard.

Gorgeous seascape with crashing waves. 

The great thing about miserable weather as a tourist is - you don't have to fight other tourists off for the view or car park spaces.

We had hoped to see the Chough ( pronounced Chuff) a crow with red legs and bright red beak.. But sadly nothing today. Good grief.. I may have to invest in some binoculars and become one of those birdwatching folk..hmm.. nahhhh

We just *had to* visit Annes Cornish Pasties as we have been told by many that these were the best in the world. She posts her pasties all round the world, and I was expecting a little larger premises. Its basically just her kitchen area and tiny frontage. However, I can say, the pasties were gorgeous. The pastry was golden and flakey. Lilly had the vegetarian one and Morgan and I went for the traditional steak and pepper vege one.  yumbo!!

We sat on the Lizard peninsular and looked out over the cliff, munching on our pasties.. all alone. It was wonderful!  

The kids and I walked a little way round the cliffs toward the lighthouse, which sadly was closed for the winter - something we are seeing alot of this month.  

Zennor and Mermaids

Ohhhh!! gorgeous little villages with their local myths, based on truths lost in time. Zennor is a perfect example of this. The village is easily missed if you are on the road to St Just. A goat track hidden in the grass going straight down toward the sea is all the warning you have that there might be something there. I'd read a little about it, so knew what I was looking for. We went straight to the church, which had been built around the 1000s. Solid and a very different feeling than many of the other churches we have visited this week. A very old feeling - beyond Christianity. St Sarara founded a church in the area 1400 years ago. She came from the sea ( probably came in a boat.. but don't spoil a good story) and impressed the cornish people so much they converted to Christianity.

Mermaids have a very strong link to this part of the coast and there are alot of stories of sightings.

The local story goes that a local lad sang beautifully in the church every week. His voice carried down into the cove and entranced a mermaid. Gradually, every week, she ventured closer until finally she managed to slither her way to the church ( not quite sure how.. but lets not get in the way of a story). She covered her tail with a long dress and "it came to pass' that the two fell in love.  She revealed that she was a mermaid and invited him back into her domain. He was so in love with her that he followed her into the sea and was never seen again.

In the church there is a chair with carved ends of a mermaid. It is interesting to note all the symbology of a mermaid as being included into the medieval church teachings and was often included in the mystery plays they performed to introduce the bible stories to locals. The maid coming from the sea symbolised the two natures of Christ. It was explained that she was both human and fish - just as Christ was seen as both human and as God. She often carries a mirror and comb - which are reminders of vanity for womenkind.(hmmm)

The church also boasts bell ringing - it was so tempting to go and pull on the long cords.. but don't fear.. I didn't!  Beautiful stained glass windows and carved wooden pews.. breathtaking.. again.

We shot across after teh church visit into the Tinners Arms - an extremely old pub, built by the stonemasons who were building the church in the 1000s. The story goes that they built the pub first, before starting on the church.  Once again - its tiny, the low beams making you duck in places.  Super cozy and cute. We chatted with the barmaid Amy for a long while, striking up a friendship I hope continues though facebook.  They have a 'real ale' called the Zennor Mermaid. I wish I liked ale.. and know some people who'd I'd LOVE to havejoined me here.. and would have enjoyed tasting all these boutique ales.