Today was an absolute 10!
I have to apologize for the length of today’s blog, but it was hard to pick only a few pictures from the 100+ taken today.
As usual, the weather made us wonder what luck would bring us today! There were several showers while we had brekkie, but soon after, the sun came out and the wind really started blowing. It looked promising enough for us to head to St. Michael’s Mount.
This iconic rocky island is crowned by a medieval church and castle-the oldest buildings dating from the 12th century. After years of dreaming and planning, we’re finally actually going to go visit it!
At low tide, you can walk across a stone causeway; at high tide, small boats ferry people to and from the mount.
We were lucky, as we were able to cross over at low tide.
We lost track of the number of steps! Then it turned into cobblestones the rest of the way up to the top. Thank goodness for a few spots to rest and take pictures.
Us beside the “Giant’s Well”… ancient tales had a giant living on the mount; he’d come over to steal sheep; until the town’s people found a way to kill the giant, who’s head can be seen on the way up the hill.
After walking around the battlements with all the cannons protecting the harbour, we walked the grand staircase into the castle.
Couldn’t take too many pictures in the castle due to ‘no flash’ policies, but did manage to get one of the family coat of arms in the great room.
A trio of gargoyles!
The wonderful terraced gardens below… unfortunately, we couldn’t visit them due to problems with some of the rock walls above them were under repair.
More of the gardens, but from a view point looking straight down…very steep!
This the church… an original part of castle from the monastery days.
A view of the harbour from the top of the battlements with the town of Marazion in the distance, back across the causeway.
One of the very striking stained glass windows in the church.
As the sun streamed through the windows, the colours danced on the ancient stone floors.
Resting for a few minutes at the top, before making our way back down the stony path to the harbour.
Pausing along the way down! Fate and tide times were in our favour… we walked back across the causeway and didn’t get our feet wet 🙂
We walked about Marazion a bit, took some shots and had lunch in the Godolphin Inn overlooking the beach… very nice!
The Marazion beach is a favourite for wind surfers and kite surfers!
After our lunch, we said goodby to Marazion and St. Michael’s Mount and headed down the area of Cornwall called the Lizard. On our way down the peninsula, we discussed options of where to go and Elaine said that her feeling was that we should head to Kynance Cove. Sporting her new ‘wellies’, we’re ready to walk down, down, down from the car park to the cove.
Apparently, we weren’t the only ones interested in exploring the cove!
All along the pathway down the valley, beautiful patches of flowering heather were everywhere!
I really had no idea what to expect, but was blown away as we started down the many, many steps to see the utterly beautiful cove open up before my eyes!
Kynance Cove is one of the most awe inspiring coastal scenes we’ve ever come across.
As the tide started to roll in the breakers, already high due to the strong winds, just pounded against the rocky cove.
Having a Coffee Lodge latte back in Sarnia will never compare to having lattes and a Cornish tea cake at a picnic table overlooking Kynance Cove! We sat and sipped and stared at the incoming tide and roaring surf for a long time! 🙂
So sad to say goodbye, but once our lattes were done we headed back up the road to the headlands. By that time the tide had come in far enough that we couldn’t return the same way as we had come down.
After walking back to the top of the headlands, we walked along the paths taking multiple shots of the rugged coast line.
After leaving Kynance Cove, we took a spin through Lizard (used the WC) and then drove back to The Halzephron Inn at Gunwalloe for dinner… just gotta love the Cornish place names!
As we were enjoying our great pub dinner, the sun set over the sea. What a great way to end a perfect day!
Looking to enjoy another great day along the Cornwall coasts tomorrow!
Cheers!