The ancient town of Penzance is the ‘Capital’ of the far West of Cornwall and is the last
major town before the Atlantic Ocean. It is easily reached by either rail or road, with the A30
and A38 roads giving access from all parts of England, mainly by Motorway or dual-carriageway.
It is both a market town and a popular tourist destination, and features an attractive promenade
on its sea front. There are several historic houses in the town, along with a number of museums
and galleries. It includes the most westerly major harbour on the English Channel. From here,
there are ferry services both by sea and air to the Isles of Scilly, which lie some 28 miles
beyond Lands End.
Penzance is the natural touring centre for the Lands End peninsula, historically known as
Penwith. The peninsula is an area of outstanding natural beauty, containing some of the finest
coastal scenery in the country. The cliffs and beaches, accessible both by road and from the
Cornish Coastal Footpath, are truly spectacular. The beaches and the sea around Penzance are
amongst the cleanest and safest in the country - both for beach activities and for water-sports.
Having been populated since pre-historic times, the area contains numerous 'standing stones'
and 'stone circles' (e.g. the Merry Maidens) as well as iron-age village sites which remain as
memorials to that era. The National Trust has several properties in the surrounding area which
have made their own contribution to the heritage of which the area is so proud. Local places of
interest include St Michael’s Mount, the famous landmark of Lands End, the artist's town of St
Ives, the unspoiled village of Mousehole, and the famed Minack Theatre. Access to all these
locations, and many others, is easy whether by public transport or by car.
Cornwall Chycor
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