Staying in Cornwall

St Just

St Just, at Cape Cornwall, is Britain’s most westerly town. It was once the centre of mining in West Penwith – still evident today in the many old engine houses dotted around the countryside, which has been designated a World Heritage Site. St Just is small but there are several shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants, as well as two sandy beaches (Gwynver and Portheras) and dramatic cliffs offering spectacular scenery and wonderful coastal walks. In the centre of St Just stands Plain-an-Gwarry, a theatre which was used for miracle plays in medieval times, but used today during Lafrowda Festival each July. Cape Cornwall is the only cape in England where two oceans meet, and at 229 feet above sea level, it offers panoramic views over the Western Approaches. An underwater reef known locally as the Brisons lies just off the coast of Cape Cornwall – many a ship has been wrecked on this reef. Those who enjoyed the Poldark books and television series must be sure to visit ‘Nanpara’ at nearby Botallack – the house where filming for the series took place. There are many little villages of interest between St Just, St Ives and Penzance, including Pendeen, Morvah and Sancreed – nearby attractions include Geevor Tin Mining Museum and Pendeen Lighthouse.