Family Mini-Adventures in Cornwall - Nanjizal and Land's End

 

This was an adventure we had been hoping to do when we were in Cornwall in May half term, but we were defeated by staff shortages for public transport at the time, so were delighted to revisit it in August, not long after we moved to Cornwall.

First, we walked down to the station and caught the train from St Austell to Penzance (not at all expensive with our family railcard).

In Penzance the bus station and the train station are right next door to one another.  We hopped on to the next available "Land's End Coaster" bus - an open-topped service which goes around the coast in both directions between Penzance and Land's End.

We hopped off the bus (not literally) just as it makes the turn down towards Porthcurno (not far from Polgigga), and walked cross-country to Nanjizal beach,

Image from Google Maps

Nanjizal beach has some sand and some rocks.  I went for a swim, but we had an ulterior motive for being here...  There's a wonderful pool in a cave that you can access at low tide!  We clambered over quite a lot of boulders, some of which were pretty slippery.  I was glad I had my trainers on.  There were certainly a few skinned shins and grazed ankles from others doing the same thing.  It was well worth it though - you drop into a long thin pool - those with children, it's worth noting that the pool gets deep quite quickly - and you can swim through this deliciously cool turquoise water right to the arch at the end where you can feel the suck and pull of the Atlantic beyond.

This lovely photo is from "We are Cornwall"

This pool, known as The Song of the Sea (what an evocative name) was a truly magical place to swim and we all came out feeling fantastic.  It's just a short walk (half an hour) from there to Land's End along the Coast Path. At Land's End you can find something to eat or drink while you wait for the next Land's End Coaster bus back to Penzance.

Google Maps

If you fancy doing this trip yourself, you do need to check the tide times and the times of the buses.  The Song of the Sea is best accessed at low tide (when you'll also get some beach at Nanjizal), and you also need to leave yourself enough time to walk there, swim and then walk along to Land's End to get the bus.  You really don't want to miss the last bus from Land's End - it wouldn't be a cheap taxi ride.