"Actually, Lands End" Sennen Cove by leics

I didn't go to Sennen Cove...it was *far*too windy (strong enough at times to almost blow me off my feet).

But I did go to Lands End and, at the moment, Sennen Cove is the nearest place in the VT database (hopefully this will be changed soon).

I well remember the huge fuss about the development at Lands End...shops, a sort of 'theme park'...and was expecting it to be unattractive. At least getting to the cliffs is still free (apart from the parking fee).

Whilst there is no doubt that the development has substantially detracted from what should be a wild and largely empty spot open to all (imo) it wasn't too bad on a chilly, windy early January day. What it is like in season, with coach parties and visitors galore, I dread to think.

I parked the car (grimacing at the parking fee of 3GBP) and walked through the 'development' to reach the cliffs themselves. Fortunately, most of it was closed and there were very few other visitors.

Waterfall blown upwards

Lands End is the most south-westerly point of mainland Britain, where huge cliffs tower over the boiling Atlantic in front of you and rough, flat moorland stretches behind. It's a fantastic spot for watching seabirds, of course, although not when it is so windy that a cliff waterfall was flowing upwards...even the birds were finding it hard to move around!

It was so windy that I had trouble walking, and certainly had great difficulty taking photos: I simply could not stand still because of the wind's constant buffeting.

But despite this it was absolutely magnificent...wonderful scenery, water the palest of pale blue (no idea why..the skies were grey), huge waves roaring against the rocks and cliffs.

Along the cliffs

There has been a small, mostly farming, settlement at Lands End for centuries, although its centre lies slightly inland (for obvious reasons).

There is an old cottage on the clifftop.....the 'First and Last House'. But even this was built in the 1800s specifically to provide visitors with souvenirs and refreshments.

And there is also what once was a 'temperance' hotel (no alcohol), built in the late 1800s.

So I suppose, in a way, the present development is not the first theme park at Lands End.

Despite the 'shopping opportunities' and the 'audio-visual presentations' and the cost of parking, it is still worth visiting Lands End. Ignore all the hype, just walk through to the cliffs and then along them (there are paths in both directions). Enjoy the sea and the cliffs, the birds and (if you are very lucky) the dolphins or whales), the wild flowers and the sheer wildness of the place.....

• Pros:Wild and rugged and beautiful
• Cons:Modern theme park
• In a nutshell:Still unmissable. Just ignore the theme park