A Point, a Pastie and a Pretty village

Lizard Point is the most southerly point of England. To get there we drove on some very narrow windy lanes, it was like driving through a tunnel, that's how thick the hedges and trees are. Then we came out onto a more major road, still windy with hedges but wider, there was actually a white line in the middle of the road and a verge before the hedges. Somewhere to go when an oncoming vehicle appears around the corner.

Lizard Point has beautifully clear waters of the English Channel. We spotted a seal enjoying himself rolling around in the water. Many birds were nesting on the rocky outcrops which sit in the water. This is a really restful place on a lovely sunny day.

A favourite vantage point for photographers.

We had read that Ann’s pasties at Lizards Point were award winning; Rick Stein recommends them. We found Ann, with her small shop at the back of her house,

and bought two traditional Cornish pasties to share.

Graham commented that the crimped edge was different to any we had seen before. This brought a fiery response from Ann. She was passionate about the true Cornish tradition of the pastie, even about its spelling - not pasty but pastie. According to Ann, the story about having the crimping on the sides so the miners could hold them with their dirty hands is all manufactured by the big commercial producers. She produced 100 year old postcards showing the crimping on the top, like hers! She was ready to fight these big mass producers in court if necessary. We had difficulty getting out of her shop but loved her evangelistic fervour for the true traditional Cornish pastie. It’s amazing what people have a passion for. We are loving our encounters with the local folk, it’s a great insight into what makes England tick.

Now onto St Michael’s Mount along some more narrow roads.

St Michael's Mount can only be accessed at low tide, where you walk along a causeway from the beach up to the Mount.

This edifice was once a monastery where Benedictine monks lived. Henry VIII sent his chief warrior to overthrow the monks and take charge. Turns out that the warrior was Ralph de la Pomeroy, Graham's forebear, who dressed up as a monk and overtook the monks by deceit and dress ups. Ralph stayed for six months, without letting Henry in, and then left.

We climbed the Pilgrims' Steps,

past the Giant's Well and the Giant's Heart (which wasn't as big as we imagined) and up to the top.

This old building is so impressive and is still lived in by the current owners whose family bought it a long time ago. They live in a section away from all the visitors.

This is a painting of one of the current owners in the blue room.

A lovely little chapel with beautiful music playing.

There is a beautiful and simple garden growing around the building, beautifully laid out in terraces. Looking down from the top was a spectacular perspective.

Much of the plantings are succulents along with lots of bulbs and ground covers repeat planted,

very colourful and effective.

Looking out from this height at Marizion and the fields of lavender.

A happy visit to the Mount was had by all.

Our final village for the day was St Ives,

another pretty fishing village with some nice shops and galleries to look through. Allan had his usual eagle eyes on and found a little hidden gem in one of the back streets where we enjoyed a delicious evening meal before we headed back to Mawnam Smith.

And so the sun sets over the sandy beach at St Ives and on our visit to Cornwall.