The remainder of section 35 in the SWCPA handbook
10.4 km along the coast and 10.1 km inland
We stayed at a rather quirky campsite in the middle of Lizard village, so set out through the village, which has a number of shops, though mostly for ice-cream and “gifts” for visitors.
A series of inland footpaths took us inland eventually to the little village of Ruan Minor, here we found the Post Office, not only selling good coffee, but providing seats and tables outside to drink it and have a chat with a few locals, who used it as a meeting place.
From there it was only a short distance down to where we had left the path last time at Poltesco.
So we followed the Coastal path along the cliffs and then down to a little creek at Cadgwith, where there were a few fishing boats on the beach and crab sandwiches for sale for £12.50. We had brought out own picnic so continued to Church Cove, where after a very steep decent on a concrete road that change to s slipway, we ate our picnic lunch. There is an old building here which was once the lifeboat station, but I would think that launching was very difficult.
A little further on is the Lizard Lifeboat station, now down a very steep slope, so the RNLI have installed a lift to take the crew down to the new station.
The path continues and Lizard Point looks quite close, however first we passed a castellated tower, that used to be a signalling station for ships returning to England, then a small wooden hut, that was Marconi’s radio station where some of the first successful radio messages were sent from here to the Isle of Wight. It now houses a small museum where a National Trust Guide told us about it.
Then past the Housel Bay Hotel and to the Lizard Lighthouse, and then to the cafes, gifts shops etc that through congregate around Lizard Point, the most southerly part of England. As there is a road and carpark here it attracts the crowds, and for a short distance the Coastal path was busy.
We continued as far as Pentreath beach, but there didn’t appear to be a safe way down to the sand, so we returned to Lizard village and the campsite on a series of rather indistinct footpaths.
