Geevor, Botallack and Levant

Just back from a fantastic day out courtesy of our friends at the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site. We were so lucky with the weather - after a few days of thick fog shrouding our corner of Cornwall, the skies cleared and the sun even came out in the afternoon.

Exploring Geevor

We started our day at Geevor with a quick tour of the site including, a first for me, the underground tour. Now ... you do need to wear a hard hat, you do need to be reasonably able-bodied as there is some crouching and bending to do as you walk through, and you need to be comfortable in confined spaces. If you can get past those things it is well worth the effort to get even an ounce of experience of what life must have been like down the mines digging for tin.

The guides were great giving us a real flavour of both the engineering that was involved as well as the real life experience of working in the mines. For kids there is lots to see including a museum with lots of interactive things to play with.

Levant Mine and Beam Engine

Levant

Lunch at the cafe at Geevor with what must be one of the best views in Cornwall was followed by Levant Mine and Beam Engine next. Perched on the edge of the cliffs the views are breathtaking and even for someone like me who is not so interested in the engineering of it all, it was great to see the steam engine bursting into life.

Crown Mines, Botallack

And finally Botallack where the Crown Mines always look glorioius whatever the weather and thanks to the guide we got a real insight into how the mines were worked and managed along with a few crazy stories about the arsenic that was produced!

The Cornish Mining World Heritage Site is a great resource for information. There are guided tours that you can download and maps and information for you to plan your day. I can easily see how you could have a great day out just visiting these two attractions. Plus you don't need to be into engines and engineering to enjoy you time at this World Heritage site as Geevor, Levant and Botallack are stunningly situated along one of the most beautiful coastlines in Cornwall.

Parking is free at all three sites.

For a map of the area see the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site, and for specific information on Levant and Botallack see the National Trust website

Winter Walk at Sennen Cove

To show you how lovely West Cornwall can be at any time of year, here is a simple walk along the beach in November - that's me with Molly our bearded collie / poodle cross.

Christmas and looking forward to 2012

As many of us gather together with our families for Christmas, the conversation often turns to holidays and to what everyone has planned for the forthcoming year.

In the six years we have run holiday cottages in St Just, the season has extended further and further from the summer and that just goes to prove how much the area has to offer all the way through from January to December. So I thought I would look at what goes on in some of the 'off-season' months.

October and the dog restriction on beaches is lifted through to Easter, so that gives our dog owning guests a great chance to make the most of even more of our lovely beaches in West Cornwall.

November, sometimes just into October, St Just's Feast is held every year on the first weekend after 31st October to celebrate the dedication of the parish church. The celebration comprises a church service and civic procession on the Sunday, and on the evening and through to Monday a larger scale popular local celebration (in other words a few beers are drunk!) and the local hunt fills the Market Square. This is closely followed for fireworks night in early November by a display at the rugby club.

December is the time for mulled wine and roaring fires in the local pubs, the Christmas lights in St Just were switched on Friday, nearly accompanied by thunder and lightning, and the amazing display in Mousehole is well worth a visit.

In the New Year, forget the sales, the beginning of the year brings acres of fields of daffodils and empty beaches in West Cornwall. And the thing about St Just is that whatever time of the year you visit, because this is a real, working town, shops will be open, and the pubs are welcoming.

And before we know it, it is April and Easter, and the season has started again.

Have a great Christmas and New Year everyone, and we hope to see you in St Just in 2012.