Top 10 Amazing Facts about Land’s End, Cornwall

Land’s End, Cornwall photo by Ashyoung114-Wikimedia Commons.

Top 10 Amazing Facts about Land’s End, Cornwall

Land’s End is a tourist and holiday complex in western Cornwall England it is situated within the Penwith Peninsula which is about 13km west southwest of Penzance at the western end of the A30 road.

It is the most westerly point of mainland England. However, it is not the westernmost point on mainland Great Britain.

In ancient times it was called Belerion which means “the shining land”.

Furthermore, at Land’s End, there have been discoveries of ancient artifacts from the Mesolithic period which date back to 10,000 to 4,000 BC. Here are the top 10 amazing facts about Land’s End, Cornwall.

Land’s End, Cornwall photo by Dietmar Rabich-Wikimedia Commons.

1. The Cliff has Two Varieties of Granite

Granite is a course-grained intrusive igneous rock that is composed mostly of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase however it is formed from magma with a high content of silica and alkali metal oxides that slowly cools and solidifies underground.

Furthermore, the cliffs at Lands’ End are made from granite which is resistant to weathering and has steep cliff faces however interestingly Lands’ End cliffs are represented by two varieties of granite.

Land’s End, Cornwall photo by Keven Law from Los Angeles, USA-Wikimedia Commons.

2. The Granite that Forms this Structure Dates Back to 250 million years Ago

The Permian is a Geological period and a stratigraphic system that spans 47 million years from the end of the Carboniferous period 298.9 million years ago to the beginning of the Triassic period 251.9 million years ago.

However, it is the last period of the Paleozoic era and the following Triassic period belongs to the Mesozoic era interestingly the concept of the Permian was introduced in 1841 by geologist Sir Roderick Murchison who named it after the region of Perm in Russia.

Due to the study of the granite that is found at Lands’ End, it is believed that it dates to 250 million years ago in the Permian Period.

Land’s End, Cornwall photo by Ashyoung114-Wikimedia Commons.

3. Edward 1 was the One who Divided the Island of England

William Borlase a Cornish antiquary, geologist, and naturalist from 1722 was Rector of Ludgvan Cornwall where he died.

William is remembered for his works The Antiquities of Cornwall and The Natural History of Cornwall in 1758.

However, he was the one who narrated how Edward 1 divided the island of England into 3 where by now we have Britain, Wale, and Cornwall.

And due to this Cornwall started from the river Ex to the Land’s End.

Land’s End, Cornwall photo by Ashyoung114-Wikimedia Commons.

4. Land’s End has a Mythical legend about the Lost Land of Lyonesse

Interestingly Cornwall is a place brimming with mythology whereby you will be told fascinating stories about King Arthur, the giants who created the coastline, or even fairies living down the mines.

However, in Lands’ End, there is a main legend about the Lost Land of Lyonesse and it is an Arthurian legend that the kingdom was supposed to be part of Arthur’s realm and it stretched from Land’s End to the Isles of Scilly.

However, the people in the kingdom displeased the gods and it was lost into the sea on a single stormy night and it is said the ruins exist underwater.

Furthermore, the fishermen have said that they have seen church spires underwater and even heard bells ringing as they sail around the coastline and legend has it that the Isles of Scilly were part of Lyonesse and are their mountaintops.

However, believable the story sounds it has never been proven but you will hear about it a lot at Lands’ End.

5. Lands’ End was Owned by Numerous Individuals Over the Years

Lands’ End was owned by a Cornish family until in the year 1982 when it was sold to David Goldstone.

Peter de Savary outbid the National Trust to purchase Lands’ End for almost 7 million Euros in the year 1987.

However, Savary had two new buildings constructed and much of the present theme park development was instigated by him.

More so he sold both Land’s End and John o Groats to businessman Graham Ferguson Lacey in the year 1991.

Furthermore, the current owner purchased Lands’ End in 1996 and formed a company named Heritage Great Britain PLC.

6. Longship’s Lighthouse Sits about 1.25 miles from the Coast of Lands’ End.

The lighthouse was built in the 18^th century in response to the colossal amount of shipwrecks in the area.

This area was infamous for shipwrecks as vessels would not realize how close they were to the shore until it was too late.

However, the lighthouse served to warn people about the rocks, and in the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries, the lighthouse was staffed by four lighthouse keepers, and two at a time would stay at the lighthouse for a month before spending a month ashore.

The lighthouse was reconstructed in 1875 and it still stands today.

7. The Land’s End Marker is the Famous Signpost and Most Popular Instagram Destination in Cornwall

You can get your photo taken with the land ends marker sign however it is a family-run business and the owners have boards where you can put your own messages such as your name or hometown.

And if you want the owners to calculate the distance from Land’s End to your hometown they can do it.

However, it is one of the most expensive things to do at Land’s End simply because per photo you will have to pay around 12 Euros per photo.

8. There is Plenty of Birdlife around Land’s End

There is plenty of birdlife around Lands’ end however you might not know what you are looking for without some expert help.

Interestingly there is where the RSPB Wildlife Discovery Centre comes in to help you.

Telescopes that are located at the shores will enable you to find birds in the area.

In addition, the interior of the RSPB Wildlife Centre has lots of information about different Cornish birds and you will be able to ask the information about them and any other questions to the warden that will be present in the Centre.

9. You can go Shopping in the Fast and Last House 

The first and last house is located on the cliffs tops of the Land’s End and dates back to the 19^th century when tourism to Land’s End was first taking off.

However, it was originally built for a woman called Gracie Thomas who used it as a souvenir shop.

Interestingly in nearly 200 years, not much has changed at the first and last house and it still sells mementos and keepsakes today. 

10. At Land’s End, Penwith House is a Historical Place to Visit

The house dates back to the heyday of Victorian tourism and it was opened approximately in the 1860s as a temperance house for tourists.

Majorly visitors to Penwith wanted a place to stay where alcohol was not served simply because many of the inns during this period could be very alcoholic focused and several communities wanted to encourage abstinence.

Today Penwith House functions as Penwith studios which it’s a luxurious place to stay near Land’s End.