LANDS END

I didn’t want to start my blog with a negative entry, but I felt compelled to vent my spleen about Lands End, so here goes. If you want an example of what not to do with a wild and beautiful corner of the country, you need look no further than Lands End. When I was growing up in West Cornwall, Lands End was a relatively unspoilt headland, with a hotel, gift shop, the famous signpost with signs pointing to far flung places all over the world which proved a magnet for people wanting their photo taken as a memento of their visit – and not a lot else. Lands End sunsets are legendary, and a local bus company used to run evening tours out there with the sole purpose of taking people to see the awesome spectacle. The day we went the weather was perfect. I don’t know what happened if the weather failed to cooperate – did people get their money back?

Fast forward to the 21st century, and this amazing promontory has been turned into a themepark, completely out of character with this lovely spot. The signpost is still there, but rather than just park up and wander down to it like we used to do, you now have to pay to park before you can get anywhere near it, and when you get there you have to pay to have your picture taken! I suppose there are some people, particularly those with children, who would find the various 'attractions' a welcome diversion, but I would much rather this magnificent headland had been left as it was. Oh well, you can’t turn back the clock, and there are plenty of other unspoilt beauty spots along the Cornish coast, many of which will feature in this blog.

Map of the area.

Land's End - panoramico (1). Photo by giomodica, via Wikimedia Commons.