After a hearty English breakfast in the lovely old dining room of the Penmorvah Manor Hotel, we set off for Penzance. It was drizzling rain, but the weather certainly could have been a lot worse. Our first stop was at St Michael's Mount at the village of Marazion. This would have been a great place to visit with a little more time and on a nicer day. The tide would have to be low as well if you wished to experience walking across the man-made causeway of blocks of granite. The rocky island is still home to a small community and it is crowned by a medieval church and castle, dating back to the 12th century. St Michael's Mount is said to be 'The Jewel in Cornwall's Crown'.

The carparks were filling up fast and Peter asked the attendant if we could just park for a few minutes to get a photo. He was obliging and told Peter "He was surprised there were so many people there seeing the weather was like it was". It was no doubt busy because it was the Bank Holiday weekend in the UK. People were still walking out to the island, but the water was actually quite deep.

It was only three miles to Penzance, so we drove the coast road and found a carpark on the harbour. It was a quick walk around the breakwater and a few snaps with the camera. Rather than a walk to the shops for a coffee, we decided it was better that we continue on our journey to Land's End. We did stop along the 'Penzance Promenade' though, and were impressed with what we saw. Jubilee Pool is a Cornish landmark. It is a 1930s cubist-inspired lido which juts out from the town’s harbour into the sea. The triangular engineering of the pool, sought to streamline its outline and offer the best chance of surviving the brutal south-westerly storms that batter the Cornish coast in winter. The design proved fit for the purpose for decades until the freak winter storms of 2014, when the waves breached the walls and twisted railings, and demolished changing rooms and terraces, while exposing the granite that lay beneath the pool. There are only a handful of saltwater tidal pools left in Europe. It was built in 1935, to commemorate King George V’s silver jubilee. In May 2016 it opened again after a $3 million restoration. Much of the money was raised through donations and local government funding,
It was really misty driving down to the bottom of the Cornish boot. We arrived just after 11.00am and although there was a steady stream of traffic arriving, we were still able to park in the closest car park. There was a slight sprinkle of rain, but not enough to worry about a coat or brolly. By the time we left Lands End, both carparks were full. It is a popular place.

Land's End is the legendary Cornish destination that has inspired people since ancient Greek times when it was referred to as Belerion - the shining land. People have been travelling and living in the westernmost point of Cornwall for at least ten thousand years. Discoveries date back as far as the Mesolithic period which is 10,000 - 4,000 BC. Since the Norman invasion of 1066 a variety of custodians have looked after this world-famous landmark, but the growth in tourism to Land's End really began in the wake of the Great Western Railway reaching Penzance in 1859.

It was lovely walking around the tracks on the headland. The heather was in flower and very pretty. After about an hour the sun broke through and we were able to get some nice photos out to the lighthouse. Reviews say that 'Lands End' has become too commercialised. We didn't find it that way. There are a number of places to take children and no doubt empty ones wallet, but they are confined to one area and there is plenty of area on the headland where one can get away from the crowds and enjoy the scenery.

We enjoyed the 'End to End Museum' which is free to enter. It is an interactive tribute to the countless 'End to End' adventurers who have completed the iconic journey by walking, running, cycling or however! There have been many lively and wacky ideas used for the journey, and considerable funds raised by many for various charities. It is one of the world's iconic challenges. We particularly enjoyed the video where one experiences travelling from John O'Groats in Scotland through to Lands End at 6,000 miles per hour. As you pass through about 20 or so cities, a panel was lit up around the semi circle. It was very effective. Especially seeing Gloucester Cathedral again, and going through Okehampton, which is near where we are staying at Merton. Peter's grandfather lived in Gloucester, so we have visited the Cathedral each time we have visited England.

We had a Cornish pastie for lunch and as we had lost the sun again and there was a light mist of rain, we decided to head back to Merton. I wanted to go via Wadebridge in the hope the photo shop would be open and I could get some prints done. The internet had said they were open on a Sunday, but when we got there it was closed. We were not impressed, but I did get a picture of the bridge in the middle of the town. Wadebridge is where the Royal Cornish Showground is! We continued back on the A39, arriving home about 4.30pm. Barbara had the washing dry and there was enough of the afternoon left to do the little ironing. Barbara had been dog-sitting for her friend Mary, so we met Mary when she came to collect the two doggies.

Delicious potato pie and beans for dinner and a rhubarb crumble, served with clotted cream for dessert. My goodness we will have to get walking when we get home!