After three glorious days in Cornwall came the fourth. The day was more or less perfect for a visit to the seaside. For the bucket and shovel, we were caring everywhere, of course!

I've made sure there is something to explore around the beach when planning. So that the boys can play sandcastles and stuff, and I can wander around, enjoy the views and fall in love with Cornwall. Well, that was a plan anyways.

_{Source: Google Maps}

At the campsite, our breakfast was usually taking forever. Hence, we arrived at Porth Beach only at midday. We parked at the good-sized car park opposite the beach, which by the look of it was a property of the campsite, and crossed a busy road. And I got to mention, there is no traffic light, you just run across.

But once on the other side, it is quite a sight! The beach is actually really, really deep. And when the tide goes, it goes out quite far! If you look at the Google Maps image above, then the water comes up to the red line when the tide is high. 🔻

The downside is that the only public toilets seem to be constantly out of order. So instead you go to the local pub by the road. They also serve excellent food!

The beach begins with a stream on its right and hugs an area with steps to sit on. The sand is beautiful and keeps its shape quite well. I can only describe it as "heavy". Perfect for building!

But if you follow the road up the hill towards the coastal path, you come to the board welcoming you to the Trevelgue Head. At first, the trail takes you through an open green area overlooking the beach. But then, unexpectedly, it opens onto a wooden bridge that connects to the headland. If you visit for the first time, it takes you by surprise.

When the tide is low, you walk under the bridge to reach Whipsiderry Beach. There is still some water left, so an alternative is to climb up the rocks and follow to the other side. Or simply take your shoes off and walk.

While on the bridge, you have a fantastic view down and onto the huge rock, which seems to have an "eye" ! But when you reach the other island, it is less grassy and wilder. You have got a beautiful fauna, feels very Cornish. It also has a stunning cliff, which looks a bit dangerous. Some people come very close to the edge to look down the relief. But I was not trusting myself to stare down.

The Trevelgue Head is not just a pretty landscape. According to the information board, it is an archaeological site of national importance. Many finds were made in the early 20th century. The most significant one was the cliff castle, dating back to as early as 400-100BC. It sat right in the middle of the headland.

It seems the headland was also used as a burial site by our ancestors. There were two barrows with cremated human tissue found. The latest discovery was made with the erosion to the side of the barrow. So perhaps more burials are still to be discovered?

There is also a notice that metal detectors are a criminal offence. I guess it is significant for locals to find and preserve history no matter what. Since there was sponsorship by the Cornwall Heritage Trust, I believe that body feels to protect the area the most.

Standing at the far end of the Trevelgue Head, you can see the Towan Headland I visited on the first day in Cornwall. It is circled in red. 🔴

In the evening, we drove to St Ives, but I will combine the two visits in another post because we returned to the town again during the daylight. For now, I will leave you with this great tunnel my boys were working on while I was exploring.

Day 4, Cornwall #1 - Where stood the cliff castle?

To be continued ...