Dollar Cove, Gunwalloe

Friday
Today the Lizard was shrouded in cloud and fog, with no expectation of it clearing, so unfortunately it wasn't a day for any cliff walks. We headed first to Gunwalloe to take a closer look at the little church of St. Winwaloe on Church Cove. The church is said to be one of the oldest in Cornwall and is mentioned in the Domesday Book. Curiously situated at the foot of the cliffs, with only the rocks of Castle Mound separating it from the sea, the church's detached bell tower is actually embedded in the side of the cliff. It was originally known as 'the Church of the Storms'. Its precarious position has meant that it has frequently, over the centuries, had to be reinforced by depositing large quantities of granite into the gap between the church and Dollar Cove to break the force of the waves.
Nothing now remains of the original fifth century church which once occupied the site, the present detached bell tower is believed to date from the thirteenth century while the rest of the current building is mainly of fifteenth century origin. We also enjoyed watching and listening to the waves pounding into the adjacent Dollar Cove. Then we visited the parish church at St. Mawgan in Meneage and then drove on to Falmouth, hoping to get out of the fog, which we did, though the weather was still overcast and drizzly. We had lunch in a pub, then walked through the town to the Maritime Museum, where we passed the rest of the afternoon. In the evening we went out to eat at the Halzephron Inn, back at Gunwalloe, which was recommended by our hostess at our B&B, and which was indeed excellent.

One year ago: Empty seat