Lifesavers at the Lizard

Lizard Point's far south location can make it a place of sun and warmth although the sea is still in control here. For some distance offshore, reefs and sandbanks create massive 'overfalls' where, in stormy weather the sea becomes chaotic and dangerous. On the high ground of Lizard Point stands one of the most strategically important lighthouses in Britain. A coal-fired Lizard Lighthouse was built in 1619, but was short-lived, and it was not until 1752 that a more substantial lighthouse was built. It was first powered by coal and then, from 1812 onwards, by oil. Today's light uses electricity and has one of the most powerful beams in Britain.

The route of the walk first leads to the picturesque Kynance Cove then winds its way along the coast path to Lizard Head and then to Lizard Point. In Polpeor Cove on the western side of Lizard Point, and seen clearly from the coast path, stands the disused lifeboat house of the old Lizard lifeboat. This was a bold location; the launching slipway faced into the teeth of southerly and westerly gales and too often it was impossible to launch the lifeboat, though epic missions were carried out over the years. In 1961 the lifeboat house was closed on the opening of a new lifeboat station at the more sheltered Kilcobben Cove near Landewednack's Church Cove to the east.

The Lizard was also famous for its connections with radio communications, a technology that has played its own crucial part in search and rescue at sea. East of Lizard Lighthouse, the route of the walk leads past the little wooden building of the old Marconi Wireless Station. From here, in 1901, the first wireless transmission was sent by Guglielmo Marconi. The letter 'S' in Morse code was sent from a, now demolished, 164ft (50m) aerial. It was received faintly - but almost immediately - over 2,000 miles (3,240km) away at St John's, Newfoundland, where the aerial had been attached to a kite. Within sight of the 'Marconi Bungalow', as the little building is called, is the ugly, white-painted building of the old Lloyds signal station on Bass Point. The original station was established in 1872 to take note of all shipping that passed the Lizard. In front of the Lloyds building is a one-time coastguard lookout that is now manned by members of the National Coastwatch Institution. Just over ½ mile (800m) further on is the spectacular location of the Lizard-Cadgwith Lifeboat station, the modern successor to lifeboats that were once stationed at Cadgwith, Church Cove, and Lizard Point. The record of service boards outside say everything about this ultimate expression of the service to mariners by local people over the years.

What to look for

Look for two garden escapees which thrive here. Monbretia (Tritonia crocosmiflora) has rich orange flowers, the Hottentot fig (Carpobrutus edulis) has large pink or yellow flowers and a wide-spreading mat of fleshy leaves.

Where to eat and drink

At Lizard Point car park the Polpeor Café, billed, with good reason as 'the Most Southerly Café in England' does a tasty selection of food including Cornish pasties, Cajun chicken and home made steak and kidney pies. Ice creams and drinks are also on sale. There are reduced opening hours in winter. You can eat and drink just by stepping off the coast path through the delightful cliff-side gardens of the Housel Bay Hotel on the east side of Housel Cove. A menu is posted alongside the path. Dogs are not allowed in the hotel and restaurant areas. The Top House Inn at Lizard village is an attractive and well-run, popular, traditional pub that has an excellent selection of bar meals as well as offering sandwiches of all types.