St Levan - village in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom

St Levan (Cornish: Selevan) is a parish in the south coast of Cornwall, near Land's End. It consists of the villages of St Levan, Porthcurno, Trethewey and Treen.

Understand

St. Levan parish sits on the south most side of Penwith. Historically the area played a major part in the establishment of international communications, the village of Porthcurno being one of the main locations from which submarine telegraph cables pass beneath the Atlantic Ocean. The cable station proved critical during WWII and as such defences were raised to bring security to the area.

The coast beyond Gwennap Head has claimed many ships due to the presence of a pinnacle of rock located one mile south known as the Runnel Stone. Most notable of these was that of the cargo ship SS Westminster which collided with the stone knocking the top clean off. The wreck still lies within a gully to the east. The site, now a marine conservation area popular with divers, can be spotted from the coast as a single buoy, which has been fitted with light and whistle as a warning to passing ships the recognizable as an eerie moan that can be heard for miles. wikipedia:Porthcurno wikipedia:Runnel_Stone

Get in

The parish is best accessed by car, there are car parks at Treen and Porthcurno.

• Porthcurno Long Stay, 50.0457789°, -5.6549978°. 2020-07-13
• Treen Car Park, 50.0499759°, -5.6411129°. 2020-07-13

Get around

There are fine walks all around the area, with excellent coastal views.

See

• St Levan's Church, St Levan, 50.04224°, -5.66026°. The church is most famous for St. Levan's stone which sits within the graveyard. Prior to the coming of Christianity to the area the Pagan belief was that the stone brought fertility. Legend states that the rock was split in two by St. Levan using his staff stating that "When with paniers astride, A Pack Horse can ride, Through St. Levan's Stone, The world will be done."
• Porthcurno Telegraph Museum, Eastern House, Old Cable Ln, TR19 6HL, 50.0467°, -5.6549°, +44 1736 810966. 10AM-5PM. Museum of the history of submarine telegraphy in the area, Porthcurno is still the crossing point for many sub-Atlantic communications cables. 2018-01-14
• The Logan Rock, 50.041361°, -5.636468°. Example of a rocking stone perched on a peninsula outside of Treen, the peninsula is also the location of a former iron age hillfort, Treryn Dinas. In 1824 the Logan Rock was deliberately toppled by British seamen and had to be restored to its position. The location offers great views out to see and of Mount's Bay. 2020-07-13
• St. Levan's Holy Well, 50.039742°, -5.659306°. Holy well in St. Levan which overlooks the sea, there is also a chapel in the area. 2020-07-13

Do

• Minack Theatre (Gwaryjy Minack), 50.040556°, -5.650833°. an outdoor theatre built, by hand, into the side of cliff over looking the ocean; the theatre includes a museum and offers tours when there are no performances

Buy

The nearest regular shops are in St Buryan and Sennen near Land's End. Some supplies can be bought at the campsite in Treen.

Eat

Drink

• Cable Station Inn, The Valley, Porthcurno, TR19 6JX, 50.04594°, -5.65578°. Down to earth pub with basic food. Also offers B&B. 2018-01-14
• The Logan Rock Inn, Treen, St. Levan, 50.050834°, -5.641916°. 2020-07-13

Sleep

• Driftwood Studio, Sea Breeze, Churchtown, TR19 6JS, 50.038854°, -5.659032°, +44 1736 810796. Self catering accommodation.
• Logan Rock Holidays, Treen, St. Levan, 50.0498742°, -5.6417797°. Self catering holiday lets in the village of Treen. 2020-07-13

Connect

Go next

• North-west to Land's End.
• North-east to St Buryan, Mousehole, Newlyn and Penzance.