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Land's End, Cornwall Land's End might not seem suitable for a web site dedicated to historic visiting. Nothing overtly "historic" has happened there. However, sometimes the most apparently familiar and unremarkable of places have the most resonant stories to tell. This could be true of Land's End.
Land's End started to become a tourist destination in the early nineteenth century. Visitors at that time would stop at the First and Last Inn, and then make their way along poorly maintained tracks to Land's End. Following centuries when people defined their identity typically in terms of their local area, or their religion, the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries saw increasing nationalistic feeling. Transport systems were improving, and wider voting rights meant that people were feeling more involved with the national scene. A nation of course likes to set its boundaries, which means it would make sense to find a point on Britain's west coast as the place where the country "begins." It could actually begin or end anywhere, but a definite point is beguiling. Land's End became this point, with John O'Groats on Scotland's north coast serving as the opposite defining point. According to the present Land's End administration company web site, buildings at Land's End went up in the mid nineteenth century, with development intensifying once the railway reached Penzance in 1859. By the turn of the century the Land's End Hotel was a smart and busy establishment. But then as the twentieth century wore on Land's End entered a more difficult period. The hotel was damaged during the Second World War, and the cliff top suffered heavy erosion from the tramping feet of visitors. In 1987 the businessman Peter de Savary purchased Land's End, and naturalist David Bellamy was hired to advise on looking after the natural environment. He suggested sensible measures - the provision of tarmaced paths to ease pressure on the rest of the cliff top area. De Savary, as a businessman also created a visitors centre with various tourist-friendly attractions.
While many other traditional coastal resorts in Britain have long since lost their former importance, Land's End, inspite of its problems, has to an extent retained its place in the national consciousness. The Land's End to John O'Groats journey is something of an institution, with celebrities often making the trip for charity. This serves to keep Land's End in the public eye. Land's End it seems continues to play its defining national role.
As far as visiting is concerned, there is an area of attractions of various kinds, a 3D movie, a Dr Who attraction, an exhibition describing Land's End to John O'Groats journeys, and a display about the air sea rescue service. A little way along the cliff there is a farm attraction with animals, a history of local farming techniques, and workshops where local craftsmen are at work. At various points around the cliff top walks there are information signs describing local history, geology and wildlife. There is also the famous sign with distances to the Scilly Isles, New York, Australia, and for a fee, the distance to your particular home town.
Opening Times: Land's End cliff area is open at any time, all year. Easter to October, attractions and restaurants are open 10am until 4pm or 5pm. Between November and the end of March opening is 10.30am - 3.30pm daily.
The attractions are closed from January 4th to February 7th for annual maintenance.
Address: Land's End, Shennan, Cornwall, TR19 7AA
Directions: Just drive west down the A30 from Penzance and keep going until you run out of road.
Access: Access from car park to the visitors centre is level, and there are dedicated parking spaces near the centre. Most of the attractions are accessible by wheelchair users, though the path to Greeb farm has steep slopes. Adapted toiet facilities are available. Cliff top paths are tarmaced but there are some steep slopes.
Contact:
telephone: 0871 720 0044
fax: 01736 871812
web site: http://www.landsend-landmark.co.uk/index.php