Lizard Lighthouse (Cornwall)

Information
Lizard Lighthouse is a landfall and coastal mark giving a guide to vessels in passage along the English Channel and warning of the hazardous waters off Lizard Point.
Many stories are told of the activities of wreckers around our coasts, most of which are grossly exaggerated, but small communities occasionally and sometimes officially benefited from the spoils of shipwrecks, and petitions for lighthouses were, in certain cases, rejected on the strength of local opinion; this was particularly true in the South West of England.
The distinctive twin towers of the Lizard Lighthouse mark the most southerly point of mainland Britain. The coastline is particularly hazardous, and from early times the need for a beacon was obvious.
Lighthouse has a visitor centre although opening times are restricted.
7 Day Weather Forecast
Our weather forecast for The Lizard in Cornwall is split into two widgets. The first shows a timeline containing temperature, wind, sunrise/sunset and chance of rain, whilst the second shows the forecast for the week ahead including severe weather alerts when available.
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In this 'you may also like' section we attempt to answer what else can I do? Here you have a list by order of being the closest some more beaches, things to see and do, places to eat and upcoming events.
- Lizard Lighthouse (Cornwall)
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  Lizard Lighthouse is a landfall and coastal mark giving a guide to vessels in passage along the English Channel and warning of the hazardous waters off Lizard Point. Many stories are told of the activities of wreckers around our coasts, most of which are grossly exaggerated, but small communities occasionally and sometimes officially benefited from the spoils of shipwrecks, and petitions for lighthouses were, in certain cases, rejected on the strength of local opinion; this was particularly true in the South West of England. The distinctive twin towers of the Lizard Lighthouse mark the most southerly point of mainland Britain. The coastline is particularly hazardous, and from early times the need for a beacon was obvious. Lighthouse has a visitor centre although opening times are restricted.
- Lizard Point
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  Lizard Point in Cornwall has spectacular cliffs, coves and views and is at the southern tip of the Lizard Peninsula and is the most southerly point on mainland Great Britain. With the exception of parts of the Isles of Scilly it is the southernmost part of England.
- Polpeor Cove Beach
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  Polpeor Cove a south facing small coarse dark grey sandy beach situated at Lizard Point itself. The cove is dominated by the Old Lizard Lifeboat Station. Due to its location the beach is not suitable for swimming. Cafe, pub, shop, parking and toilets are all at Lizard Point. We have no dog information for Polpeor Cove beach.
- Housel Bay Beach
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  Housel Bay is a small sandy cove that disappears at high tide. Visitors need to be careful not to be cut off as the tide comes in! The bay is reached by a walk along the coast path from Lizard Point (approx 20 minutes) and there is a steep climb down to the beach from the coast path. Facilities include parking, toilets, shops, cafe all at Lizard Point.
- Caerthillian Cove Beach
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  Caerthillian Cove is a rocky inlet between Lizard Point and Kynance Cove. Popular bird watchers and walkers. Nearest car parking on National Trust car park above Kynance Cove or in Lizard village. We have no dog information for Caerthillian Cove beach.
- The Lizard lifeboat station
  1.44 km
  
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  The Lizard lifeboat station is launched from the boathouse down the slipway into the sea. The station features a funicular line to transport lifeboat crews from the boathouse to the clifftop station car park. The lifeboat station was opened here in 1961, the location was chosen because it was sufficiently protected to allow safe launching in all conditions. The old lifeboat station around the Lizard headland at Polpeor Cove was too exposed, making launching difficult and dangerous in certain conditions.
- Pentreath Beach
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  Pentreath pebble beach below cliffs, although there is sand at low tide, but all but disappears at high tide. This beach is usually quiet as you have to walk to get to it. No facilities or parking need to walk from the Lizard village or downhill from the car park above Kynance Cove.
- Kynance Cove Beach
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  Kynance Cove on dramatic and historic stretch of Cornish coast – white-sand, cliffs, turquoise water and multi-coloured islands. Calm seas means good swimming conditions but there can be rip tides and strong currents. Excellent location for walking and spending the day on the beach. At low tide there is sand, caves and rock pools. Often missed as visitors go straight for The Lizard but if you want a location rather than amusements then this cove is the place for you. Lizard Wireless Station, site of ground-breaking radio experiments. Dramatic cliff-top walks, rare wildflowers and unique geology. NT car parks with toilets at Kynance and Lizard Point, cafe and shop, no lifeguards. “Kynans” means gorge in the Cornish language.
- Cadgwith Cove Beach
  3.41 km
  
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  Cadgwith Cove is an old world Cornish fishing village with two beach areas. One beach is the home of the village small fleet of crabbing boats winched up on the beach. The second beach is the swimming beach, a small shingle beach with rocks to climb and explore. The boat beach is easily accessible whilst the swimming beach is down some steep steps. The village had a lifeboat, starting in 1867 with a rowing boat and finishing with the Guide of Dunkirk in 1963. A little to the south along the coast path is the Devil’s Frying Pan, a 200 foot deep hole in the cliffs formed many years ago when a cave collapsed.
- Gew Graze Beach
  4.02 km
  
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  Gew Graze beach also known as Soapy Cove after the adjacent soap stone quarry. The beach is stony at high tide but as the tide goes out you then have some great sand interspersed by smooth rocks. This is a classic example of a remote and beautiful Cornish cove, great to get away from everything. No facilities at the beach with access only from the coast path after a long walk from either Kynance Cove or Mullion Cove.
- Carleon Cove Beach
  4.69 km
  
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  Carleon Cove is a rocky cove approached down a long incline with cobbles along part of its length, then a bridge over a very pretty stream. Now deserted, Carleon Cove used to operate a pilchard fishery until the mid 19th century. The pilchard cellar buildings were later extended to accommodate a steam engine, used to power machinery for cutting and polishing serpentine, and a stream was deepened to allow flat-bottomed barges to ferry the products out to ships. Park at the National Trust Poltesco and walk down to the cove. We have no dog information for Carleon Cove beach.
- Kennack Sands Beach
  5.82 km
  
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  Kennack Sands a sandy beach with rock pools. At high tide the beach is split into two but at low tide is is a very large beach. East facing beach popular with surfers of all abilities. Facilities include car park, toilets, cafe, beach shop.
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