The Great Western to Penzance

Pirates of Penzance

Barbara and I travelled by train to Penzance today to see Amanda and family take part in the Guinness World Records attempt to regain the town's record of 'Most Pirates in one Place" as part of Penzance Town Council's 400th Anniversary to celebrate the town being granted it's Charter by King James I in 1614.



A multitude of pirates on Penzance prom

If you are an MEI Conference delegate staying on for a few extra days in Cornwall, then the Falmouth-Truro branch line offers an easy way of seeing something of Cornwall if you do not have a car.

Here is a suggested great day out. Buy a return ticket from Falmouth to Penzance (you can buy this on the train). You will have to change at Truro for the mainline train to Penzance, which travels through the heart of the historic tin and copper mining area, stopping at the old mining towns of Redruth, Camborne and Hayle, before proceeding to St. Erth and then Penzance. On the left you will have a great view of Mount's Bay and St. Michaels Mount as the train approaches the end of the line at Penzance, roughly 80 minutes after leaving Falmouth.

Approaching Penzance

Walk into the centre of town, to the statue of Sir Humphry Davy, who was born here (see posting of 18th October 2010) and then walk down Chapel Street to the Harbour, maybe stopping for morning coffee at the excellent Lost & Found Tea Rooms. Then back to the train, and alight at the first stop, St. Erth, where you can take the branch line train to the lovely north coast town of St. Ives.

St. Ives

There is plenty to see in St. Ives, with its many steep alleys and great restaurants serving local seafood. If you are feeling energetic walk westwards towards Zennor one of Cornwall's most rugged cliff walks. Then back to St. Ives station, and the return train to Falmouth, via St. Erth and Truro.

The coastal path west of St. Ives