When I travel, I normally beg the weather gods to sunnily smile down on me for the entire length of my trip. I’m greedy like that. However, there have been a few times when I did actually want cloudy skies. One such time was in Cornwall, England. While I didn’t want out right rain, gloomy weather along the coasts of England appealed to the inner romantic in me (I may have read one too many English classics).
On the most western point of mainland England, one can find an area aptly called “Land’s End”. While it is somewhat marred by a complex of tacky tourist facilities, once you walk past those and head for the cliffs, you’ll find what you came for: beautiful views. And if you’re lucky, the weather is gloomy but not rainy. I found that the gloomy weather added intensity to the sea and cliffs, it muted the surrounding colours, and it kept away the tourist hoards. We had the place mostly to ourselves so I was in scenery and photographic heaven.
The one building of interest at Land’s End is the First and Last Refreshment House. It is considered to be the first and last house in England, geographically speaking. It was opened in the 19th century by a woman named Gracie Thomas. She sold pieces of granite as souvenirs to the Victorian tourists, as well as food and drinks.
A visit to Land’s End technically would only take a little bit of time – however, if you love cliffs, if you love photography, and/or if you love walking, you can spend a lot of time in this area. I would even suggest bringing a picnic and sit on one of the granite rocks for a while. Contemplate the sea and set your imagination free with pirates and shipwrecks. Other than that, wander the coastal trails and then move on to other great things to see in Cornwall.
Have you ever had a gloomy day enhance your travels?
Another great post and wonderful photos………and you’re right about the gloomier weather keeping the hoards of tourists away. Mind you, once you are away from Lands End and Sennen, there isn’t that many people on the coast path anyway. If you return to Cornwall, you need to go just a wee bit north of Lands End to St Just and Botallack, and around Zennor – the coastal scenery is stunning, far better than Land’s End. Just a small note, most of us Cornish folk don’t consider Cornwall as being part of England, we are much more closely associated with the Irish, Welsh, Scottish and the Bretons from north France 🙂
Thanks for the tips and I am glad you enjoyed the post! I definitely want to return to Cornwall as I absolutely loved it. And good to know re the Cornish identity – I didn’t know that!
You’re welcome Kendra 🙂
Your gloom here is indeed a good gloom! I’m partial to sunny skies and am a borderline victim of seasonal affective disorder, but I relished the gray skies, freezing days, and snow in Russia this past winter. I even deliberately made my first trip there in mid-winter because I just associate Russia with these elements!
I agree! Sometimes we associate a certain weather to a certain place and feel that we have to see it that way! Russia would definitely be a place I’d love to see in snow, that’s for sure. Good choice 😉
Looks like a beautiful place and I can imagine the gloomy weather adding to the romance of it.
Yup, the weather definitely added a bit of something to the atmosphere!
The cliffs are just gorgeous! And you’re absolutely right, there’s some places that do perfectly well with gloomy, cloudy weather. I think any place with a rough, rugged landscape fits this bill, rugged landscape matches with rugged skies!
In my meager travels one of my favourite memories was when we were on the Isle of Lewis and we decided to walk from the Callanish Stones to the Dun Carloway Broch because it ‘didn’t seem that far’. It ended up taking us about three hours along not terribly pedestrian friendly roads. The weather was changing every ten minutes from cloudy, to sunny, to crazy sideways rain! Strangely enough I’m rather attached to that place after the experience!
Amazing how when we have to work hard for something, it has much more meaning and a stronger impact in our lives, eh
I can see why a gloomy day with a little breeze would create a fitting atmosphere for this place. The boarded-up building looks so lonely out there all by itself – your imagination could run wild!
I especially like the photo with the fence and winding path leading to the far away buildings.
Thanks, Marilyn 🙂 It really was very atmospheric along the coastline there!