Thursday, November 24, 2011

Penzance Is A Perfect Base For Exploring Cornwall

By Danny Smith


Penzance, located at the southern tip of Cornwall is the closest town to Lands End.

Penzance once had a chapel near to its harbour so was formerly known as 'Pen Sans' in traditional Cornish dialect, which translates as Holy Headland. Centuries ago Penzance and the surrounding area were widely known as a favourite haunt for pirates. Penzance itself has a deep heritage, dating back centuries and the evidence of its historical past remains evident today. There are rigorous planning regulations in place to assist in the preservation of the towns character.

With its warm and welcoming atmosphere Penzance now has a wealth of artistic talent on display. Having at one time was reliant on fishing as its major income, Penzance now caters mainly for the tourism industry. Its huge popularity has lead to a steady increase in the number of visitors each year.

Despite being tucked away in the furthest corner of the UK, access is straightforward by road due to an excellent network of dual carriageways and motorways. Additionally, there are numerous regular coach and railway connections to the town.

It is a terrific town and you will find a great deal to see in the local area. Penzance benefits from one of the most temperate climates within the UK thanks to the Atlantic Gulf Stream.

In the Victorian era, various exotic plants and seeds were introduced to the local area and there are currently numerous collections of rare exotic plants growing in the area which are not found anywhere else in the UK. Because of the vast amount of sub-tropical plants, you may feel as if you are in the Mediterranean.

In June we have the hugely popular Golowan Festival, when thousands of people are attracted to Penzance making accommodation scarce. Marking the arrival of Midsummer, the Golowan Festival is an ancient tradition of celebration. If the arts, music, parades and entertainment are for you then this 10 day Festival will not disappoint. You can also enjoy spectacular fires, firework displays and visit the fair with its traditional rides. There is colour up and down the streets from brightly coloured banners to fresh flowers, Penzance comes alive.

On the last Monday of August the Newlyn Fish Festival is held. The Newlyn Fish Festival as the name suggests celebrates the most essential ingredient of Cornish life; fishing, which is fishing. During this festival, many different kinds of boat fill the harbour and a wonderful array of the area's typical fish are displayed in the local market. There are a number of stalls and entertainment.

In Penzance you will find great choice in food outlets and good shopping facilities\shopping and dining facilities. A number of ancient monuments survive in the surrounding area, and offer fantastic opportunities for a day out.

For art lovers Penzance is a wonderful area to explore having the largest of artists in found in Britain outside of London. The Art Gallery at Penlee Park houses work by several famous artists such as Stanhope Forbes. Nearby St Ives additionally offers world class galleries such as the Tateand the Barbara Hepworth Museum.




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