NANJIZAL: A MUST-VISIT HIDDEN GEM IN CORNWALL
Leaving London and moving to the coast has many perks, and one of them is being able to explore this beautiful county when I’m not busy freelancing. Nanjizal, near Penzance, has been on my Cornwall bucket list for ages, and this weekend I finally adventured down south to see what all the fuss was about. Boy, did it not disappoint! Here are my tips for exploring this hidden gem in Cornwall.
Nanjizal, also known as Mill Bay, is a beautiful coastal area located near the very bottom of the UK, and is known for its stunning cliffs, clear blue waters, and natural rock formations. It has a cove which is is well-known for the rock arch where the sea has worn a tall, narrow passage through the cliff, known as The Song of the Sea (Zawn Pyg). From the beach, you can see the ocean framed through the arch which is set in a pool of crystal clear seawater and it is stunning. The water is turquoise blue- a haven for swimmers, if you can brave the cold!
We started the adventure by parking at Apple Tree Cafe. Sadly it was closed but the reviews were amazing [and it’s dog friendly], so I’d definitely check it out. From the cafe we followed the public footpath, which takes you through some fields and a beautiful Cornish farm called Trevilley Farm, before you reach the coastline. Top tip: you will see a cute little library shed as you walk through the farm - walk past it on your left and you heading in the right direction!
Once you have walked past the farm and through the cabbage fields, you will get to a point where the footpath goes either left or right - both will bring you out to Nanjizal. We took the left path as we could spot wild horses in the other direction, and didn’t fancy our chances with the dogs! This path takes you along the very top of the coastline, bringing you out with a stunning view of Land’s End and Nanjizal Cove below.
As you make your way down the fairly steep path [we put the dogs on leads here], you start to hear the gushing sounds of the river flowing down the hill across the boulders and rocks, before coming to not 1, but 3 waterfalls! You will see a little wooden bridge which takes you over the water, and from there you can take the steps down to the beach.
Nanjizal Cove wow’d us from the start! The beautiful rock arch, the azure pools, the waterfalls - the dramatic scenery was like something out of Lord of the Rings! The beach has boulders on one side, and beautiful sand the other, plus a cave where we sat away from the wind to have a spot of lunch.
The boulders on the beach can be slippy and tricky to walk over, so just be mindful of that - but there is plenty to enjoy even if you cant’t navigate these.
All in all, this has to be one of my favourite spots! The walk in no more than 45 mins each way, and there is just so much to see: waterfalls, seals, wild horses, beaches, caves. And the fact that is dog-friendly too is even better!