Land's End

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For other uses, see Land's End (disambiguation).
Coordinates: 50°04′07″N 5°42′58″W / 50.068611°N 5.716111°W / 50.068611; -5.716111
Land's End
Cornish: Penn an Wlas / Pedn an Wlas

Land's End
Land's End

 Land's End shown within Cornwall
OS grid reference SW 34177 25339
Unitary authority Cornwall
Ceremonial county Cornwall
Region South West
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Police Devon and Cornwall
Fire Cornwall
Ambulance South Western
EU Parliament South West England
List of places
UK
England
Cornwall
A 1946 map of Land's End

Land's End (Cornish: Penn an Wlas or Pedn an Wlas)[1] is a headland and small settlement in western Cornwall, England. It is the most westerly point of mainland Cornwall and England. It is on the Penwith peninsula, about eight miles (13 km) west-southwest of Penzance.[2]

Geography

Land's End has a particular resonance because it is often used to suggest distance. Land's End to John o' Groats in Scotland is a distance of 838 miles (1,349 km) by road and this Land's End to John o' Groats distance is often used to define races, walks or charitable events in the UK.

The Longships, a group of rocky islets are just over a mile offshore of Land's End, and the Isles of Scilly lie approximately 28 miles (45 km) southwest—the mythical lost land of Lyonesse (referred to in Arthurian literature) was supposedly located between Scilly and the mainland.

The headland has been designated as an Important Plant Area, by the organisation Plantlife, for rare species of flora.[3]

History

In 1769, the antiquarian William Borlase wrote:

"Of this time we are to understand what Edward I. says (Sheringham. p. 129.) that Britain, Wales, and Cornwall, were the portion of Belinus, elder son of Dunwallo, and that that part of the Island, afterwards called England, was divided in three shares, viz. Britain, which reached from the Tweed, Westward, as far as the river Ex; Wales inclosed by the rivers Severn, and Dee; and Cornwall from the river Ex to the Land's-End".

In 1987 Peter de Savary purchased Land’s End for almost £7 million from David Goldstone.[4] He had two new buildings erected and much of the present theme park development was instigated by him[citation needed]. He sold both Land's End and John o' Groats to businessman Graham Ferguson Lacey in 1991.[5] The current owners purchased Land’s End in 1996 and formed a company named Heritage Great Britain PLC[citation needed]. Attractions at the theme park include children's playgrounds and recorded music. Twice a week in August there are firework displays. Nearby is the Land's End Hotel.[6]

In May 2012, Land's End received widespread attention as the starting point of the 2012 Summer Olympics torch relay.[7]

Climate

Land's End has an oceanic climate, similar to most of south-west England, only slightly milder winters and slightly cooler summers with a mean temperature of 11 °C. Wind levels in winter reach around 20–25 knots, which is windier than most of England. The highest temperature recorded is 28.9 °C, the warmest day should reach 25.4 °C and one day should reach or exceed 25.1 °C. The lowest temperature recorded is −3.4 °C. And just 10 to 20 days should record frost.

Average High Average Low
Jan 9 4
Feb 9 4
Mar 10 5
Apr 11 6
May 14 9
Jun 16 12
Jul 18 13
Aug 18 13
Sep 17 12
Oct 14 9
Nov 12 6
Dec 10 5
Average 13.16 8.08

Gallery

  • Cliffs at Land's End

  • Photo of cliffs several miles away at Kenidjack, photographed from Cape Cornwall.

  • The tourist centre at Land's End

  • The tourist centre at Land's End

  • The Longships lighthouse off Land's End

  • Looking south from Land's End

  • Looking west from Land's End

  • Looking north from Land's End

  • Signpost at Land's End

See also

References

  1. ↑ An English-Cornish Glossary in the Standard Written Form (gives both Penn an Wlas and Pedn an Wlas)
  2. ↑ Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 203 Land's End ISBN 978-0-319-23148-7
  3. ↑ "Land's End". Plantlife. Retrieved 7 February 2012. 
  4. ↑ "1987: Millionaire's big plans for English landmark". BBC. 2008. Retrieved 21 May 2011. "Land's End in Cornwall has been sold for nearly £7m to the property tycoon, Peter de Savary." 
  5. ↑ "1987: Millionaire's big plans for English landmark". BBC. 2008. Retrieved 21 May 2011. "Peter de Savary sold both Land's End and John o'Groats in 1991 for an undisclosed sum to businessman Graham Ferguson Lacey." 
  6. ↑ Clegg, David (2005) Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly; 2nd ed. Leicester: Matador; pp. 123–24
  7. ↑ "Olympic torch: Flame arrives at Land's End". BBC News. Retrieved 26 May 2012. 


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