Ballowall Barrow

Ballowall Barrow is a prehistoric burial mound looking straight out over the Atlantic. It is an old and unusual one, built and rebuilt over and over from the late Stone Age through to the Bronze Age. The structure itself is also quite unique with a low granite cairn in the centre surrounded by two curving stone walls, stone chambers and a dark entrance passage on the outer edge. It was dug it out and partly rebuilt it in 1878 giving it a stone maze feel. As you explore you can capture tight compositions of the curved walls, shadowed hollows and granite texture from low angles. If you step back you can take in the whole landscape with the cairn low against the sea and sky on the cliff edge, plus you can add Cape Cornwall just to the north and the Isles of Scilly out on the horizon of a clear day. The mound faces west, so late afternoon into sunset is the perfect time to be here. The setting sun lights the front of the stones, the sea behind goes bright, and you can work silhouettes against the sky. Overcast days suit it too and allow you to play up the moody feel of the whole area. It stands among old tin mining remains, spoil heaps and a ruined stack, so it's worth exploring the whole area while you are here. The whole area is open access and free, plus its right along the SW Coast Path. It is remote and exposed, so plan for wind coming off the sea making it feel cool even on warm days. (St Just, Cornwall, England)