Cape Cornwall

Cape Cornwall is a rugged headland just west of St Just, out at the far end of the Penwith peninsula. A stone chimney from the old Cape Cornwall Mine stands on the hilltop overlooking the coastline, left in place as a landmark long after the mine shutdown. As you walk along the SW Coast Path the chimney will appear in front of you and sit photogenically against open Atlantic and endless sky. The Brisons Rocks sit about a kilometre offshore, two rocks that locals call General de Gaulle in his bath. A long lens will bring them in tight with the swell breaking over them. Since the cape points west, the sun goes down straight off the end of it creating amazing sunsets that are worth staying in the area for. Winter is a fun time to come if you are interested in capturing dynamic waves. Thats the time of year when big Atlantic swell piles into the rocks below. Priest's Cove is worth exploring while you are in the area with its granite fishermen's huts, winches and boats on a working slipway. Plus, St Helen's Oratory is a historic chapel that now sits in ruins in the field across from the car park. The National Trust owns the headland and runs the car park, so there will be a parking fee unless you're a member. The Cape is only ten minutes from St Just, so easy to come back twice in a day to experiment with different light and tides. (St Just, Cornwall, England)