Lizard Point

Lizard Point stands at the southern tip of the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall, half a mile south of Lizard village. It marks the most southerly point on mainland Great Britain, lying about eleven miles southeast of Helston. The point overlooks Polpeor Cove to the east and forms part of the Caerthillian to Kennack Site of Special Scientific Interest. The Lizard Lighthouse rises above the point, while below it the YHA Lizard Youth Hostel occupies the former hotel building. Nearby Porthallow is known for serpentine carvings, including pump handles in the Five Pilchards public house. The area has long been a shipping landmark and hazard, with the first sighting of the Spanish Armada recorded off Lizard Point on 29 July 1588. In 1707 the Battle at the Lizard took place here during the War of the Spanish Succession. The point’s geology draws geologists, as the rocks represent an ophiolite, a slice of ancient ocean floor. Local walks let visitors examine the exposed layers and learn about the area’s unique structure. The sea has also claimed ships, including the MV Ardgarry, lost in 1962 with all twelve crew. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution maintains a lifeboat station at Kilcobben Cove, two miles northeast. A funicular railway carries crews from the boathouse up the cliff to the station car park. In 1907 the station played a leading role when the SS Suevic struck Maenheere Reef in fog and gale. Volunteer crews from four nearby stations rescued 456 passengers over sixteen hours, earning six silver RNLI medals. Today the point offers sweeping views across the English Channel and a quiet reminder of the power of the sea.