Helford

At the northeastern side of the Lizard Peninsular, the Helford River reveals a range of different faces along its length, from sheltered muddy creeks to its rocky, open mouth, all of which repay exploration on foot or by boat. On its south side, Frenchman’s Creek, one of a splay of inlets running off the river, was the inspiration for Daphne du Maurier’s novel of the same name, and her evocation of it still holds true: ‘still and soundless, surrounded by the trees, hidden from the eyes of men’.

Hidden in yet another side creek is Helford village, this picture postcard village makes a good start for riverside walks and, from April until the end of September, is linked to Helford Passage by a ferry across the river. The series of deep tidal creeks in the area are rumoured to be the home of Morgawr, the legendary ‘Sea Giant’. The first recorded sighting of this sea serpent was in 1926 and, ever since there have been numerous other sightings of this ‘hideous, hump-backed creature with stumpy horns’. It is said to look like the Loch Ness Monster, and indeed some video footage recorded in 1999 by someone who formerly worked for the Natural History Museum reveals a creature that looks remarkably like Nessie. Although, until further proof comes to light, the only limits to Morgawr’s true identity are the limits of your imagination.