Mullion

The inland village of Mullion is the largest settlement on the Lizard Peninsula and an ideal base from which to explore this remarkable part of the county. Here, a triangle of quiet roads encloses the 15th century St Mallenus Parish Church, dedicated to the French saint Malo (or Mellane of Rennes). The short tower is partly constructed of serpentine rock, and the interior has some interestingly carved bench ends - one of them depicts Jonah in the belly of the whale. Look out, too, for the ‘dog door’ in the south door that was used by sheepdogs who were allowed to attend church with their masters but who were made to leave if they became unruly.

Inland are the remains of the Wheal Unity copper mine, which closed in 1919. A large boulder containing copper was dug out of the mine and given to the Natural History Museum in London.

West of the village of Mullion Cove, there are a few ancient buildings and thick walls of serpentine that overlook the little harbour of Mullion Cove – also known as Porthmellion – where a handful of fishing boats bob about on the water. The cove had a lifeboat station from 1867 to 1909, and with good reason: in the six years up to 1873 there were nine wrecks under Mullion cliffs along a mile-and-a-half stretch of coastline. Much of the land surrounding this secluded cove of white sand, as well as the harbour and offshore Mullion Island, is owned by the National Trust and the views from here extend westwards, across Mount’s Bay, to Penzance and Newlyn. The island is home to colonies of sea birds, including fulmars, guillemots and kittiwakes.