Pendeen

Tin has been mined in and around this village since prehistoric times and, from the 19th century, Pendeen also became a centre for copper extraction. Not surprisingly, it is this industry that dominates and to the northwest of the village there are two interesting old mines that are now open to the public. The last of 20 or so mines in the area to close was Geevor Tin Mine, where production ceased in 1990. Now, extensively preserved as the Geevor Tin Mine and Heritage Centre, it is the largest preserved mining site in Britain, and an important part of the World Heritage Site area for Cornish mining recognised by UNESCO in 2006. Visitors can enjoy a fascinating close-up view of the Cornish mining industry. You might finish up a guided tour in the on-site cafe, which affords distant views west to the coast, as far as the engine house of the Levant Mine. The Levant Beam Engine is the oldest working steam engine in the country, now restored and functioning. In 1919, Levant was the scene of a tragic accident when the ‘man engine’, or mechanical lift, broke away from its upper coupling killing 31 men and seriously injuring many others.

Further to the north, on the slate promontory of Pendeen Watch stands Pendeen Lighthouse that has been guiding ships for nearly a century. Since all lighthouses were fully automated, Pendeen has been open for guided tours around the light and the engine house. The headland also gives access to the lovely rocky Portheras Cove, a 10 -minute walk east, where you’ll find a pleasant cove with a white sand beach. Until 2004 parts of the beach were out of bounds due to razor sharp metal fragments under the sand – the legacy of a botched attempt to dynamite an old wreck. Seals are a common sight here.