St Levan

St Levan (Cornish: Selevan) is a parish in the south coast of West Cornwall, near Land's End. It consists of the villages of St Levan, Porthcurno, Trethewey and Treen. It is home to the spectacular open-air Minack Theatre overlooking the sea to the Logan Rock.

Understand
St. Levan parish sits on the south most side of Penwith. Historically the area played a major part in the establishment of international communications, the village of Porthcurno being one of the main locations from which submarine telegraph cables pass beneath the Atlantic Ocean. The cable station proved critical during WWII and as such defences were raised to bring security to the area.

The coast beyond Gwennap Head has claimed many ships due to the presence of a pinnacle of rock located one mile south known as the Runnel Stone. Most notable of these was that of the cargo ship SS Westminster which collided with the stone knocking the top clean off. The wreck still lies within a gully to the east. The site, now a marine conservation area popular with divers, can be spotted from the coast as a single buoy, which has been fitted with light and whistle as a warning to passing ships the recognizable as an eerie moan that can be heard for miles.

Get in
The parish is best accessed by car, there are car parks at Treen and Porthcurno.

Get around
There are fine walks all around the area, with excellent coastal views.

Buy
The nearest regular shops are in St Buryan and Sennen near Land's End. Some supplies can be bought at the campsite in Treen.

Go next

 * North-west to Land's End.
 * North-east to St Buryan, Mousehole, Newlyn and Penzance.