Penlee Point

Penlee Point is one of the most beautiful walks in the country. It lies on the South West Coast Path, and the views all around the headland are incredible. If you’re staying at Blue Monkey Cornwall, you’re just minutes away from this stunning coastal walk.

What Is Penlee Point?

Penn Legh is Cornish for stone-slab headland and the point is a coastal headland southeast of the village of Rame in Southeast Cornwall, UK. The point lies at the entrance to Plymouth Sound, with its imposing lighthouse commanding views across the water.

Penlee Point is part of a small Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty known as the “Rame Head Heritage Coast” that also includes Cawsand Bay and the Mount Edgcumbe Country Park.

Penlee Point Walk: Distance, Time & Difficulty

Key Stats:

• Distance: 6-9.7 km (4-6 miles) depending on route
• Time: 1.5 to 3.5 hours
• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
• Elevation gain: 150-235 meters
• Route type: Circular walk on the South West Coast Path

The walk is easily achievable for families and casual walkers, though some sections involve steady climbing. The terrain is mostly on established paths, with a few steep areas. There are no major obstacles, though the path can be muddy in places, particularly near woodland sections.

How to get to Penlee Point from Blue Monkey

If you’re staying at Blue Monkey in Cawsand, getting to Penlee Point is straightforward: turn right out of Blue Monkey and keep walking – the road will take you all the way to Penlee Point. It’s a scenic walk through the village, taking approximately 20-30 minutes on foot before you reach the coastal path.

Alternatively, there’s a Penlee Point car park if you prefer to drive (PL101LN).

What To See At Penlee Point

Queen Adelaide’s Grotto

Above the point and little below the stunning Coastal Path is Queen Adelaide’s Grotto, built in 1827/1828 to commemorate the visit of King William IV and Queen Adelaide to Mount Edgcumbe.  Penlee Battery is the former site of a fort, and is now a nature reserve.

Penlee Battery Nature Reserve

A gun battery was constructed on Penlee Point in the late 1880s and used throughout both World Wars. It was initially armed with two 6-inch guns and a massive 13.5-inch gun, which weighed 67 tons and took eighty horses two weeks to haul it up a specially constructed flight of steps. On its first firing, the recoil from the gun split its concrete bed. The battery was decommissioned in the 1950s, and the buildings associated with it were demolished, but there are still enough remains to appreciate the scale of the defences. Wait around until low tide to see a private, hidden beach revealed.  This is also where nature lovers can see the Green Darner Dragonfly, first seen in Britain here.

Rame Head

Penlee Point is part of a small Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty known as the “Rame Head Heritage Coast” that also includes Cawsand Bay and the Mount Edgcumbe Country Park. 

Penlee Point Walk Tips

What To Bring

• Good walking boots (the path can be muddy)
• Waterproof jacket (weather changes quickly on the coast)
• Plenty of water and snacks
• Sun cream and hat (exposed headland with no shade)
• Camera for the views

Best Time To Visit

Spring (April-May): Wildflowers in bloom, milder weather, fewer crowds

Summer (June-August): Warmest weather, longest daylight, best for swimming at hidden beach, but busiest with visitors

Autumn (September-October): Blackberries, butterflies, and beautiful golden light; generally quieter than summer

Winter (November-March): Dramatic coastal views, fewer visitors, but shorter daylight and potentially muddy paths

Important: Stock Up Before You Go

Make sure you stock up with plenty to eat before you go. There are no facilities at Penlee Point itself, so pack a picnic lunch and snacks. You can grab supplies in Cawsand village beforehand.

Where To Eat In Cawsand

Try some of the great places to eat in Cawsand before or after your walk:

• The Bay Bar and Restaurant – Located on Cawsand Beach with sea views
• The Old Bakery – Traditional village spot

You can check what’s open here.

Where to stay: Blue Monkey Cornwall

Penlee Point is one of the most accessible coastal walks from Blue Monkey Cornwall, our luxury 5-bed self-catering holiday cottage in Cawsand. You can literally turn right out of the cottage and walk straight to Penlee Point – no car needed.

Blue Monkey is perfectly positioned as your base for exploring the Rame Peninsula, with easy access to:

• Penlee Point and Rame Head walks
• Mount Edgcumbe Country Park
• Three sandy beaches (Cawsand, Kingsand, The Cleave)
• Whitsand Bay (just a short drive)
• Village restaurants and shops

Book Your Penlee Point Adventure

Ready to explore one of Cornwall’s most beautiful walks? Blue Monkey Cornwall is your perfect base.

Contact us to book:

Call: 07845 468 487
Email: enquiries@bluemonkeycornwall.com

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Our guests love to go out for drinks or supper when they’re holidaying at Blue Monkey. With life slowly returning to a new normal, everybody is longing to discover new places/for a change of scenery, so I thought I would find out where you can sit down, relax and enjoy some local food! What’s open in Kingsand and Cawsand? Where can you find the best view? Here is a selection of some of our favourite places to eat locally with the best views in South East Cornwall, along with their opening times.

The Canteen, Maker Heights

Work up an appetite with a brisk 30 minute walk from Blue Monkey to the Canteen at Maker Heights, a popular Sunday lunch destination.  Open daily 9.30 till 16.00 the canteen serves breakfast and lunch but is most famous for it’s delicious Sunday lunch. Very relaxed, dogs are welcome and if you love to sit and gaze out to sea, this is the spot for you!

Top Tip: You need to book in advance for Sunday lunch: 01752 659069

The Bay Bar and Restaurant

A little further down the road from Blue Monkey and situated right on the beach, this new restaurant boasts a view from every table!  A great place for lunch during the week you can eat at one of the tables or get takeaway.

Opening Hours

Mon – Thurs & Sun 10am – 6pm

Fri & Sat 10am – 10pm

The Devonport Inn

Also right on the beach and a little closer to Blue Monkey, The Devonport Inn serves lunch, afternoon tea, supper and takeaways.  On Sundays they have a delicious brunch between 11am and 3pm with live music in the evening to cheer you on.

Have a look at their menu here.

Top Tip: You need to book in advance.

Mount Edgcumbe House and Gardens

The House and Gardens at Mount Edgcumbe are now open again.  Treat yourself with a visit to the Orangery Garden Café or enjoy the beautiful grounds with a takeaway coffee from The Farriers Café. If you’re feeling energetic, you can walk along the coastal path from Blue Monkey all the way to Mount Edgcumbe but it’s a long hike – take some water!

The Country Park is open to the public free of charge every day of the year from 8am – 8pm in the summer and 8am – 6pm in Winter.

The Farriers Cafe is open for lunch.

The Stores

The Stores is our local delicatessen, serving delicious artisan coffee, gluten free cakes, sourdough bread and a range of scrumptious deli products.  The Stores will deliver grazing platters of delicious cheeses and meats to your door or ask Annabel to arrange a picnic hamper for you packed with your favourite focaccia, sourdough bagels or Cornish patrami – yum!

The Rod and Line

Seven miles before Cawsand, on the Saltash side, is the Rod and Line – a rustic Cornish pub renowned locally for its excellent fresh sea food.  The Rod and Line serves a full menu all day every day and describes itself as ‘an unapologetically, back to basics, spit and sawdust pub’ with a warm open fire and friendly natives!

Top Tip: Book in advance: 01752 851912

The Old Bakery Cafe

The Old Bakery sourdough bakehouse, pizzeria and cafe is open from April to October and you will find it on Garrett Street, a stone’s throw from Blue Monkey.  The perfect place to get breakfast pastries and coffee at the weekend, and then wander down to the seashore to eat them.

Opening Hours

Mondays 5.30 to 8pm for take away pizza

Friday, Saturday and Sunday 9am till noon for pastries, bread and coffee etc.

During high season they do take away pizza from 5.30 till 8pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The Halfway House Inn

Awarded a Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice in 2021, the pub is a just a minute’s walk from Blue Monkey on the corner of Fore Street and Garrett Street.  They have a new seating area and beer garden at the back of the pub where you can grab a table and try one of their delicious meals.  The pub is a pebble’s throw rom the beach and so if it looks too crowded, you can opt for take away fand retire to the beach and stare out to sea – my favourite pastime!

You can check out their menu here.

Free Stuff!

Please make use of the two free Kayaks and paddle boards at the house that we provide for our guests to use, or take a picnic to Penlee Point.

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I am always looking for exciting things to entertain our guests when they come and stay at Blue Monkey and I recently had a request for a day’s scuba diving. I was amazed to find that there are many companies who offer exciting underwater adventures and there is even a retired war ship that was sunk off Whitsand Bay specifically to entice visitors to come Scuba diving in Cornwall.

We have two free kayaks and paddle boards (with life jackets) for our guests to use and our free Concierge service is there to suggest added extras to enhance your stay. Please ask Annabel to provide you with details.

HMS Scylla

This British Naval frigate was built in 1968 and in service until 1993. In 2004 she was sunk off the coast of Whitsand Bay so that anybody scuba diving in Cornwall has somewhere exciting to explore.

The wreck of the Scylla is 113 metres long, with a 13-metre beam and you will need to dive down 11m to reach the deck of the bow. You can see Exocet and SeaWolf missile launchers and there are many openings to allow divers to explore into her hull.

Top Tip: Whitsand Bay is only 10 minutes’ drive from Blue Monkey so if you are interested in a dive, please contact Annabel at enquiries@bluemonkeycornwall.com

Hatt Rock

17 miles offshore from Plymouth is reputedly one of the best dive sites in the UK – Hatt Rock. A flat top pinnacle at 25m this is for experienced divers. A 55m wall will take you down to the seabed below where you will find a jungle of marine life including pink sea fans, plumrose anemones, soft corals, sea urchins and shoals of fish. If you plan on scuba diving in Cornwall, this should be on your list.

Talland Bay

Beginners will enjoy this dive site as there are many exciting things to see and explore at only 10m down. You can dive from the shore and it’s also a great place to snorkel. Talland Bay lies between Looe and Polperro and home to 3 wrecks. The Marguerite lies in shallow water between the two main beaches. Harder to find are the Tregothic, which sank in 1786, and the Ester which sank in 1885. If you are a beginner scuba diving in Cornwall, then this is the perfect site as you can see so much within the sweep of the bay.

Top Tip: you can learn diving here: http://plymouthdivingcentre.co.uk/

Available Dates

We still have 5 nights free in 2020 and we are taking bookings for 2021 and 2022:

7 to 12 December 2020: £749

Book Now on our secure Online Booking Page

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There are many Gourmet Restaurants in Cornwall, and there are some fantastic gourmet restaurants near Blue Monkey, not to mention our own personal chef who can prepare a meal in advance of your arrival or even provide a catered dinner party during your stay.  But many of our guests are gourmet enthusiasts and so here is a list of some of the best local restaurants.

The Barbican Kitchen, Plymouth

One of my favourite gourmet restaurants near Blue Monkey.  Acclaimed chefs and restauranteurs Chris and James Tanner’s own this hugely successful and popular casual dining brasserie in the Plymouth Gin Distillery.  The Tanner brothers have won many an award for their high quality food and ethos of local sourcing and seasonal flavours.  The Barbican Kitchen state that their aim is to ‘deliver fresh local food at a realistic price’ and kids under 5 eat for free!  Have a look at the menu which you can see here.

Salumi Bar and Eatery

Another fabulous gourmet restaurant near Blue Monkey is the newly opened Salumi.  The owner and chef, Dave Jenkins recently won the Sharp’s Brewery Best Chef 2019 award – need I say more!  The Salumi has a beautiful interior and exterior seating for hot summer nights and a BBQ at the end of each month during summer.

Have a look at their menus here.

Top Tip: Vegan options

The Greedy Goose, Plymouth

This gourmet restaurant near Blue Monkey is owned by Ben and Francesca Palmer.  Ben has worked with many award winning chefs and was himself a quarter finalist in MasterChefs: The Professionals, in 2011.  The restaurant is in the beautiful and romantic Prysten House, one of Plymouth’s oldest buildings with its own well.  They have lots on offer to tempt you to visit: Taster Tuesdays, BYOB Wednesdays, family friendly Sunday brunches and a very reasonable price of £15 for 3 courses.

Have a look at the menu here.

Availability and Special Offers

30 March to 4th April reduced from £599 to £549
18 to 24 April reduced from £624 to £549
10 to 15 May reduced from £1,099 to £999

We still have 1 week available in July 18th to 25th
We still have the first week of August free

Book Now to avoid disappointment on our secure online booking page

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The Rame Peninsula Micro Climate

Christmas at Blue Monkey is truly relaxing.  The twin fishing villages of Kingsand and Cawsand seem undisturbed by the chaos of modern life and even have their own mild micro climate, making it the perfect place to relax and unwind by the sea.  Here is how I would spend a seaside Christmas on the Rame Peninsula…

The Coastal Path to Mount Edgcumbe

A magical walk along the West Coastal Path, with strange shaped trees and fabulous views.  You and your dog will feel very well exercised by the end of this 5 mile walk, so make sure you take a bottle of water with you.  Along the walk you will come across eighteenth century follies, seats and fountains to lead you to the fabulous Mount Edgcumbe House and Gardens where you can collapse in the cafe and have a cup of tea.  You will go back home feeling that you have captured the very essence of Christmas on the Rame Peninsula.

Beautiful Local Beaches

Beaches-Rame-Peninsula

There are many beaches within a stone’s throw from Blue Monkey and you only need to step outside the house to hear the sea, and walk a few yards to the end of Garrett Street to see it.  There are many more secret beaches like this one, along the shoreline of the Plymouth Sound.  Dogs are allowed to run around off their leads on the beaches from the beginning of October – that’s why dogs love to spend Christmas on the Rame Peninsula!

Watching the Boats

Situated just across the water from the naval base at Plymouth, there are always lots of fascinating boats to watch sailing around the peninsula.  If you’re feeling brave and the water is warm enough, we have 2 paddle boards and 2 kayaks FREE for our guests to use.

 

 

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Three miles of sand stretch from Rame Head in the East to Portwrinkle in the West.  These are the beautiful beaches of Whitsand Bay with glistening white sand, rock pools and waves.  Great for paddle boarding, surfing, ideal for an early morning jog, peaceful to picnic on and exciting to explore.

Rame Peninsula’s beaches are bordered by high cliffs steeped in history and drama.  Whitsand Bay is overlooked by the ruins of a 14^th century chapel dedicated to St Michael at the pinnacle of the peninsula.

In 1874 a hermit called Lugger dug himself out a cave at Sharrow Point and inscribed secret verses on the ceiling to keep himself entertained.  It is also popular with divers: in 1914 a submarine sank it Whitsand Bay and in 2004 it was joined by HMS Scylla to provide an artificial underwater reef.

Defenders of the Realm!  Rame Peninsula’s beaches have played their part.  In 1859 the Polhawn Battery was built to shore up our shores as Plymouth was considered to be a weak point in our defences.  Polhawn Battery and Polhawn Fort now play a different role in our culture as their beautiful views have transformed the fort into a popular wedding venue.

Whitsand Bay is one of the many beautiful beaches close to Blue Monkey Cornwall.  Follow my blog to learn more.

Top Tips: Whitsand Bay is dog friendly and has 3 coastguards on duty between May and September.  Beware the strong currents and steep descent down rocky paths to the beach.

Useful Links:

Where to Eat

Surfing and Coasteering

Weddings

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Easter Fun!

The Rame Peninsula is the perfect place to spend an Easter Break in Cornwall.  There are beaches, coastal walks with breath-taking views and lots of family entertainments planned.  Here are three of our favourites right on Blue Monkey’s doorstep:

Easter at Eden

From the 6^th to 25^th of April the Eden Project is running a very special Easter event.  There are indoor and outdoor games and activities for families to try (phew no need to worry about the rain!).  Have fun herding farmyard animals into their pens, win some golden eggs and learn about growing crops with the Eden farmers.

Top Tip: Free with Eden Admission

Plymouth Easter Egg Hunt

Plymouth is full of exciting things to see and do and there’s always something happening to entertain all ages.  If you are planning an Easter break in Cornwall, your children will be delighted to hear that they can join the free chocolate mini egg hunt in Plymouth City Centre.  Follow a map to find the giant eggs and claim your eggs!

Top Tip: The best way to get to Plymouth is to take the ferry from Cawsand Beach to Barbican Landing Stage and spot dolphins on the way.

Mount Edgcumbe House

Five minutes from Blue Monkey is the ancestral home of the Earls of Mount Edgcumbe.  Full of history, art and three 16^th century tapestries, the house is well worth a visit and opens for the season from 1^st April to the end of September, Sunday through Thursday from 11am to 4.30pm.

If you don’t want to visit the house, the country park is free of charge and open every day from 8am to 8pm. This is a fun day out for the family, with Adventure Segway, Golf, cycles, archery and many more things to do and explore.

Top Tip: Dogs on leads are welcome.  Family Ticket price: £12.50

April Offer

6th to 13th April is still available and we are offering 15% off listed Price
Please enter code APR at checkout on our secure online payment page here.

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Summer’s over – hooray!  That means it’s time to take an Autumn break in Cornwall.  No crowds, lower prices, and still plenty to do and see.  Dogs are delighted – they’re allowed off lead from the 1^st October on the beaches around Blue Monkey, so you can all go for a bracing coastal walk, followed by supper in one of the many fabulous dog friendly pubs or restaurants.  As Halloween and Bonfire night approach the events calendar hots up with a fortnight of magical activities at The Eden Project.  Here are three recommendations for an unmissable Autumn Break in Cornwall:

POLPERRO

A day trip to Polperro, 30 minutes down the coast from Blue Monkey, is a must for the creative soul.  Situated in an area of ‘outstanding natural beauty’, the unspoilt harbour, is brimming with artists and you can admire their work in the many local galleries and browse through quirky independent shops.  Polperro is famous for its seafood restaurants serving fresh fish caught by the local fishermen.

This is the perfect place for a romantic walk as the coast either side of the harbour will blow both your mind and the cobwebs away.   If you’re feeling energetic, take the 5-mile path from Polperro to Looe – the spectacular views along this coast will be a highlight of your Autumn break in Cornwall.

THE LOOE VALLEY LINE

Talking of Looe… if you’re feeling less like walking but you’d still like to admire the views then catching a train along the Looe Valley Line may suit you better.  See the final stretch here.

If you’re taking an Autumn break in Cornwall then this is not to be missed.  Along the route from Liskeard to Looe you will travel through woodland valleys opening up to the estuary where the river meets the sea.  At low tide you’ll see all sorts of beautiful birds wading through the water: Herons, Oystercatchers and Curlews.

Top Tips: The train runs regularly throughout the day, dogs are welcome and a ticket costs just £4.60.

THE EDEN PROJECT

The Eden Project at St Austell is Cornwall’s most famous landmark, built to study the environment and conservation to find new ways to provide a cleaner and greener future for the world.  The bubble shaped biomes are the world’s largest greenhouses, each housing a miniature ecosystem that supports the appropriate climate for the wildlife living within it.  Younger children will be excited to explore a steamy rainforest biome with a tree top walkway winding through a jungle canopy.  Over the half term fortnight there will also be strange Halloween creatures wandering the biomes, pumpkin displays, and ice skating at the Little Monsters Halloween Ball.

Older children will enjoy England’s longest zip wire, a giant gravity swing, a 12m bungee drop and a 25m free-fall jump into an airbag (over 18s only).  Do something you’ll never forget on your Autumn break in Cornwall!

Top Tips: Dogs are allowed on the site but not inside the Biomes.

AUTUMN AVAILABILITY

We still have a few gaps to fill over the coming weeks:

29th September to 4th October
8th to 11th October

14th to 20th October
27th October to 1st November

Please email Annabel for a quote: enquiries@bluemonkeycornwall.com
Or book securely online here

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As the Summer lingers and brings a few more days of gentle heat, you may be surprised to know that the sea in Cornwall is at its warmest in September and October. The heat it has absorbed from the Summer sun is retained, which makes it a great time of year for kayaking (Blue Monkey has 2 free kayaks for our guests to use), mackerel fishing and swimming.  It’s also the perfect time of year for playing golf – not too hot, not too cold, and a great way to spend the day taking in the last of the summer sun.  There are so many local activities to be enjoyed at this time of year around Blue Monkey – this week I’lm looking at the fantastic golf courses in Cornwall – here are three with fabulous cliff top views.

Whitsand Bay

Golf is one of the most popular local activities chosen by our guests.  Whitsand Bay golf course is only 10 minutes drive from Blue Monkey with fantastic views of the beach and the Rame Peninsula.  Of all the Golf courses in Cornwall, Whitsand bay’s 18 hole course is said to be one of the most breath-taking in the UK.  Set on a cliff top overlooking the beach with panoramic views of the west country, the terrain will suit both newcomers to the game as well as those with a low handicap.  Relax afterwards in the welcoming clubhouse that is open 7 days a week.

Follow this link to view the Green Fees.

St Mellion

Nineteen miles inland (38 mins drive) from Blue Monkey is the famous PGA St Mellion golf course with 2 courses to choose from: one of the most challenging Golf courses in Cornwall.

The Niklaus Course

This is one of the finest and most famous golf courses in Cornwall and even in Europe: the place to come if you really want to test your game.  No easy holes but the elevated tees give you great views to help you navigate this exciting and challenging course that takes you across rivers and through valleys of trees.  Many tournaments have been fought here and you will be following in the footsteps of many a famous champion.

The Kernow Course

The Kernow Course is laid out on top of a hill but don’t let that put you off – it’s not onerously hilly to play, making it an easier going and wonderful complement to the Nicklaus Course, with its wide fairways, large greens and spectacular views.  Originally designed by J Hamilton Stutt, it is one of the finest Golf courses in Cornwall and the South West and has hosted many International golf tournaments.

Staddon Heights Golf Club

Situated on the outskirts of Plymouth, 30 miles from Blue Monkey.  Staddon Heights is another cliff top golf club, with fabulous views of the Devon and Cornwall coastline, Plymouth Sound, the City of Plymouth and inland over the Dartmoor and Bodmin hills.

This is not the most challenging of Golf courses in Cornwall but there are plenty of interesting holes, stunning scenery and a great clubhouse with a cosy bar and restaurant to unwind in – another of our guests’ favourite activities!

We still have a few gaps at this perfect time of year for a round or two of golf at one of these fabulous courses, and we have some great discounts to Tee Off the Autumn:

29th September to 4th October 5 nights for £659
8th to 11th October 3 nights for £599
14th to 20th October 6 nights for £699

If you are interested in a Golfing break in Cornwall, Blue Monkey is ideally situated  in Kingsand to access all the above courses and our Concierge service is on hand to organise it for you.  Please email Annabel at enquiries@bluemonkeycornwall.com if you are interested in any of the above dates.  Check out other available dates and book securely online here.

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