Much loved Lamorna has a charm that grows on you and is perhaps best known for the post-impressionist artists who stayed in the early part of the 20th century.

The name Lamorna is believed to derive from the Cornish word Nansmornow, meaning the valley of ‘Mornow’. It is not known whether the name Mornow was the name of a landowner or the name of the stream but it appeared as early as the beginning of the 14th century.

Much loved Lamorna has a charm that grows on you and is perhaps best known for the post-impressionist artists who stayed in the early part of the 20th century. Lamorna Cove has been privately owned for over 100 years and it was the owner, Colonel Paynter, who actively encouraged the establishment of an artist’s colony. The ‘Lamorna Colony’, artists from the Newlyn School included Lamorna Birch who took his name from the place. He was born Samuel John Birch and moved to Lamorna shortly after the turn of the century. The other artists followed shortly after and to this day Lamorna is popular with painters, potters, craftsmen and writers. Lamorna has several potteries and local paintings can be found can be found in the nearby village of Mousehole as well as slightly further afield. Alfred Munnings, S.J. "Lamorna" Birch, Laura Knight and Harold Knight all feature in Jonathan Smith's book, and subsequent film Summer in February, which is based on their loves and lives.

LAMORNA COVE – The cove is between Porthcurno and Mousehole on the South West Coast Path. It is a small pebble beach next to the harbour with a lot of large boulders at low tide, it’s great for swimming and snorkelling.

MOUSEHOLE HARBOUR – The small patch of sand at the western end of the idyllic Mousehole harbour is not an obvious beach destination, but it can be a great family spot when it's not too busy. The town and harbour wall shelters you from the wind, while the sea in the harbour is safe to swim in and warmer than beyond the wall. In early November of each year, timber beams are laid across the entrance to the harbour, in order to protect the village from the worst of the winter storms. On a strong southerly wind waves can still be seen breaking over the harbour wall at high tide.

ST LOY – St Loy is most well known for the wooded valley leading down to the coast and is said to be the place where spring arrives first. There is a quiet cove made up of rounded rocks and boulders at the bottom of the woodland walk. There’s no sand but it’s a lovely quiet spot to stop on the South West Coast Path. 

LAMORNA COVE - We tend to think of Lamorna for its beautiful wooded valley with the stream running through it, or as a place to walk from. It does have a tidal beach in the harbour that’s lovely to swim from, and it’s a popular launch place for diving trips. The beach has a seasonal dog ban (Easter Sunday until October 1^st) and it’s accessed by the slipway inside of the quay. An area of sand is revealed as the tide drops and on the eastern slopes of the cove around the high tide mark are lots of small granite boulders that date back to a time when the cove’s main industry was quarrying. The now decaying pier was originally built to load this granite onto boats although most assume it was built to protect a fishing fleet. The quarry was active until 1911 and the granite quarried from Lamorna has been used in a number of illustrious buildings that include Bishop and Wolf Rock lighthouses, Dover harbour and many buildings in London. Lamorna Cove was bought by Roy Stevenson, a factory owner from Liverpool, in the 1990s and in the recent years there has been great criticism about the condition of the quay after it was damaged by the Valentine’s Day storms in 2014.

There’s also a café and a car park in Lamorna – be sure to buy a ticket, the car park is quick to issue fines.

WALKING - A lovely circular walk to do is between Lamorna and St Loy. The walk begins at the Merry Maidens stone circles and follows footpaths and small lanes to Lamorna Cove. From Lamorna, there’s an initial scramble over some granite boulders along the Coast Path before it gets less demanding and passes the Tangyes’ wildlife reserve, the Tater Du lighthouse and reaches the wooded valley at St Loy. The wooded valley to St Loy is beautiful at any time of the year but especially during the spring when the bluebells come out.

There is of course also the walk from Mousehole to Lamorna, a Good Friday favourite. Joining the Coast Path at the top of Raginnis hill the walk passes through the woods of the nature reserve and around the headland of Carn Du which has stunning panoramic views before following the cliffs to Lamorna Cove. The return route passes through the Lamorna granite quarries and the fields of the clifftop farms overlooking St Clement’s Isle and St Michaels’ Mount.

SHOPPING

PAUL FARMERS MARKET – Held in Paul village hall every Wednesday, from 10 until 12 you can pick up local vegetables, meat, fish, cheese, savouries, bread, arts and crafts.

CORNISHWEAR – Pick up a Cornish smock and share in a bit of Cornwall’s history. If you look at many of the paintings of the Newlyn School of artists, you are likely to spot a fisherman in a smock, hauling on a net or pot and now they are being made in a practical and stylish way for everyday wear.

LAMORNA POTTERY – First started in the 1920’s, The Lamorna Pottery has been developed and added to over the years. Try a Pottery Experience session and produce your own artwork before stopping off in the Lamorna Pottery Café for a bite to eat.

EATING

LAMORNA COVE CAFÉ – A fantastic pitstop for lunch or a cream tea while walking the coast path. Sit outside and enjoy the sea views with a slice of homemade cake.

LAMORNA WINK PUB AND RESTAURANT – The name goes back to bygone days when a "wink" was the sign that illegal contraband was available. The Wink is a friendly pub in a lovely location and does fantastic Sunday roasts.

LAMORNA POTTERY CAFÉ – A small café attached to the pottery serving delicious homemade cakes, light meals and a Sunday roast. 

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