St Levan

St Levan is a tiny, scattered parish at the very tip of Cornwall, perched on the cliffs between Porthcurno and Land’s End. There’s no village centre to speak of — just a few farms, cottages and a remarkably beautiful medieval church in a sheltered valley. The church of St Levan is worth seeking out for the carved granite font, the ancient yew trees, and the holy well in the valley below. A split granite boulder in the churchyard carries a prophecy attributed to the saint himself.

The coast here is extraordinary. The South West Coast Path runs through the parish, and the cliffs are among the most dramatic in Cornwall — sheer granite dropping into deep blue water, with scattered offshore rocks and the sound of the sea ever-present. Porthchapel Beach, accessible down a steep path from the coast road, is a small sandy cove that feels wonderfully hidden and is often quiet even in summer. Porthcurno and the Minack Theatre are just next door.

St Levan is a place for people who want solitude, walking and a sense of being at the edge of everything. There’s no shop, no pub, and no phone signal in parts. The nearest facilities are at Porthcurno or the village of Treen. What you get instead is some of the wildest and most beautiful coastal scenery in England, big Atlantic sunsets, and the kind of quiet that lets you actually hear yourself think.