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 church

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.

• 1 Porthcurno Long Stay. (updated Jul 2020)
• 2 Treen Car Park. (updated Jul 2020)

Get around

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

See

• 1 St Levan's Church, St Levan. The church is most famous for St. Levan's stone which sits within the graveyard. Prior to the coming of Christianity to the area the Pagan belief was that the stone brought fertility. Legend states that the rock was split in two by St. Levan using his staff stating that "When with paniers astride, A Pack Horse can ride, Through St. Levan's Stone, The world will be done."  
• 2 Porthcurno Telegraph Museum, Eastern House, Old Cable Ln, TR19 6HL, ☏ +44 1736 810966. 10AM-5PM. Museum of the history of submarine telegraphy in the area, Porthcurno is still the crossing point for many sub-Atlantic communications cables. (updated Jan 2018)
• 3 The Logan Rock. Example of a rocking stone perched on a peninsula outside of Treen, the peninsula is also the location of a former iron age hillfort, Treryn Dinas. In 1824 the Logan Rock was deliberately toppled by British seamen and had to be restored to its position. The location offers great views out to see and of Mount's Bay. (updated Jul 2020)
• 4 St. Levan's Holy Well. Holy well in St. Levan which overlooks the sea, there is also a chapel in the area. (updated Jul 2020)

Do

• 1 Minack Theatre (Gwaryjy Minack), Minack Point (towards the village of Porthcurno). An outdoor theatre built, by hand, into the side of cliff over looking the ocean; the theatre includes a museum and offers tours when there are no performances. It was the inspiration of Rowena Cade in the early 1930s.  

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.

Drink

• 1 Cable Station Inn, The Valley, Porthcurno, TR19 6JX. Down to earth pub with basic food. Also offers B&B. (updated Jan 2018)
• 2 The Logan Rock Inn, Treen, St. Levan. (updated Jul 2020)

Sleep

• 1 Driftwood Studio, Sea Breeze, Churchtown, TR19 6JS, ☏ +44 1736 810796. Self-catering accommodation. 
• 2 Logan Rock Holidays, Treen, St. Levan. Self-catering holiday lets in the village of Treen. (updated Jul 2020)

Go next

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