Geevor-Zennor-Sennen : Magical Cornwall

 A clue to the appeal of Cornwall lies in the evocative place names.

It is here that St Just and Pendeen, Botallack and Morvah, Geevor tin mine, old engine houses, granite tors, sea cliffs and ancient farmsteads on medieval fields meet the Atlantic. No wind or solar energy farms to blot the landscape; planners well aware how detrimental that would be.

To reach these little gems  I join the A30 near Exeter. Its an early start, 6.00 with an ETA of 8.30 at Zennor where I want to be in the 4/4. Oil checked, tyre pressures checked, screen washed, GPS set. Skirting north of Dartmoor and Oakhampton, past Launceston, across Bodmin Moor, by-passing  St Ives;  I now follow the coast and breathe the lovely sea fresh air. This is the  B3306. running through an area of outstanding natural beauty. 

The sea state and light is forever changing but even on a foggy day the shades of grey just add to the magic. At other times the clouds may cover 9/10th of the sky and the sun tracks over the landscape in spotlights viz the images above.

The back-packers hostel at Zennor is good for a coffee break with off road parking.

Happy memories at Porthmeor beach-café (St Ives) of our children wave riding the surf all day long and serving them bacon butties and coffee.

St Just is one of those places all too easily passed by;  I seek out a couple of narrow lanes that head towards the sea and discover Ballowall Barrow. A century ago this area was as devastated as any of the smokey grey industrial wastelands of the north. I dare say many of the locals from these parts never dream of wandering abroad, why choose Italian Pasta over Cornish Pasty.

Necessity is the mother of invention it is said and invention certainly happened here in abundance. Pioneers of mining, engineering, navigation, fishing and agriculture all flourished.

There is no doubt the Morgan will endure but how I would love to add my two penneth of minor modifications - a guide rail to the rack and pinion such that it is no longer subjected to twisting loads from the track rod ends.  Linkage of the rear leaf springs using bronze trunnions instead of primitive shackles. Recall the fold flat windscreen, a feature so very much enjoyed on every one of my old MGs. Also an exposed exhaust manifold in stainless flexitube would add great charisma as exemplified in this Mercedes.