| Back | About Headland Garden |
| In what must be one of the most idyllic coastal situations in Britain, the spectacular views from the one and a quarter acre Cliffside garden would alone make it worth a visit. The garden is situated on the estuary of the river Fowey to the north, whilst to the west there are magical views over the open sea to Gribben Head, Dodman Point, and on a clear day, the Lizard peninsular. The garden is carved out of layers of rock, but despite the regular buffeting it receives from the south westerly gales, there is colour at most times of the year. On the wooded river side, there is a path down to the cove below, where visitors may swim if they wish. The side facing the sea has paths and stone seats tucked amongst the sub-tropical plants, many of which grow in crevices in the rock | |
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St Catherine's Castle and Punche's Cross |
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"St Catherine's Castle was built during the
reign of Henry VIII along with those at St Maws
and Falmouth to protect the coast from the French,
Spaniards and Dutch and once there were twin chapels on either side
of the river Fowey looking out to sea St Catherine and St Saviour.
Before this time two forts further up the river were connected by a
huge chain which was raised against invaders to rip the bottoms out of
their boats as they tried to enter the harbour.
At the most easterly point of the mouth of the river Fowey is a mass of low lying rocks with a tall wooden cross known as Punche's cross. It is mentioned by Leland in the sixteenth century and was probably put there originally by the monks of Tywardreath to mark the limit of the jurisdiction of the Priory. It has been replaced over the years whenever it was damaged by storm and sea. One legend that has stood the test of time is that the cross also marks the spot where Jesus of Nazareth came to Britain as a boy with his Uncle Joseph of Arimathea who was in the tin trade." |