We made a trip to Prussia Cove today – it wasn’t planned but we woke up to such a fabulous morning here in West Cornwall. As I opened the curtains I spotted high thready cloud across Mounts Bay and a silky smooth sea at first light and knew it would be a special day.
It was one of those September days too good to be true . A trip to Prussia Cove perhaps? I must say that Prussia Cove is one of my favourite September pilgrimages I always feel drawn by the still silence of the sandy pebbly alcoves softened by Tamarisk draped cliffs.
Exploring Prussia Cove
Prussia cove was formerly famous as the smuggling haunt of the Carter brothers. The Porth-en- Alls estate there is now as a venue for hosting the International spring and autumn musician seminars.
The tranquil cove is one of my favourite short hops from Ednovean Farm for Lucy Landrover. It only takes five minutes to chug along the road and across Rosudgeon common.
Prussia Cove – a quartet of unspoilt beaches
Prussia Cove is made up of four secluded coves each with its own character. The Cove we explored today is more properly called Bessie’s Cove named after Bessie Burrow who reportedly had an Ale house above the cove.
Our visit to Bessie’s Cove
We were lucky to just squeeze into the little car park where the road ends, before walking along the track to the steep steps down into the cove. We tucked ourselves into a quiet secluded corner, for the afternoon. An afternoon idly to watching a dog retrieving an ever-tossed ball from the waves. Full of the joy that only a dog or maybe a child can find, on a beach surrounded by the rhythm of the waves.
Before we left,I walked over to the shaded side of the cove to explore the slipway that dips into the water . I was intrigued by the tram ruts cut into the soft rocks by long ago smugglers carts and in truth I always find the atmosphere slightly less…………friendly, slightly brooding in fact on that side of Prussia in the shadowed silence.
As I snapped my pictures Charles had already begun to climb the steps up through the Tamarisk. I knew it was time to go but stole one look back to the little beach deserted now, save for a little child paddling in the shallow waters edge.
Explore West Penwith
To explore more of the hidden coves of West Cornwall try the almost secret beach of Kenneggy Beach It is close to Prussia Cove just beyond the rocky outcrop and only fully accessible at low tide. Or walk westwards to Piskies Cove – a secluded, tidal beach under the shelter of Little Cudden.
