Penzance makes the perfect base for exploring the Cornish coast in your rental car. Spend time exploring this historic port town, home to gorgeous beaches and some real cultural gems.
Soak up some sun
When you rent a car in Penzance, you’ll be well-placed to visit some of the most popular sunbathing hotspots in the county. If you’re travelling as a family, try Long Rock Beach. This beautiful stretch of pebbles and sand boasts calm, shallow waters that are great for swimmers of all ages, with lifeguards on duty throughout the summer months.
For something a little quieter, head just a short distance out of town to Lamorna Cove. This small pebble beach is great for swimming and scuba diving, but often less crowded than Long Rock. Alternatively, take a short drive to Porthmeor Cove, which lies between Penzance and Land’s End. This is a rugged and secluded area, with many steep walks and narrow walking paths that will reward you with fantastic views of the coastline.
The great outdoors
Visitors might flock to the beaches in and around Penzance, but they also come every summer to see the Minack Theatre, a spectacular open-air structure carved into a granite cliff at Porthcurno.
From May to September, you’ll see an excellent array of performances. But even if you don’t have tickets to see a show, you can still visit the site and enjoy its magnificent panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean.
Just a few kilometres outside Penzance lies another outdoor treasure - Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens. This seasonal attraction boasts an array of exotic and sub-tropical plants that thrive in Cornwall’s warm climate. As you wander around the site, you’ll also spot sculptures by local and national artists who created a series of works to complement these beautiful surroundings.
Ancient wonders
Cornwall has a rich and fascinating heritage and renting a car in Penzance gives you the chance to explore some of its renowned ancient sites during your stay. Start with the short drive north of the town to visit Lanyon Quoit, a megalithic structure on the road between Madron and Morvah.
Thought to have once served as a burial chamber or mausoleum, it’s believed to date back as far as 2,500BC. What you see today might be lower than the original – which was once tall enough to walk through – but it’s still worth paying a visit to this Bronze Age structure set against the peaceful background of the Cornish countryside.
Renting a car in Penzance also allows you to explore the nearby stone formation at Men-An-Tol as well as the Merry Maidens, also known as the Dawn’s Men, near St Buryan. Local legend has it that a circle of dancers were turned to stone here by the devil. Visit the site for yourself and see if you can feel the magical energy that some say is radiated by these ancient stones.
