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 30th April 2008 Cornish Links
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Photos of Praa Sands Cornwall
Click on a photo for much a higher quality version. About Praa SandsPraa Sands is located off the main road between Helston and Penzance in the Parish of Breage. It is well signed from the A394 and there are three car parks but roadside parking is not permitted. Praa Sands offers a range of shops and a pub although the choice is limited in winter.Along with many other Cornish seaside places Praa Sands has a long association with smuggling. Up until the late 1700s it is reported that smugglers openly landed their cargoes on the beach. After the end of the war with France, in and around 1815, smuggling runs became more secretive as coastguards were more vigilant as there was now a reward of prize-money for capturing smuggled cargoes. Goods were landed at Praa Sands where at the west end of the beach is a tunnel that apparently led to a house at Pengersick reported to be the birthplace of the smuggler John Carter, who was also known as the King of Prussia. Praa Sands lies in a sheltered depression within the area known as Mounts Bay. There it a long wide sandy beach and reasonably large waves for the area which attract surfers from all around the UK. In addtion to the surfing the shallow waters and seasonal lifeguard service make the beach popular for families. To cater for this interest there are holiday chalet and caravan parks nearby. Praa Sands is also a popular camping spot and there are several sites in the area. Between the village and the main road there is Praa Sands Golf Club a 9 hole links course which is open to non-members. The geology and coastal erosion at Praa Sands have earned it Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) status. Amid the rocks at the bottom of the cliffs there is a red-brown ridge of rock sticking out into the sea. This ridge was formed 270 million years ago when molten rock forced its way up through a vertical crack from deep in the Earth's crust. On close inspection it is possible to see that the white feldspar crystals are all lined up in the same direction. Near the café at Praa Sands is a black platform of 1,300 year-old fossil soil sticking out from the base of the dunes. Coastal erosion has had a big impact on Praa Sands, until the 1970’s the wartime pillbox at the back of the beach was sited on the top of the cliffs. Over the years various coastal defence works have attempted to stop further erosion but the winter gales are very destructive and this is not an easy task. At the western end of the beach is Sydney Cove where there is a manmade drainage tunnel or adit created to drain a now disused mine. Within this adit roof there are pebbles rounded by the action of the sea. This proves that just before the last period of glaciations around 100,000 years ago the sea level was higher than it is now. A visit to Praa Sands is well recommended, the beach is wonderful for a range of water sports including surfing, canoeing, sailing and jet skiing. At various times of the year it is also possible to enjoy a spectacular view of seals, dolphins and even basking sharks that have previously been spotted off the beach. |
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