Helston Near Cornwall
If for some reason in your life it’s always been a lifelong goal to get about as far South in Britain as it is possible to get – then Helston in Cornwall is the place for you my friend.
Lying on the Lizard Peninsula it is the second oldest town in Cornwall and home to an age old tradition called the “Furry Dance”. This incidentally is not as allergy inducing as it sounds, but more on that later.
Upon arriving in this small town it is hard to ignore all of the signs that guide you toward something called “The Lizard” – fortunately Helston is not under the dictatorship of a large ambient reptile bearing similarities to the Great and Powerful Oz (We’re Off to see The Lizard?). In actual fact The Lizard is a stretch of jagged cliff edges and wide open sea that offers one of the most spectacular sights in England. The Lizard is fairly easy to get to if you don’t have a car as it is a popular tourist spot and as such buses are readily available around town to take you straight there.
The site is home to crumbling cliff edges and sheer drops that’ll make your head spin, yet most of the site is relatively open and free for you to take as many steps as you dare to the edge (don’t do this). A small beach is also accessible down a well trodden path if you fancy taking a dip in the azure blue waters. These tranquil tides hide secrets though as the bed is littered with shipwrecks that have fallen prey to hidden underwater rocks. Divers come from far and wide to explore this watery graveyard as to this day treasure such as gold coins can still be found around the rusting cannons and hulls of these doomed vessels.
Atop the cliff is a youth hostel, from anywhere between £18 - £52 depending on whether you want a room or just a bed, the Lizard provides a fantastic place to stay for any aspiring traveller.
Venture back into town and you reach Lizard Village (no, really?) – beautifully quaint it is home to “Mainland Britain’s most southerly pub” The Witch Ball. The pub has sat there for 600 years – although this isn’t to say it doesn’t indulge in more modern pursuits as in August the pub hosts its own beer festival with real ales and live music. Of course if you’re very tall or for that matter, very drunk, take care when walking inside as low beams and sagging doorways are a telling point as to the age of this great pub.
So, the Furry Dance. On the 8th May Helston enjoys its annual Flora Day, which involves the people of the town taking it in turns to dance along streets and in and out of houses and buildings in a dance that lasts from 7am to 5pm. Of course breaks are involved and the dance traditionally is broken up into sections as the day goes on. It’s a tradition that dates back to Medieval period and has continued unabashed and without outside interference for centuries. In fact one rule dictates that only those born in Helston can lead certain dances, although there are of course no restrictions upon who can be an onlooker to this fantastic ritual; as visitors regularly travel in from far and wide. With a carnival atmosphere the shops and streets are adorned with flowers and the dance commemorates the passing of Winter. Alas, there is no fur involved as the name is thought to derive from the Cornish word for “feast”.