Cape Cornwall (, meaning "goose back") is a small headland in West Cornwall, England. It is north of Land's End near the town of St Just. Until the first Ordnance Survey in the early 19th-century, Cape Cornwall was believed to be the most westerly point in Cornwall.

Most of the headland is owned by the National Trust. National Coastwatch has a look-out on the seaward side. The only tourist infrastructure at present is a car park (owned by the National Trust), public toilets, and a refreshments counter during the summer.

The Brisons, two offshore rocks, are located approximately southwest of Cape Cornwall. They mark the starting line of the annual swimming race ending at Priest Cove. Later versions of the name dropped the 'Ust'. An alternative name, Penn Kernow, is a recent translation back to Cornish of the English.

Early history

thumb|180px|Heinz Monument (the 1864 chimney of the former [[Cape Cornwall Mine visible in the centre) commemorates the purchase of Cape Cornwall for the nation by H. J. Heinz Company. The ruins of St. Helen's Oratory can be seen on the left, with the two offshore rocks called The Brisons in the distance.]]

Pottery found in cists on the Cape have been dated to the Late Bronze Age. The presence of another cliff castle nearby (Kenidjack) may indicate that the area was important in the Iron Age. On the landward side of the Cape is the remains of the medieval St Helen's Oratory, which replaced a 6th-century church. A font now installed in the porch of St Just church may be from this building. The remains of Cape Cornwall Mine are designated as part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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File:Cape Cornwall from air.jpg

File:Cape Cornwall Golf Club.png|Cape Cornwall Golf Club

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References

  • Cape Cornwall at DMOZ