A dangerous, hidden beauty spot in Cornwall, usually only accessible by sea, occasionally becomes dry enough to reach by land for a tantalisingly short time during the lowest tide of the year.
The massive collapsed sea cave is quite unlike anywhere else in Cornwall. Upon entering through a dark tunnel, you find yourself inside a technicolour amphitheatre, surrounded by a ring of 100ft high stained cliffs giving way to a circle of blue sky above.
On calm days, when the tide fills this roofless cavern, adventurers led by experienced kayakers are guided in through the small gap to find what must be Cornwall’s most secluded beach.
However, although it is generally not considered accessible by any other means, the lowest tide of the year allowed myself and two experienced guides a brief visit to this stunning natural wonder.
Stunning it may be, but it is equally dangerous, and has earned its name ‘The Prison’ because of the real threat of getting trapped inside, with no way to escape as the tide floods in.
For that reason, I will keep details of its exact location vague, as well as those of the long and treacherous route to reach it, but it’s not far from where a huge landslide took out an historic coastal route used to access ancient underground workings. Read that full story and see an aerial video here.
It would have been impossible for me to safely visit and return from The Prison without my very experienced local guides, and the extreme low tide, so it is strongly advised that you do not attempt this.
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