Looking Glass

Coastal Feature, Headland, Point in Cornwall

England

Looking Glass

Frigate at Devonport Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset (F82) at HMNB Devonport No. 2 Dock. — Frigate at Devonport Credit: David Dixon

Looking Glass is a prominent coastal feature located in Cornwall, England. Situated on the southwestern tip of the country, it is a stunning headland that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. The name "Looking Glass" is derived from the breathtaking panoramic views it offers, allowing visitors to gaze out onto the vast expanse of the sea.

This headland is characterized by rugged cliffs that provide a dramatic backdrop to the surrounding landscape. The cliffs are composed of granite, which adds to the overall beauty of the area. They stand tall and majestic, rising up to a considerable height above sea level. This elevation provides an ideal vantage point for observing the diverse marine life and the powerful waves crashing against the rocks below.

Looking Glass is also home to a variety of bird species, making it a popular spot for birdwatching enthusiasts. The headland provides nesting sites and feeding grounds for seabirds such as gannets, puffins, and razorbills. Their presence adds to the rich biodiversity of the area and offers a unique opportunity for nature lovers to observe these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.

The headland is easily accessible to visitors, with well-maintained footpaths leading to the cliffs. These paths allow for leisurely walks along the coastline, providing ample opportunities for visitors to admire the stunning views and immerse themselves in the tranquility of the surroundings.

Looking Glass is a must-visit destination for those seeking natural beauty, breathtaking views, and a chance to connect with the wonders of the ocean and its wildlife.

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Looking Glass Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 50.387624/-4.2013579 or Grid Reference SX4356. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Frigate at Devonport

Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset (F82) at HMNB Devonport No. 2 Dock.

David Dixon

HMNB Devonport

Her Majesty's Naval Base, Devonport (HMNB Devonport), is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy (the others being HMNB Clyde and HMNB Portsmouth). HMNB Devonport is located in Devonport, in the west of the city of Plymouth. Having begun as Royal Navy Dockyard in the late-17th century, it is now the largest naval base in Western Europe and is the sole nuclear repair and refuelling facility for the Royal Navy. Shipbuilding ceased at Devonport in the early 1970s, but ship maintenance work has continued: the now privatised maintenance facilities are operated by Babcock Marine who took over in 2007. HM Naval Base Devonport is the home port of the Devonport Flotilla which includes the largest ship in the Royal Navy HMS Ocean and the Trafalgar-class submarines. Devonport will no longer be used as a base for attack submarines after these move to Faslane by 2017, and the Type 45 destroyers are based at Portsmouth. However, Devonport retains a long-term role as the dedicated home of the amphibious fleet, survey vessels and half the frigate fleet.

David Dixon

RFA Fort Victoria at Devonport

Royal Fleet Auxiliary combined fleet stores ship and tanker RFA Fort Victoria berthed at HMNB Devonport.

David Dixon

Frigate, HMS Argyll, at Devonport

Royal Navy Type 23 Duke-class frigate HMS Argyll (F231) at HMNB Devonport.

David Dixon

River Tamar, The Hamoaze

The Hamoaze is an estuarine stretch of the tidal River Tamar, between its confluence with the River Lynher and Plymouth Sound.

David Dixon

Torpoint Ferry

The Torpoint Ferry is a car and pedestrian chain ferry which crosses the Hamoaze, a stretch of water at the mouth of the River Tamar, between Devonport in Plymouth and Torpoint in Cornwall. The route is currently served by three ferries, two of which can be seen in this photograph. They are named after three rivers in the area: Tamar II, Lynher II and Plym II. Each ferry carries 73 cars and operates using its own set of slipways and parallel chains.

David Dixon

Torpoint Ferry, Lynher II at Torpoint

The Torpoint Ferry is a car and pedestrian chain ferry which crosses the Hamoaze, a stretch of water at the mouth of the River Tamar, between Devonport in Plymouth and Torpoint in Cornwall. The route is currently served by three ferries, which are named after three rivers in the area: Tamar II, Lynher II and Plym II. Each ferry carries 73 cars and operates using its own set of slipways and parallel chains.

David Dixon

Torpoint Ferry

The vehicle ferry provides a frequent service across the Hamoaze, linking Devonport and Torpoint. It is the busiest estuarial vehicular ferry crossing in the United Kingdom, carrying nearly two million vehicles per year in three vessels. There has been a ferry service here since 1791 but it was in 1831 that the first chain ferry was introduced and the same principle is still used. The current vessels date from the early 2000s and have a nominal capacity of 73 cars; they were built by Ferguson Shipbuilders Ltd on the Clyde. The length of the crossing depends on the state of the tide but can be up to 650 metres.

Stephen McKay

Sailing on the River Tamar

A yacht makes its way towards the Royal Albert Bridge and the Tamar Bridge up the tidal Tamar with Saltash in view on the left.

Stephen McKay

Maryfield Church (St Philip & St James)

Paul Barnett

Torpoint Ferry, Lynher II

The Torpoint Ferry is a car and pedestrian chain ferry connecting the A374 which crosses the mouth of the River Tamar, between Devonport in Plymouth and Torpoint in Cornwall. The service was established in 1791 and chain ferry operations were introduced by James Meadows Rendel in 1832. The route is currently served by The three ferries currently operating were brought into service in 2005;built by Ferguson Shipbuilders Ltd at Port Glasgow, they named after three rivers in the area: Tamar II, Lynher II and Plym II.

Richard Rogerson