Borthic

Island in Cornwall

England

Borthic

Trig pillar
Trig pillar Credit: Alex McGregor

Borthic is a small island located off the coast of Cornwall, England. It is situated in the Celtic Sea, approximately 5 miles southwest of the town of Penzance. The island covers an area of around 2 square miles and is known for its rugged landscape and natural beauty.

Borthic is primarily composed of granite, and its rocky coastline is dotted with cliffs and small coves. The island is home to a variety of wildlife, including seabirds, seals, and dolphins, making it a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and birdwatchers.

The island has a rich history, with evidence of human habitation dating back to the Bronze Age. In the 19th century, Borthic was used as a base for local fishermen, who would set out from the island to catch fish in the surrounding waters.

Today, Borthic is a tranquil retreat, with no permanent residents. However, it has become a popular spot for holidaymakers seeking a peaceful getaway. Visitors can enjoy walks along the island's coastal paths, taking in the stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean, or explore the numerous rock pools and sandy beaches.

Access to Borthic is by boat, with regular ferry services operating from Penzance during the summer months. The island does not have any facilities or accommodation, so visitors are advised to bring their supplies and camping equipment if they plan to stay overnight.

Overall, Borthic offers a unique and secluded experience for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and immerse themselves in the unspoiled beauty of Cornwall's coast.

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Borthic Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 49.951841/-6.2780859 or Grid Reference SV9314. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Trig pillar
Trig pillar
A track on eastern St Martin’s The track runs uphill from the eastern end of Higher Town Bay to the Chapel Down and the Daymark.
A track on eastern St Martin’s
The track runs uphill from the eastern end of Higher Town Bay to the Chapel Down and the Daymark.
The Daymark From within the ruins of the Admiralty signal station of  1805.

The signal station is included in the Scheduled Monument comprising the whole of Chapel down and is described thus:

In 1804, an Admiralty signal station was built on northern Chapel Down to communicate with naval vessels by signal mast and to report on enemy shipping movements. It was decommissioned in 1815, superseded by semaphore operated from St Mary's. Its main building stands to 2.3m high in the north of a subrectangular enclosure 38m long, NNW-SSE, by up to 21m wide.

List Entry Number:1016508  <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1016508?section=official-list-entry" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1016508?section=official-list-entry">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>

The Daymark is separately listed Grade II*

List Entry Number:1141204 <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1141204?section=official-list-entry" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1141204?section=official-list-entry">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
The Daymark
From within the ruins of the Admiralty signal station of 1805. The signal station is included in the Scheduled Monument comprising the whole of Chapel down and is described thus: In 1804, an Admiralty signal station was built on northern Chapel Down to communicate with naval vessels by signal mast and to report on enemy shipping movements. It was decommissioned in 1815, superseded by semaphore operated from St Mary's. Its main building stands to 2.3m high in the north of a subrectangular enclosure 38m long, NNW-SSE, by up to 21m wide. List Entry Number:1016508 LinkExternal link The Daymark is separately listed Grade II* List Entry Number:1141204 LinkExternal link
Great Bay panorama On of the most beautiful spots on the islands.
Great Bay panorama
On of the most beautiful spots on the islands.
St Mary's Harbour Pilot Boat in Crow Sound
St Mary's Harbour Pilot Boat in Crow Sound
Isles of Scilly, Eastern Isles from Crow Sound The large island in the background is St Martin's.
Isles of Scilly, Eastern Isles from Crow Sound
The large island in the background is St Martin's.
Hats South Cardinal Marker, Crow Sound A cardinal mark is a sea mark (a buoy or other floating or fixed structure) used in maritime pilotage to indicate the position of a hazard and the direction of safe water. The direction of its two conical top marks indicates the safest side to pass. In this case, both cones are pointing down which indicates that shipping should pass on the south side of the buoy (to avoid the Hats shallows and an uncovering boiler structure from a wreck in the sound. <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardinal_mark" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardinal_mark">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>  (Cardinal Mark, Wikipedia).
Hats South Cardinal Marker, Crow Sound
A cardinal mark is a sea mark (a buoy or other floating or fixed structure) used in maritime pilotage to indicate the position of a hazard and the direction of safe water. The direction of its two conical top marks indicates the safest side to pass. In this case, both cones are pointing down which indicates that shipping should pass on the south side of the buoy (to avoid the Hats shallows and an uncovering boiler structure from a wreck in the sound. LinkExternal link (Cardinal Mark, Wikipedia).
Isles of Scilly. Little Ganinick One of the Eastern Isles, a group of twelve small uninhabited islands within the Isles of Scilly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Part of the larger island of Great Ganinick (with more vegetation) can be seen behind (and slightly to the right of) Little Ganinick.
Isles of Scilly. Little Ganinick
One of the Eastern Isles, a group of twelve small uninhabited islands within the Isles of Scilly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Part of the larger island of Great Ganinick (with more vegetation) can be seen behind (and slightly to the right of) Little Ganinick.
Isles of Scilly, Great Arthur Great, Middle and Little Arthur are three of the Eastern Isles, a group of twelve small uninhabited islands within the Isles of Scilly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Great Arthur, as its name suggests, is the largest of the three.
Isles of Scilly, Great Arthur
Great, Middle and Little Arthur are three of the Eastern Isles, a group of twelve small uninhabited islands within the Isles of Scilly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Great Arthur, as its name suggests, is the largest of the three.
Isles of Scilly, Rocky Ledge between Middle and Great Arthur Great, Middle and Little Arthur are three of the Eastern Isles, a group of twelve small uninhabited islands within the Isles of Scilly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Great Arthur, as its name suggests, is the largest of the three.
Isles of Scilly, Rocky Ledge between Middle and Great Arthur
Great, Middle and Little Arthur are three of the Eastern Isles, a group of twelve small uninhabited islands within the Isles of Scilly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Great Arthur, as its name suggests, is the largest of the three.
Isles of Scilly, Middle Arthur Great, Middle and Little Arthur are three of the Eastern Isles, a group of twelve small uninhabited islands within the Isles of Scilly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Great Arthur, as its name suggests, is the largest of the three.
Isles of Scilly, Middle Arthur
Great, Middle and Little Arthur are three of the Eastern Isles, a group of twelve small uninhabited islands within the Isles of Scilly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Great Arthur, as its name suggests, is the largest of the three.
Middle Arthur, Arthur Quay Great, Middle and Little Arthur are three of the Eastern Isles, a group of twelve small uninhabited islands within the Isles of Scilly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Great Arthur, as its name suggests, is the largest of the three.

The three rocky islands are joined by two beaches forming a crescent around Arthur Porth.
Middle Arthur, Arthur Quay
Great, Middle and Little Arthur are three of the Eastern Isles, a group of twelve small uninhabited islands within the Isles of Scilly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Great Arthur, as its name suggests, is the largest of the three. The three rocky islands are joined by two beaches forming a crescent around Arthur Porth.
Rocky Shore, Little Ganilly Little Ganilly (Cornish: Goonhyli Bian, little salt water down) lies just to the north of Little Arthur.
Rocky Shore, Little Ganilly
Little Ganilly (Cornish: Goonhyli Bian, little salt water down) lies just to the north of Little Arthur.
Great Ganilly, West Porth Great Ganilly (Cornish: Goonhyli Meur) is the largest of the Eastern Isles and consists of two hills joined together by a low sandy neck.
Great Ganilly, West Porth
Great Ganilly (Cornish: Goonhyli Meur) is the largest of the Eastern Isles and consists of two hills joined together by a low sandy neck.
Isles of Scilly, Nornour Nornour (Cornish: Ar No) consists of one hill covered in bracken. It lies to the north of Great Ganilly to which it is joined by a boulder causeway at low tide. There is a small area of heath on the hill with heather and bell heather.
Isles of Scilly, Nornour
Nornour (Cornish: Ar No) consists of one hill covered in bracken. It lies to the north of Great Ganilly to which it is joined by a boulder causeway at low tide. There is a small area of heath on the hill with heather and bell heather.
Rocky Ledge between Nornour and Great Ganilly Nornour (Cornish: Ar No) consists of one hill covered in bracken. It is connected to Great Ganilly by a boulder causeway during low tide. The pyramidal island in the background is Hanjague, which is approximately 1 kilometre away.
Rocky Ledge between Nornour and Great Ganilly
Nornour (Cornish: Ar No) consists of one hill covered in bracken. It is connected to Great Ganilly by a boulder causeway during low tide. The pyramidal island in the background is Hanjague, which is approximately 1 kilometre away.
The Eastern Isles, Nornour Nornour (Cornish: Ar No) consists of one hill covered in bracken. It lies to the north of Great Ganilly and is connected to it by a boulder causeway that is visible only during low tide. There is a small area of heath on the hill with heather and bell heather.
The Eastern Isles, Nornour
Nornour (Cornish: Ar No) consists of one hill covered in bracken. It lies to the north of Great Ganilly and is connected to it by a boulder causeway that is visible only during low tide. There is a small area of heath on the hill with heather and bell heather.
Isles of Scilly, Nornour Nornour (Cornish: Ar No) consists of one hill covered in bracken. It lies to the north of Great Ganilly to which it is joined by a boulder causeway at low tide.
Isles of Scilly, Nornour
Nornour (Cornish: Ar No) consists of one hill covered in bracken. It lies to the north of Great Ganilly to which it is joined by a boulder causeway at low tide.
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Borthic is located at Grid Ref: SV9314 (Lat: 49.951841, Lng: -6.2780859)

Division: Isles of Scilly

Unitary Authority: Isles of Scilly

Police Authority: Devon and Cornwall

What 3 Words

///apron.segmented.garden. Near St Martin's, Isles of Scilly

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 49.951841,-6.2780859
Inner Scud
Place: locality
Source: OS_OpenData_StreetView
Lat/Long: 49.9508261/-6.271428
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.

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