Tearing Ledge

Island in Cornwall

England

Tearing Ledge

Tearing Ledge is a small island located off the coast of Cornwall, England. Situated in the Celtic Sea, it is a popular destination for tourists and nature enthusiasts. The island is characterized by its rugged cliffs, rocky shores, and diverse wildlife.

The island gets its name from the tear-like shape of its cliffs, which were formed by years of erosion caused by the powerful waves of the Atlantic Ocean. These cliffs provide a stunning backdrop for visitors, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding area and the vast ocean beyond.

Tearing Ledge is known for its abundant birdlife, making it a haven for birdwatchers. The island serves as a nesting site for various seabirds, including puffins, guillemots, and razorbills. Visitors can observe these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat, as well as catch a glimpse of other marine life such as seals and dolphins.

Access to Tearing Ledge is by boat, with regular ferry services available from nearby coastal towns. The island offers a range of activities for visitors, including hiking trails that meander through its rocky terrain, allowing for exploration of its unique geology and flora. As a protected nature reserve, Tearing Ledge is home to several rare plant species, adding to its ecological significance.

With its stunning natural beauty and abundant wildlife, Tearing Ledge is a must-visit destination for those seeking an escape to nature in Cornwall. Whether it's for birdwatching, hiking, or simply enjoying the serene coastal environment, this island provides a truly memorable experience for all who venture there.

Show me another place!

If you have any feedback on the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

Tearing Ledge Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 49.971114/-6.2698222 or Grid Reference SV9316. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Trig pillar

Alex McGregor

A track on eastern St Martinâs

The track runs uphill from the eastern end of Higher Town Bay to the Chapel Down and the Daymark.

David Lally

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 Link

The Daymark is separately listed Grade II* List Entry Number:1141204 Link

David Lally

Great Bay panorama

On of the most beautiful spots on the islands.

David Lally

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.

David Dixon

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.

David Dixon

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.

David Dixon

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.

David Dixon

Rocks on the North Coast of Nornour

The Eastern Isles (Cornish: Enesow Goonhyli) are a group of twelve small uninhabited islands located to the south–east of St Martin's. The islands lie within the Isles of Scilly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, part of the Scilly Heritage Coast and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) first designated in 1971 for its flora and fauna (Link

Wikipedia).

David Dixon

Isles of Scilly, Nornour

Wikipedia).

David Dixon

Isles of Scilly Eastern Isles

Looking through the gap between Nornour (on the right) and Great Ganilly.

David Dixon

St Martin's Daymark

Erected in 1683, St Martin’s Daymark is the earliest surviving beacon in the British Isles. The 40 feet high stone beacon was built by Thomas Ekins, near the northeast corner of the island island of St Martin’s. Originally white, the beacon was later painted red and now boasts red and white bands. Its daymark is visible from miles away, situated as it is on one of the Isles of Scilly's highest points. It is a Grade II* listed building (List Entry Number:1141204 Link

Historic England).

David Dixon

St Martin's Head

The large red-and-white Daymark stands on St Martin’s Head, at the northeast corner of the island of St Martin. It was erected in 1683 by Thomas Ekins, and is a Grade II* listed building (List Entry Number:1141204 Link

Historic England). The Daymark is a circular tower made of rendered granite, measuring 4.8 metres (16 ft) in diameter and 6.4 metres (21 ft) in height. It has a conical termination, which makes it a total of 11 metres (36 ft) high. Originally, it was painted white until 1822 but by 1833 had been painted red, and is now painted in alternating bands of red and white. The daymark is built on the highest point of St Martin's (the second-highest point in the Isles of Scilly); the position and relative height mean that the Cornish mainland is visible (when the weather allows) and the daymark is identifiable from the mainland too.

David Dixon