Kempthorn's Rock

Island in Cornwall

England

Kempthorn's Rock

Ordnance Survey Cut Mark This OS cut mark can be found on the roadside barn at Stowe Barton. It marks a point 102.376m above mean sea level. — Ordnance Survey Cut Mark Credit: Adrian Dust

Kempthorn's Rock is a small island located off the coast of Cornwall, England. It is situated in the Celtic Sea, approximately 2 miles southwest of the village of Mousehole. The island is named after the Kempthorn family, who were the original owners of the land.

Measuring only about 200 meters in length and 100 meters in width, Kempthorn's Rock is known for its rugged and rocky terrain. The island is predominantly composed of granite, which gives it a distinctive appearance. It is surrounded by steep cliffs, making it inaccessible to most visitors.

Due to its remote location and limited access, Kempthorn's Rock remains largely uninhabited. However, it is a popular spot for birdwatching enthusiasts, as it provides a sanctuary for various seabird species. The island's cliffs and rocky outcrops serve as nesting sites for species such as gulls, cormorants, and puffins.

The island is also known for its rich marine life. The surrounding waters are teeming with a diverse range of fish, making it an attractive destination for anglers. Additionally, Kempthorn's Rock is a popular spot for scuba diving, as the clear waters offer great visibility and the chance to explore underwater caves and rock formations.

Visitors to Kempthorn's Rock must be cautious, as the island can only be accessed by boat during low tide. It is important to check the tidal timetable before planning a visit.

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Kempthorn's Rock Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 50.878426/-4.5636406 or Grid Reference SS1911. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Ordnance Survey Cut Mark

This OS cut mark can be found on the roadside barn at Stowe Barton. It marks a point 102.376m above mean sea level.

Adrian Dust

Ordnance Survey Cut Mark

This OS cut mark can be found on the west parapet of King William's Bridge. It marks a point 21.199m above mean sea level.

Adrian Dust

Morwenstow Satellite Dishes

GCHQ Bude, also known as GCHQ Composite Signals Organisation Station Morwenstow, abbreviated to GCHQ CSO Morwenstow, is a UK Government satellite ground station and eavesdropping centre located on the north Cornwall coast between the small villages of Morwenstow and Coombe. It is operated by the British signals intelligence service, officially known as the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). It is located on part of the site of the former World War II airfield, RAF Cleave. The station comprises twenty-one satellite antennae of various sizes, including three that have a diameter of 100 ft (Link

Wikipedia).

David Dixon

Sandy Mouth Beach

The beach at Sandy Mouth from the cliff.

Oscar

Sandy Mouth on a misty day

This is a strip of sand below cliffs. Much of the country was basking in sunshine, but this part of the North Cornish coast was misty - it cleared in the afternoon.

David Hawgood

Heavy sky at Sandymouth Bay, near Bude, Cornwall

Derek Voller

Beach at Sandy Mouth Bay

Looking more or less north along the beach at relatively low tide, towards one of the radio dishes of the GCHQ Satellite Station at Morwenstow.

Richard Law

Warren Long Beach

The map assigns names to several stretches of sand along here, of which we are approaching Warren Long Beach a little way north of Sandy Mouth Bay.

Richard Law

On Warren Little Beach

These colonies of honeycomb worms (Sabellaria alveolata) decorate the tidal rocks along a stretch of the coast here.

Richard Law

Internal structure of a honeycomb worm colony

One of many colonies on the rocks here; this one's suffered a little at the hands of a storm which has broken a large chunk off, exposing the interior. Each tube contains a single worm of the species Sabellaria alveolata, and is roughly 10-12" long. The worm settles into the colony after 5 or 6 weeks as a drifting larva, and then spends the rest of its life filter-feeding from the upper end of the tube (and presumably extending it to solidify the colony)

Richard Law