Whitesand Bay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whitesand Bay |
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 Whitesand Bay
Location in Cornwall
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| Location | Cornwall |
| Coordinates | 50°04′55″N 5°41′56″W / 50.082°N 5.699°W |
| Type | Bay |
| Primary inflows | Atlantic Ocean |
| Basin countries | United Kingdom |
| Max. length | 2 km (1.2 mi) |
Whitesand Bay is a beautiful sandy bay in west Cornwall, England. It is very close to Land's End, which is the most westerly point of mainland England. In the Cornish language, it is called Porth Senan, which means 'cove at Sennen'.
This wide bay stretches for about one mile (or 2 kilometers) between two rocky points called Pedn-mên-du and Aire Point. The small village of Sennen Cove is located right here in the bay. Whitesand Bay is also an important spot because an international undersea cable, called the Atlantic Crossing 1, comes ashore here. This cable helps send internet and phone signals across the ocean!
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The beach at Whitesand Bay is very popular, especially for surfing. When the tide is high, the beach actually splits into two main parts:
- Sennen Cove beach is at the southern end. It's bigger and has more facilities like toilets, a surf shop, and a restaurant. Many people come here for surf lessons.
- Gwynver beach is to the north. It's known for having even better waves for surfing. You can also walk to it from the nearby Trevedra Farm campsite.
At the Sennen Cove end of the beach, you'll find everything you need for a fun day. There are places to eat and two car parks, one up on the cliff and another closer to the sand. Just remember, dogs are not allowed on the beach from Easter Day until October 1st each year. The South West Coast Path, a famous walking trail, runs along the sand dunes right behind the beach.
History of Whitesand Bay
Whitesand Bay has played a small part in history.
- In 1497, a man named Perkin Warbeck landed here. He was trying to become king of England and started an event known as the Second Cornish Uprising of 1497.
- The bay also gave its name to a ship! A type of navy ship called a Bay class frigate was named HMS Whitesand Bay.
Amazing Nature at Whitesand Bay
Whitesand Bay faces west, which means it gets a lot of ocean breezes. Behind the beach, there's a special area of sand dunes that covers about 38 hectares (or 94 acres). These dunes have formed over time from sand that gets trapped between the headlands of Pedn-mên-du and Aire Point.
Unique Insects in the Dunes
These sand dunes are home to some very rare insects.
- One amazing creature is a type of shield bug called Geotomus punctulatus. This bug is super rare in Britain, and Whitesand Bay is the only place in the whole country where it lives! It was first found here way back in 1864. This bug usually lives in southern Europe and likes sandy areas with not too much plant growth. It eats a plant called lady's bedstraw (Galium verum).
- Another rare insect found here is Emblethis griseus. This bug eats seeds and likes to live near marram grass (Ammophila arenaria), common stork’s-bill (Erodium cicutarium), and different kinds of spurges (Euphorbia species). It's never been very common here, but it has also been seen in the Isles of Scilly and Kent.
