RMS Mulheim Archives - Explore Cornwall https://explorecornwall.org/tag/rms-mulheim/ & The Cornish Abroad Thu, 14 Jan 2021 14:36:20 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://explorecornwall.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/cropped-Explore-Cornwall-Colourless-32x32.png RMS Mulheim Archives - Explore Cornwall https://explorecornwall.org/tag/rms-mulheim/ 32 32 164779662 Land’s End to Nanjizal Walk https://explorecornwall.org/lands-end-to-nanjizal-walk/ Thu, 14 Jan 2021 14:36:05 +0000 https://explorecornwall.org/?p=5213 At Cornwall’s most westerly point sits a stunning section of coastline, with beautiful Land’s End granite, shipwrecks, a lighthouse and some of Cornwall’s most iconic […]

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At Cornwall’s most westerly point sits a stunning section of coastline, with beautiful Land’s End granite, shipwrecks, a lighthouse and some of Cornwall’s most iconic bays. 

Lands End

On a very gloomy day back in November I took a trip to the end of the world. This walk started just up the road from the formal Land’s End attraction as I refused to pay for the parking in their carpark, finding a perfectly legal and free spot a bit further away. 

Mein Castle

The first feature you’ll reach is an Iron Age (200 BCE – 100 CE) cliff castle called Maen Castle. There are roughly 60 cliff top castles around the country, of which 40 are in Cornwall, with this one being particularly unique in that Early Iron Age pottery was found here. Little remains of this castle today, with the primary element being the upright granite posts of the former entrance. Beyond these are the remains of the stone ramparts and a wall. 

Just a bit further up the path at the base of the cliff is the rusted remains of the RMS Mulheim. This small vessel hit the rocks in 2003 when the chief officer fell unconscious following a trouser incident. 

Lands End

From here, take the coastpath back toward Land’s End. The actual Land’s End is the small headland just above the hotel and features the First and Last House, while the tourist complex is on Carn Kez. The path winds through the base of the tourist area, past the famous signpost and down to a little farm area. After examining the chickens and alpacas, rejoin the coastpath behind the enclosures. 

A little way down the track will give you the iconic views of Dodman’s rock, a natural arch just off the main cliff. 

Lands End

Before long you’ll reach Nanjizal Bay or Mill Bay. This section of coast is famous for its rock structures, such as the Diamond Horse, but more importantly the ‘Song of the Sea’. Zawn Pyg meaning ‘pointed chasm’ is a famous local photography spot. 

Nanjizal

While making your way around the bay, about half way take a look down into the water and at lower tides you should be able to spot the remains of another wreck. This is of the City of Cardiff, a collier that ran into trouble during early 1912 as it came around the Lizard on its way back to Wales. By the time it got near Land’s End it was drifting closer to the rocks, pushed by strong gales. All of those on board were rescued by Sennen rescue crew, but the ship was ultimately grounded at the base of the cliff.

Lands End Lands End

This walk ends at Nanjizal beach, a secluded little gem down a set of steep steps. This beach is very ‘bouldery’ and to reach the piece de resistance requires some goat-like scrambling to get to. 

Nanjizal

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]]> 5213 Finding the RMS Mulheim https://explorecornwall.org/finding-the-rms-mulheim/ Sat, 21 Nov 2020 10:14:55 +0000 https://explorecornwall.org/?p=4454 At the base of Castle Zawn is the rusted remains of the RMS Mulheim, small former scrap carrying ship.  A little while ago a friend […]

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At the base of Castle Zawn is the rusted remains of the RMS Mulheim, small former scrap carrying ship. 

A little while ago a friend and I ventured to the end of the country in search of a famous Cornish shipwreck. Parking just up the road from Land’s End, we then took the sign post parked for Sennen beach on the right side of the road. The winding path eventually came close to the main coast path and we joined on, following it until we reached Castle Zawn. Here, we peaked over the cliffs, giving us our first view of the wreck. 

It was in March 2003 on a routine voyage from Cork, Ireland to Lubeck in Germany that disaster struck this small vessel. As it headed around Land’s End the chief officer fell and was knocked unconscious when the leg of his trousers caught on his chair. At approximately 5am on the 22nd, as the chief officer came around, the Mulheim was already on route for rocks.

The six-man crew quickly called in the coastguard and were promptly rescued by helicopter and taken to Sennen Lifeboat Station. Efforts were made to try and salvage as much as possible from the now well grounded ship; a conveyer belt was set up to transport large bags of cargo up the cliff, although some was still lost to the sea.

Over the following years the continuous rough seas around Land’s End have broken the ship down to the rusted shell it is today; roughly a third of it appears to still be sat in Castle Zawn, the small cove it now calls home.

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