Chapel Carn Brea

Visited during early April. Drive from Penzance towards the Lands End air field ( signposted) and don’t miss the entrance to the large car park just before you get to the airport. An easy walk up a track you could drive up if allowed or several winding paths through the heather and gorse. Keep going up and when you can’t get any further up you are atop the first and last hill in England. At the summit there is a rare type of multi burial barrow found only here and Scilley Isles in the UK. I don’t know about the rest of the world. It’s like several small quoits arranged together and piled with smaller rocks. One is very visible immediately but the thing was demolished by treasure seekers, amateur archaeologists and later again by the military to used for aircraft spotting in WW2. Other large rocks that look to be cap stones can be made out.
It would have been visible far out to sea and mariners would have used it to navigate by since the time it was built. There is a modern metal beacon next to it which is lit every midsummer by the fishermen of St Just (according to the sign).
Down the slope a few yards is another definite barrow which has a separate entry on here. It is a lovely place to sit and chill, gaze out to sea or inland, buzzards ride the thermals and ravens play in the wind.
Later in the year when the heather and gorse are in flower it is a haven for butterflies and is stunningly beautiful . There are various other rocks and archeology on the hill. It does get very touristy in season and is a local dog walking area so if you want solitude early mornings or later evenings are better.
If you intend spending a while to have a good look about, you may want a coat with you because it’s very windy or to sit on. Water is always useful but you can see the car from the top so even if it kicked up a storm out of nowhere you can be back in 5 minutes. I advice sturdy footwear and long pants if you intend getting into the gorse and heather.