In this post, I take up again my Cornwall mini series which I started on 8th October 2019. I opened the series with the beach at Mawgan Porth and continued with a series of short reflections on different places easily reached from St Columb Major.
In early July 2020, we visited Cornwall again, during the first week after the UK’s Covid-19 lockdown had been relaxed. Once more we stayed in the delightful holiday cottage of Penty-Lowarth, in Quoit, near St Columb Major.
We visited a few different locations this time and I’ll be writing about them and sharing photos in my next few posts.
Today we visit Falmouth and Discovery Quay.
Discovery Quay Falmouth SC Skillman Cornwall series
A curious atmosphere surrounds a visit to a place like Discovery Quay which is intended to host thousands of people during “normal” times.
We loved wandering through Discovery Quay even though it seemed suspended in a dreamlike quality of stillness.
Of course, the magnificent Maritime Museum had not yet re-opened after the Covid-19 lockdown. Very few people had begun to venture out yet, and we traversed the open space designed for large crowds, and for mass public entertainments, with a curious feeling of being in a time-loop.
I love this quote from the great novelist Joseph Conrad which I read on an informative noticeboard on the Quay:
The sea has never been friendly to man. At most it has been the accomplice of human restlessness.
There was a special quality to this experience, wandering through the quay, gazing at the boats, coming upon captivating views every few steps. Some of the many restaurants had begun to re-open and we enjoyed a relaxing lunch in The Shack, where the social distancing changes had been well organised, despite the fact that there were very few people to socially distance from.
Having visited Discovery Quay we then went on to visit Pendennis Castle.
Originally built by Henry VIII this has a fascinating history as it returned into use during Elizabethan times ad the Napoleonic Wars and World Wars I and II. Situated across the bay is the twin castle of St Mawes. The views from Pendennis Point are spectacular.
Again, few visitors were in evidence, though the social distancing arrangements were well in place.
We toured the Keep and the Half Moon battery alongside a small party of other visitors, and both tours were excellent, captivating and informative.
Pendennis Castle Pendennis Point Cornwall SC Skillman
Check out the previous posts in my Cornwall mini series.
Part 4 The Lost Gardens of Heligan
Part 8 The Screech Owl Sanctuary
scskillman.com 
Love Cornwall. We stayed in Falmouth last time we visited.
Hi Sheila
Beautiful photos.
Yes, the Maritime Museum is excellent and we experienced Discovery Quay in a normal August two or three summers ago.
Hoping to visit Pendennis Castle on our August Cornwall holiday this year.
Staycation here we come!
Freda
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I hope you have a great time, and you’ll find more things open when you visit. I think you’ll all enjoy Pendennis Castle. When we return – which I hope will be after the vaccines are rolled out – we must visit the Maritime Museum inside as well!