Penzance, United Kingdom

The busy port of PENZANCE forms the natural gateway to the westernmost extremity of Cornwall – and, indeed, England; the Penwith Peninsula, and all the major sights of the region can be reached on day-trips from here. Occupying a sheltered position at the northwest corner of Mount's Bay, Penzance has always been a major port, but most traces of the medieval town were obliterated at the end of the sixteenth century by a Spanish raiding party. For visitors, its biggest attraction is St Michael's Mount, the island abbey that sits 200m offshore in Mount's Bay, some five miles distant from the town and easily accessible from it. Transport links are good as Penzance is the terminus for rail services from London and Birmingham.