The Celtic crosses in the west of Cornwall have been there a long time. Their stone, regular wetting from the Atlantic rainfall, and the unpolluted air mean they form an excellent surface for the growth of lichens.
One of these crosses is in the churchyard of Zennor, near St Ives. Possibly it gets less attention than other attractions of the village. The carving of a mermaid inside the church is probably the most famous of its type in Britain, associated with a “once upon a time” story of a mermaid which supposedly actually visited the nearby shore. The pub provides welcome refreshment for those who reach Zennor by the Coastal Path. But the cross, among gravestones similarly supporting lichens, is worth a little pause.
The other crosses are located inconspicuously in the grassy verge by the side of the road between Penzance and Lands End. They are a couple of hundred yards further west than the Merry Maidens stone circle. Motorists heading along the road quite likely pass by without even noticing them.