{{Short description|Cove in Cornwall, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}} {{Use British English|date=February 2018}} {{Coord|50.125|-5.706|display=title}} [[File:Cape Cornwall from sea.jpg|thumb|200px|Priest's Cove, Penwith with Cape Cornwall in the background]] thumb|200px| Priest's Cove from the air thumb|Priests Cove, Cornwall

'''Priest Cove''' ({{langx|kw|'''Porth Ust'''}}, meaning ''St Just's Cove'') or '''Priest's Cove''' is a small cove one mile (1.6&nbsp;km) west of St Just, Cornwall, UK.<ref>Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 203 ''Land's End'' {{ISBN|978-0-319-23148-7}}</ref> The name is from the Cornish ''Porth Ust'', the port or cove of St Just, which was shortened to ''Por’ Ust''. The apostrophised name "Priest’s" is a spelling mistake and the site has no connection with the clergy.<ref>Joseph, P. 2006. "Cape Cornwall Mine". ''British Mining''; No 79. Sheffield: Northern Mine Research Society, p. 111. {{ISBN|978-0-901450-60-9}}.</ref>

==Geography== The cove lies next to Cape Cornwall which was also linked to St Just, being called ''Kilgoodh Ust'', meaning ''goose-back of St Just'', in the Cornish language.<ref>Weatherhill, C. (2007) ''Cornish Place Names and Language''. Ammanford: Sigma Press.</ref> The cove and surrounding area are designated as part of the Aire Point To Carrick Du Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/2000041.pdf |format=PDF |title=Status: Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) notified under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as amended. Local Planning Authority: Cornwall County Council, Penwith District Council National Grid Reference: SW 360279 to Area: 704.81 (ha.) SW 513410 |publisher=SSSI.naturalengland.org.uk |accessdate=2015-06-12}}</ref> The South West Coast Path, which follows the coast of south west England from Somerset to Dorset passes by on the cliffs above the cove.

==Fishery== In around 1830, cellars were erected for the purpose of establishing a pilchard fishery. The speculation was abandoned owing to the exposed coast.<ref>{{cite news |last1=A Rambling Contributor |title=Roundabout Papers No. 8. St Just-in-Penwith |work=The Cornishman |issue=276 |date=25 October 1883 |page=7}}</ref> A small fishing fleet is based at Priests Cove, and for example, pollack (''Pollachius pollachius'') were landed in December 1879.<ref>{{cite news|title=St Just|work=The Cornishman|issue=75|date=18 December 1879|page=4}}</ref>

==Recreation== Approximately {{Convert|1|mi|km}} out to sea are the Brisons, a pair of small islands to which an annual swim is held. In 1881 the Cape Cornwall Regatta was held in the cove. There were five races; {{convert|15|feet}} and {{convert|24|feet|}} boats had to race the course over two rounds and {{convert|13|feet}} just the once. The cliffs were lined with a large crowd of spectators.

==References== {{Portal|Cornwall}} {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{Commonscat inline|Priest's Cove, Cornwall}}

Category:Beaches of Penwith Category:Ports and harbours of Cornwall Category:St Just in Penwith Category:Coves of Cornwall

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