From the trailhead parking area, set out on a rolling trail through ferns, salal and evergreens dripping moss (and likely mist). The dirt (and probably muddy) path winds downhill to a low saddle, where a social trail to the right leads to a beach, ominously named Deadman’s Cove. Though the beach may be tempting, please stay on the true trail—the park has closed these social trails to prevent erosion.

Snap some photos of the little cove and continue on as the trail. Soon, it becomes paved because the last section of the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse trail is shared with the service road from the Coast Guard compound. The lighthouse is still active, so you may see Coast Guard staff inside or on the road. Leave them to their work as you poke around the lighthouse, snap a couple photos and return the way you came. We tell them the risks and the hazards and if needs be, we explain some of the things that have gone wrong. They do listen, but they carry on and do it anyway. Adam Hawson, Plymouth Coastguard Rescue Team In October 2016, dad-of-three Vincent Wagstaff, 39, died from multiple injuries after leaping from the ledge while in July 2010, teenager Ben Thompson was left paralysed.Contributions to WTA are tax deductible, and we are committed to making the best use of every donation to our mission. Youngsters jumped from the well-known spot on Plymouth Hoe last Friday (June 21), while volunteers conducted a simulation rescue just metres away. I work in outdoor education and I take people coasteering, a lot of these kids don't know about it and don't know about the dangers involved. Breathe in the sea spray on this anything-but-disappointing hike out to the scenic Cape Disappointment Lighthouse, which offers a trail through a coastal forest and glimpses of the powerful Pacific Ocean. Lauren St John was born and raised in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). From the age of 11 she lived on a game reserve, which provided the inspiration for her memoir Rainbow’s End and her White Giraffe series of children’s books. Dead Man’s Cove is the first in her series of Laura Marlin mysteries.

It is infuriating because we know the consequences but they just say 'you're spoiling our fun'. John Peattie, Station Manager Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.When orphaned Laura Marlin is sent to live with her uncle in St Ives, Cornwall, she is convinced that a life of adventure is hers at last. But everywhere she turns she is confronted with mysteries. He urged the youngsters to consider learning an outdoor activity, like coasteering, to ensure they understand the importance of safety. Using a hooked pole and the steps curved into themselves, bodies ranging from victims of murder, suicide, and accidental drowning, or those that were just tossed into the river were retrieved and left on public display in the alcove for identification from friends and families. It’s believed that many bodies over the years were left unidentified for so long that during decomposition, some would explode under the pressure of bodily gasses. This would explain the easy-to-clean white tiles that compose the walls of Dead Man’s Hole.