The Carracks ( kw, Kerrek, meaning ''rocks'') and Little Carracks ( kw, Karrek an Ydhyn, meaning ''rock of the birds'') are a group of small rocky inshore

island An island (or isle) is an isolated piece of habitat that is surrounded by a dramatically different habitat, such as water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, skerries, cays or keys. An island ...

s off the

Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...

north coast of west

Cornwall Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a historic county and ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people. Cornwall is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic ...

, England,

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

. The name comes from "carrek", the Cornish language word for 'rock'. The Little Carracks were still known as ''Carrack an Heythen'' c. 1920. The islands are in Zennor civil parish. The islands are located between

Zennor Zennor is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The parish includes the villages of Zennor, Boswednack and Porthmeor and the hamlet of Treen. Zennor lies on the north coast, about north of Penzance,Ordnance Survey ...

and St Ives and are approximately off shore; The Little Carracks are between the Carracks and Towednack Quae Head which is east of the islands. The largest island in the group is sometimes referred to as Seal Island and is home to Atlantic grey seals, dogfish, anglerfish and sea anemones. Boats from St Ives often travel to and from the islands to give visitors the chance to observe the seals and other wildlife on the island. In 1916, the ''Enrico Parodi'', a , 3,818-ton steel vessel, struck

Gurnard's Head Gurnard's Head ( kw, Ynyal, meaning ''desolate one''; ) is a prominent headland on the north coast of the Penwith peninsula in Cornwall, England, UK. The name is supposed to reflect that the rocky peninsula resembles the head of the gurnard fis ...

during thick fog. While being towed, it sank off The Carracks and remains there at present as a diving attraction.''Enrico Parodi''; by John Liddiard

References

Uninhabited islands of Cornwall Tourist attractions in Cornwall Zennor {{Penwith-geo-stub