Land’s End-Sennen Cove-Return
Almost Linear Route from Land’s End to Sennen Cove and back
Distance: 4.8 km [3 miles]
Duration walking: 1 hour 10 minutes.
Total Time: 1Hour 45 minutes
Difficulty: Moderate
Date: June 5th 2020
Start Temperature: 13°C End Temperature 15°C
Land’s End is the first, or last, place in Cornwall, depending on how you want to look at it. I consider it the last place as sunset is about 20 minutes after Greenwich.
Many people tell me that ‘it is not as good as it used to be’. Well I have been going there since I was a kid and I have no idea what they are talking about. Not really changed that much, has a few more shops, places to eat, better car parking and clean toilets. So better in my opinion.
Regarding the car parking charges, half the money raised goes to the upkeep of the 7 miles of coast path that Land’s End manages, and that includes medical first responders. But if you are a ‘local’ you can get a free pass that last a couple of years.
The Route
After following the A30 to the bitter end and parking up, I walked around the back of the Visitor Centre and other out buildings to the front of the Hotel.
Here there is a Trig Point, which I had mentioned in another post that there is not another one until Newfoundland, Canada. Someone pointed there are some in Ireland. So due West from this Trig point is Newfloundland, Ireland is to the North West.
Just for a change, I have shown pictures of Cornwall with its usual weather, cloudy and windy, and not too warm for June.
The first place of interest to walkers is the sign post. As we are still in lockdown this is closed, but they had also removed the usual New Your and John o’ Groats distances. So you can now photoshop in your own milages.
Many famous people have been here, and if you go into the bar at the hotel, there is a wall of shame, including a naked cyclist.
A couple of hundred metres from the hotel is The First and Last, again closed, but does offer good views to the East along the North Cornish Coast.
This is where the ‘turn’ of the SWCP is.
Well signposted as usual.
The first part of the path is recently renovated and makes walking so easy.
But as usual, it does not last long.
On the way at Gamper Bay is the remains of the MV RMS Mulheim, which ran aground when the Chief Officer caught his trousers on his chair, fell over, and knocked himself out.
Image from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_RMS_MulheimThere is not much of it left now after 17 years.
As I had deviated from the roped off part of the SWCP, there was the opportunity to spot some wild life.
And one of these hiding in the flowers. I saw one, there are hundreds of rabbits around here.
Climbing back up to the SWCP proper, the day is still overcast, and windy.
By now, there are glimpses of Sennen Cove, it really is not far, but at Pedn-mên-du there is the old Coast Guard Lookout. There is also good rock climbing here, and it is possible to get down to the base without abseiling, just watch the tide times and not in storm, or when a large swell is on.
From here it is all downhill into the village.
But more plants on the way.
From the top of the stairs, there is a good view.
Then there is an odd sight for down here, a thatched cottage [there are several, but not common at all].
And oddly named houses.
Then there is the cove proper.
With another, slightly wind damaged, sign encouraging you to walk further.
And the old winch house that is now an art gallery.
With the new RNLI Lifeboat Station in front of it.
At the very end of the village, after the surf club and car park, there is a cafe that is currently doing takeaways.
I found a spot out of the wind and had a coffee.
The walk back was a lot quicker as I was not taking many pictures. The sun had come out, but the wind picked up a bit more.
Rather than just follow the last part of the SWCP, I deviated off to take a picture of this.
I forget that there is a small model village at Land’s End.
Then I was back at the car park.
Was a nice way to do an easy 3 miles when one is short of time.