Coast Walking 2: From Sennen to Land’s End
A coast walk adventure with plenty to offer teenagers, families, and adults!
Welcome back to our Coast Walking Series!
If you read our first Coast Walking blog a couple of weeks ago, you’ll know we’re sharing the details of all the different coast walks we offer our students on the South West Coast Path around Cornwall.
In our previous post, we let you know more about the stunning route we walk between Zennor and St Ives. This stretch of the trail takes us from the quaint village of Zennor—steeped in legend, literature, and ancient history—to the bustling artistic haven of St Ives, home to one of the most influential movements in modern British art.
For this week’s blog, we continue with another journey through Cornwall’s coastal wonders, this time exploring the magical stretch between Sennen Cove and Land’s End.
Our circular route: from Sennen to Land’s End
(and onwards to Nanjizal for those looking for a slightly longer coast walk)
This special coast path route takes us past the most westerly part of the UK – the famous landmark of Land’s End – with its spectacular views out across the Atlantic Ocean!
We have devised two different circular routes here for our students to enjoy. The walks combine the dramatic path following the coast as well as wonderful inland routes that take us across farmer’s fields and even through someone’s back garden! Don’t worry, these are all part of the official coast path with its rights of way that date back hundreds of years.
Although it’s one of our shorter coastal adventures, it’s packed with stunning scenery, fascinating history, and plenty of opportunities to connect with nature.
For our Junior Summer School students, the walk from Sennen to Land’s End is perfect. At Land’s End there is a small theme park where our teenage students enjoy browsing for souvenirs, getting a snack and enjoying the attractions. Then we can make our way back inland and complete our loop back to Sennen, where we relax on the sand and have a beach picnic before our evening entertainment. (Read our Minack Theatre blog post to find out more!)
For those looking for a longer walk, then you can continue our adventure further along the coast to the hidden gem of Nanjizal Cove.
This option is perfect for adults on our Family Summer School, Language Experience, or Coast Walk Experience courses.
Read on to the end of this blog post for some more details of the magic of Nanjizal…
Highlights along the way
The walk from Sennen to Land’s End (and onwards to Nanjizal) is brimming with unforgettable moments:
- A view of Cape Cornwall: Before heading towards Land’s End, we pause to take in the view of Cape Cornwall, crowned by its historic chimney stack and lighthouse. This vantage point offers a glimpse into Cornwall’s industrial heritage and its relationship with the sea.
- Look out for the Isles of Scilly: As soon as we leave Sennen, we make our way up one of the few hills of the route. It’s well worth the climb though, as we’re immediately rewarded with the most amazing cliffside views. On clear days, we can spot the Isles of Scilly shimmering on the horizon.
- Wrecked ships and wildlife: Further along the path, we visit the remains of a shipwreck. It’s an eerie reminder of the sea’s power, and the perils of this particular stretch of coastline. If you keep your eyes peeled, you may spot some special local wildlife, including Cornwall’s iconic choughs, seals basking on the rocks, and even wild ponies grazing by the path.
- The iconic Land’s End signpost: No visit to this area would be complete without a stop at the famous Land’s End signpost, marking the UK’s most westerly point. Here, students can take photos and contemplate the journeys and distances to other lands across the ocean.
- A beach picnic in Sennen, or a trip to the hidden cove at Nanjizal: Because Cornwall has so much to offer, no two excursions are ever the same! We love to offer something a bit different to every group, depending on their ages, interests, and requests. For those that fancy a chill time at the beach, returning to Sennen is the perfect option for a picnic. But others might want to extend this easy walk into something even more special, and Nanjizal is a truly special spot, especially if you are interested in a sea dip.
Starting & finishing in Sennen
For this coast walk we begin and end in Sennen, a laid-back seaside village known for its charm and tranquility. From its gorgeous sandy cove to its vibrant independent shops and eateries, Sennen is a fantastic place to start and finish a walk. You can grab a pasty or fish and chips from one of the local shops, browse handmade pieces in the independent jewellery store, or stop by the village pub for a relaxing drink. (We tend to do these things at the end of the walk, rather than at the beginning! But sometimes, it is impossible to resist the urge for a Cornish pasty)
Sennen is the most western village in the UK’s mainland. This historic parish has an interesting past. Back in the 1830s, it’s recorded that farmers in the village would prepare a unique dish for Christmas: a pie made from twenty-four blackbirds. This feels very familiar to anyone who knows the famous English nursery rhyme: Sing a Song of Sixpence (which features the lyric, “sing a song of sixpence, pocket full of rye, four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie”).
These days, Sennen Cove itself is a surfer’s paradise, and is home to Sennen Surf Club. Formed in 1965, it’s one of the oldest surf clubs in the UK!
With its golden sand and rolling waves, it’s clear to see why surfers have flocked here for decades. It also makes Sennen the perfect place to kick off our coastal adventure.
When I came back from Lyonnesse
With magic in my eyes,
All marked with mute surmise
My radiance rare and fathomless,
When I came back from Lyonnesse
With magic in my eyes!Thomas Hardy
The Legend of Lyonesse: Cornwall’s Atlantis
The area between Sennen and Land’s End is steeped in history and legend. It often features in literature exploring Cornwall’s mystique and unique past. This gives us plenty of opportunities to pause along our route and share the stories of the land.
One story that recurs throughout writing inspired by this area is the legend of Lyonesse, a lost settlement said to be swallowed up by the sea near Sennen and Land’s End. The myth tells of it disappearing in a single night. Lyonesse also played an important role in the Arthurian legend, Tristan and Iseult. This tale of star-crossed lovers predates Romeo and Juliet, and finds its roots in Cornwall, with Lyonesse being Tristan’s home.
This mythical place has captured the minds of many writers, including famed poet and novelist Thomas Hardy, and socialite and activist Edith Olivier. Oliver claimed to have even seen glimpses of the lost city in visions that came to her during her visits to Land’s End. She described Lyonesse as “a jumble of towers, domes, spires, and battlements” in her autobiography.
The story of Lyonesse—with its ghostly church bells, ringing from below the waves, and galloping horses escaping rising waters—is woven into Cornwall’s cultural fabric, but bears a thread of reality. Anglo-Saxon chronicles note great floods that changed the face of this part of the UK. Even records of visiting Romans note this area as one island, instead of the cluster of separate islands that now form today’s Scillies.
Shipwrecks and Iron Age history
As we continue along the cliff tops, the dramatic granite landscape holds many hidden treasures. Students should look out for the remains of the RMS Mulheim, a German cargo ship wrecked in 2003. The ship’s rusting skeleton is a stark reminder of the perilous nature of these waters, and its extensive maritime history.
Further along, we pass the ancient site of Maen Castle. This Iron Age location is yet another insight into Cornwall’s prehistoric activity. In fact, West Cornwall has the highest concentration of prehistoric sites in all of Europe.
Hanging out at Land’s End
Land’s End, the westernmost point of mainland Britain, is the next highlight. This iconic destination is more than just a geographical landmark—it’s a bustling attraction featuring a visitor centre, restaurants, and souvenir shops. Although it can feel touristy, the coastal views are truly unparalleled. Many visitors take the opportunity to snap photos at the famous Land’s End signpost, marking the distance to John O’Groats and other global cities.
From here, you can also spot the Longships Lighthouse perched on rocky islets about a mile offshore. This historic lighthouse, built in 1873, has guided sailors safely past the rugged Cornish coastline for over a century.
Our teenage students are often drawn to Land’s End’s attractions such as the indoor mini golf and 4D cinema. Here we’ve been lucky enough to watch short films by world-famous animation studio, Aardman, as well as stroll around exhibitions of their work on movies, like Chicken Run and the Wallace & Gromit series. The exhibitions change fairly regularly so there’s a chance to catch something different on our visits each summer.
Within a few hundred metres of the Land’s End theme park, the wilderness returns. The cliffs are some of the most impressive we’d seen in Cornwall: sheer faces of castellated granite, lashed by seas that hadn’t stopped since deep in the Atlantic Ocean, splitting against the first and last headland with unimaginable power.
Raynor Winn, The Salt Path
Onwards to Nanjizal
For those who are looking for a slightly longer coast walk adventure, we offer an extension to the walk. On the longer walk, we visit Nanjizal Cove, a secluded spot renowned for its crystal-clear waters, and a unique rock formation: an impressive natural arch, known as the “Song of the Sea.”
Nanjizal is one of our favourite coastal spots in all of Cornwall. Soaking up the view, with the sound of its babbling brook and the gentle waves against the shore, is a special moment we love to share with students. It makes for the perfect tranquil end to another excellent coastal adventure.
Why walk with us?
These coastal adventures are more than just scenic hikes—they’re immersive experiences that connect students of all ages to Cornwall’s natural beauty, history, and culture. Whether you’re marveling at the wildlife, learning about local legends, or soaking up the scenery, walks like Sennen to Land’s End are always a highlight of our trips.
Stay tuned for more adventures in our Coast Walking Series!
Ready to lace up your walking boots and join the journey?
Get in touch today to find out more about our coast walk experiences & language adventures
