Things to do in Sennen Cove, West Cornwall

When you think of the far west of Cornwall, one place in particular might come to mind: Land’s End. 

The most southwesterly point of the UK, Land’s End is certainly dramatic, and if you’ve never been, it’s worth a visit. But there are some even more gorgeous parts in the surrounding areas as well.

Sennen Cove is a beach village that some visitors rush past on the way to Land’s End, and it’s well worth stopping in. There are a number of holiday cottages in Cornwall with Aspects Holidays, along with beaches, hikes and history!

So, here’s all you need to know about staying in Sennen Cove – and why it’s a fantastic base for your Cornwall trip!

This post was kindly sponsored by Aspects Holidays.

Sennen Cove and Whitesands Bay

Sennen is divided into two parts: Sennen, a village on top of the cliffs, and Sennen Cove, the beach area. It’s unsurprising that Sennen Cove sees the lion’s share of visitors!

Whitesands Bay, which sits at the coastline of Sennen Cove, curls around the edge of Cornwall, merging with nearby Gwenver Beach (pro tip: Gwenver is often very quiet!). 

The surf’s up in Sennen, with a variation of swells serving something for all abilities. Sennen Surfing Centre offers private and group lessons and surfboard rental. 

If you’re hungry, Sennen Surf Lodge serves tacos, burgers and poke bowls and overlooks Whitesands. In my opinion, it’s the closest you’ll get to a Mediterranean-feeling beach bar in the UK!

Hikes around Sennen Cove

One of the best parts of visiting Sennen Cove is the hikes! The Pendeen to Sennen hike is a 9.1 mile route that traverses some of the most gorgeous remote bays in all of Cornwall. I’ve tackled most of the Cornish coast path, and it’s my favourite!

On the other side, you can hike from Sennen Cove to Land’s End in about 40 minutes. A good hack is to park at or leave your car in Sennen Cove and walk to Land’s End to avoid the parking fees – Land’s End attraction itself has free entry! 

You can then walk on to Porthcurno (6.3 miles) or even Mousehole or Penzance (15 miles). 

All of these destinations are connected to Sennen Cove by the Land’s End Coaster, a fantastic bus route that travels from St Ives to Penzance in a loop in both directions. See the timetable here.

Sennen village

Sitting on top of the cliffs, Sennen Village sees far fewer visitors, but it’s worth detouring to get a sense of local Cornish life. 

Don’t miss the First and Last Inn, a pub (as the name suggests, the “First and Last” in the UK from the southwesterly point!) which has fascinating smuggling stories. The 19th century landlady of the inn, Annie George, is thought to haunt the building after she was executed in a smuggling feud! 

Next door, you’ll find St Sennen Church which has medieval origins (and is the most southwesterly church in the country!). 

Places to visit near Sennen

Sennen is well-placed for day trips to some of Cornwall’s most interesting places. 

All of these are accessible in a short drive: 

• St Ives: one of Cornwall’s most famous beach resorts with a glorious harbour and art scene. Here’s my full guide.
• Pendeen: well worth visiting for the famous Geevor Tin Mine and Levant Mine and Beam Engine, plus gorgeous views from the cliffs. 
• Porthcurno: home to the Minack Theatre and PK Porthcurno telegraph museum. 
• Lamorna: a small, quiet fishing hamlet. 
• Mousehole: possibly Cornwall’s most idyllic fishing village. Here’s all you need to know about the village.
• Penzance: the largest town in the area, not as aesthetic as some places but brimming with history. Read my full guide to Penzance here.

All of these destinations are connected by the Land’s End Coaster, so it’s easy to have a car-free holiday in Sennen!

How to get to Sennen

It might seem remote, but it’s really not hard to reach Sennen without a car. 

Penzance is the last stop on the mainline, which serves London Paddington. You can even take a night train here from London! Times vary from five hours (which is quicker than driving) to just over eight hours for the sleeper train. 

Then, hop on the Land’s End Coaster for a scenic one-hour bus ride to Sennen or Sennen Cove!

Of course, you can drive from anywhere in the country – just be aware that Sennen is around two hours from the Cornwall/ Devon border and plan your trip accordingly.

Where to stay in Sennen

Based in Cornwall with a small, local team, Aspects Holidays offers holiday cottages in Sennen (and across Cornwall). Starting as a family business, Aspects Holidays aims to provide a personal service with insider knowledge, all while offering gorgeous home-away-from homes throughout the Duchy!

Here are a few of their options in Sennen: 

Far West

Sitting above Sennen Cove, Far West boasts glorious sea views from floor-to-ceiling windows. Sleeping six people, it has a patio and garden for the summer and open plan living area with a woodburner for the winter! It’s a short (albeit steep) walk to the beach. 

Click here to learn more about Far West.

Herring Gull

If you want to be right on Whitesands Beach, consider Herring Gull. This property is a one-minute walk to the sands! It sleeps six people and has an open plan living area with incredible vistas of the Atlantic. There’s also a balcony, where you can take in these views even more.

Click here to learn more about Herring Gull.

Rosevear

From nearly every room in Rosevear, you’ll take in breathtaking views of the Atlantic, thanks to its clifftop location. Eight people can sleep here, and there’s a huge living area along with terraced gardens. As it is a clifftop location and has 32 steps to access.

Click here to learn more about Rosevear.

Captain’s Haven

Captain’s Haven is a traditional granite cottage with panoramic views across Whitesands Bay and Sennen Cove. Sleeping six across three bedrooms, it has a woodburner and front and back patios, so you can chase the sun! It’s a five minute walk down to the beach.

Click here to learn more about Captain’s Haven.

Seagulls

This prime clifftop location takes in dramatic views over the sands and sleeps eight people in its four bedrooms. There’s a glorious conservatory (perfect if it’s too chilly to sit outside!) and a balcony off the master bedroom. There are steep steps down to the property.

Click here to learn more about Seagulls.

Are you ready to visit Sennen? 

Cornwall’s far-west village has it all: beaches, history and proximity to some of the Duchy’s best spots. If you want to take in a quintessentially Cornish location, it’s well worth considering for your next holiday!