Residing in the beautiful wilds of West Cornwall, Sennen Cove beckons for spellbinding adventures. Tucked around the corner from the famous Land’s End, mainland Britain’s most south-westerly point, this coastal haven nudges the Atlantic and boasts some of the most spectacular scenery in the UK. Featuring a beautiful fishing cove and a mile-long blanket of golden sand, it truly has something for everyone and is a place that easily steals the heart and the imagination of all those who visit.
A Guide to Sennen Cove
Whether you have been to Sennen before or are visiting for the first time, there is a wondrous array of things to see and do to keep you enchanted. From barefoot strolls along the soft sands of Sennen Cove Beach (also known as Whitesands Bay) to endless summer surfs in glassy barrels to sunset picnics in golden hour rays, magical moments entwine with the everyday. Savour salt-kissed sojourns on its lifeguarded beach in summer and in winter, retreat to one of its cosy eateries for a fireside meal watching inky waves roll towards the shore.
However you choose to enjoy your time in Sennen, dreamy memories await to be made. Here’s all you need to know.
Places to Eat
Sennen Cove and its golden sand beach are served by a number of eateries, including seasonal pop-ups and year-round hubs. One of the most famous, the dog-friendly Old Success Inn is an iconic West Cornwall pub set on the harbourside in Sennen. Outside, salt-speckled tables and chairs sit pretty overlooking spectacular sea views, while inside, curated interiors mingle the traditional and the contemporary to create a welcoming maritime pub. Peruse the menu of foodie classics and seasonal specials and look forward to wholesome repasts crafted with local produce.
A stone’s throw away, Sennen Cove Café tempts with ever-updating menus for breakfast and lunch, as well as a takeaway options for picnics and panoramas on Sennen Cove Beach. For a quintessential seaside experience, pick up a parcel of vinegar-dashed fish and chips from the Blue Lagoon, or indulge in an ice cream from one of the seasonal kiosks. A hidden delight, The Apple Tree Café can be found just outside of Sennen and offers a selection of delicious, plant-based sweet and savoury treats. Meanwhile, the nearby First & Last Inn is famed for its great food and rich history, intertwined with tales of notorious smugglers, shipwreckers, and pirates.
Sennen Cove Beach
A traditional fishing village enwrapped in a golden sand shawl, Sennen is particularly adored for its beautiful ocean aspect. Calling for walks and wanders throughout the year, Sennen Cove Beach unfurls from the village and stretches north along the coast towards Gwenver (or Gwynver), merging with its neighbouring, secret sandy beach at low tide. A salt-kissed idyll that exudes timeless appeal, it awaits for soul-soothing days by the sea. Wander down from the car park above the beach or descend through the coast path and network of undulating dunes to find the perfect spot atop the sand. Whether you’re reclining on a super-soft beach towel, treading footsteps along the shoreline, or paddling in the aquamarine water, each season promises its own kind of wonder here.
Sennen Surf School
Facing the Atlantic Ocean, Sennen Cove Beach is on the receiving end of some of the cleanest swells in the country. One of the best places for surfing in Cornwall, its gorgeous sandy beach is a mecca for surfers of all abilities seeking to cut shapes along its rolling green waves. For ease, the close proximity from the car park to the beach ensures an easy sprint to the water’s edge with surfboard tucked under arm. Meanwhile, the almost year-round surf promises an unparalleled natural playground.
If you are a seasoned surfer, then you can waste no time in taking to the waves and duck diving under creamy breakers to head out back. Otherwise, offering guidance to those learning the rails, the award-winning Sennen Surfing Centre is located directly on the beach. One of Cornwall’s longest-running surf schools, it is run by experienced, qualified surfers ready to share their tips and techniques with learners of all ages and abilities. Book a group surf lesson or private tuition and enjoy this exhilarating rite of ocean passage on one of the most famous surfing beaches in the UK.
Lifeguards
Sennen Cove Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the South West, calling for year-round retreats by the ocean. Making it all the more appealing in the warmer months, seasonal lifeguards patrol the beach between 1st April and 29th October each year, usually between 10am and 6pm each day. Look out for lifeguarded areas, marked by red and yellow flags, and enjoy the revitalising wash of the sea.
Dogs
Cornwall is one of the best places in the UK to enjoy dog-friendly retreats, traced by miles of beaches and South West Coast Path and woven with woodlands and countryside. For serene days with your dog, Sennen Cove is perfect. There is a seasonal dog ban in place on the beach from 15th May to 30th September, between 10am and 6pm. That said, you are welcome to enjoy the beach’s golden sands either side of these hours when the sun is low and the light dances mesmerically along the shore.
Facilities
Sennen Cove Beach benefits from proximity to three car parks. Directly overlooking the beach is Sennen Cove Beach car park, while less than half a mile away above the village itself is Sennen Beach’s overflow car park, reached via a walk uphill from the shore. At the other end of the village is Sennen Cove Harbour car park. Each car park is served by pay and display machines. For comfort and convenience, toilets are located above the beach in the main car park, while the village also promises a number of shops and eateries providing gifts, food and refreshments throughout the year.
The South West Coast Path
England’s longest waymarked trail and one of the most famous long-distance trails in Europe, the spectacular South West Coast Path runs all the way from Minehead in Exmoor, Somerset to Poole and the gateway to Brownsea Island in Dorset. Shouldering the land as it brushes past sapphire seas, skirts clifftops, and descends onto honey-hued beaches, it is a magnetic attraction for walkers.
If you would like to discover a beautiful stretch of this beloved National Trail, you can follow its course on either side of Sennen Cove. Particularly popular, a one-mile walk from Sennen to Land’s End is a must. Depart from Sennen, pass the ancient site of Maen Castle (a two-thousand-year-old Iron Age fort), the rusted remains of the RMS Mulheim shipwreck, and some of the most breathtaking views imaginable, before arriving at Land’s End to greet the edge of the land and the start of the mighty Atlantic Ocean.
Ready for a sea-kissed sojourn? Take a look at our luxury cottages in Sennen.
