Section field sheet

Zennor to Sennen

At around 18 miles, this is the longest and most demanding section covered in this guide — a full day's walk for strong, experienced hikers, and a sensible two-day trip for most others. It runs through the heart of west Cornwall's historic mining ground, past Pendeen, Levant, Botallack and Cape Cornwall, before finishing at Sennen near Land's End. Many walkers split it at Pendeen or St Just rather than attempt it in one push.

Commitment before scenery

Distance: Approx. 18 miles (29km)
Ascent: Significant and sustained across the whole section
Time: 8–11 hours in one day, or two shorter days

This section does not let up: the ground is rough and uneven for long stretches, weaving between former mine workings, and there is very little shelter from Atlantic wind and rain along its length. Genuine exit points back to a road are infrequent, and once you commit past Pendeen there is a real stretch with no easy way off the coast path. Because of this, many guides — including this one — recommend treating it as two separate days, splitting around St Just or Pendeen, rather than as a single strenuous push, particularly outside the long daylight months of British Summer Time.

This is not a section to underestimate: check the current daylight hours, confirm your return transport from Sennen before you start, and be prepared to turn back or divert inland if weather or conditions deteriorate.

Rough, exposed granite coast path running through former mining ground in far west Cornwall — The exposed, rocky path through the old mining ground near St Just

Possible planning segments

Zennor to Pendeen areaThe path continues west from Zennor past Gurnard's Head and Bosigran, terrain broadly similar to the St Ives–Zennor section but with fewer facilities. Pendeen offers a realistic overnight or resupply stop before the mining coastline begins in earnest.
Pendeen to Cape Cornwall areaThis stretch runs directly through the working heart of the UNESCO mining landscape, passing close to Levant Mine and Botallack's Crowns engine houses. The coast here is dramatic but genuinely hazardous close to old workings — stay on the marked path and never approach fenced shafts or ruins.
Cape Cornwall area to SennenBeyond Cape Cornwall — often mistaken for Land's End itself, and a useful landmark in its own right — the path continues to Sennen Cove, a working fishing beach and popular surf spot that marks the practical end of this section.

Wide coastal view of Cape Cornwall with the coast path visible along the headland — Cape Cornwall, with the path continuing toward Sennen

A village bus stop and shopfronts in St Just, far west Cornwall — St Just, a practical resupply and split point for this section

Split points and transport

St Just and Pendeen both have shops, pubs and at least seasonal bus links back toward Penzance, making either a sensible place to break the walk into two days — confirm current timetables before relying on them, since rural Cornish bus services are thin and change seasonally. Accommodation in St Just should be booked ahead in summer. Carry more water than you think you need: there is no guaranteed resupply between villages, and mobile signal drops out across long stretches of the mining coast. If you do split the walk, arrange transport back to your start point or onward to Sennen in advance rather than assuming a same-day connection will exist.

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