Zennor Coast Path
The Zennor section of the South West Coast Path follows one of the most celebrated and dramatic stretches of the entire 630-mile National Trail, hugging the granite clifftops of the north Penwith coast between St Ives and Zennor village through a landscape of extraordinary natural and archaeological richness. The path traces ancient coastal routes that were used by local communities long before the formal designation of the National Trail, connecting the fishing and farming villages of west Cornwall along routes that offered both the shortest coastal journey and the advantage of high ground from which approaching vessels and weather could be observed. The character of the walking is strenuous and rewarding in equal measure. The granite cliffs of Penwith do not provide an easy coastal walk: the path rises and falls repeatedly across headlands and down into the small coves and stream valleys that indent the coastline, and the accumulated ascent and descent over even a relatively short section is considerable. The effort is repaid at every turn by views of extraordinary quality: the Atlantic stretching to the horizon to the north, the cliff faces dropping dramatically to the sea below, and the granite moorland rising behind the coastal strip in a landscape that feels genuinely wild. The section between St Ives and Zennor, approximately seven kilometres, is regarded as one of the finest coastal walks in England, passing through a sequence of headlands and coves each with its own character and wildlife. Seal sightings in the water below the cliffs are relatively common, particularly in the quieter coves, and the seabird colonies that occupy the cliff faces during the breeding season add movement and sound to the visual drama of the route. The path connects at Zennor with the village, the ancient church and the moorland walking routes inland, allowing circular walks that combine the coastal path with cross-country routes through the prehistoric landscape of the Penwith interior. The logistics of a one-way walk between St Ives and Zennor are straightforward, with the infrequent bus service connecting the two points for the return journey.