St Ives to Zennor

(Our overall day number 40 - Part of The KC3 ECP Leg 6b - Godrevy to Land's End)

St Ives to Zennor

11th September 2023 | Miles 6.3 | Elevation gain 1509ft

A 6.3 mile walk, the climbing starts right outside St Ives and there isn't much respite until the Zennor Arms! The gradients are a bit nasty but it is the conditions underfoot that earn this section its 'severe' rating. There are sections that require a bit of scrambling over and around boulders, and a section that climbs a waterfall on the approach to Zennor Head. All doable, but plenty of time should be allowed for this section.
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Getting there and back
We walked from our accommodation in St Ives and then caught the Land's End Coaster from Zennor at the end of the day, naturally after a couple of drinks in the Tinners Arms.
Weather conditions
Dry and bit overcast - not too hot and pleasant conditions for walking
Walking difficulty
Difficult - though this section isn't very long, it crosses some difficult terrain, some scrambling around boulders and some steep ups and downs

The story of our day in photos

An early start from Porthmeor Beach
The climbing starts
View back towards Porthmeor Beach
Looking ahead towards Hor Point
Conferring with the map, somewhere near Hor Point
The people in this shot highlight the sheer scale of the landscape
Hmm the cows have escaped the field. Walk through with care!
Bouldering getting serious!
Climbing up a waterfall, getting close to Zennor - this was one of the most strenuous bits of the walk!
On Zennor Head - looking over Pendour Cove and Veor Cove
Cape Cornwall - that's where we're going to be tomorrow
Zennor Head - we followed the path into the village to complete the day's walking
The church at Zennor
Well earned refreshments at the Tinners Arms, Zennor
Useful links
The Garden Bar at The Porthminster Beach Cafe
Refreshment stop 10 miles into the very hot first day of our walk. The perfect location for a refreshing beer / pimms / G&T!
The Hub, St Ives
Burgers and other very tasty food, consumed avidly by us on the evening of day 1 after our very hot 12 mile walk.
The Tinners Arms, Zennor
It's the only pub in Zennor and we'd been told it was a brilliant location for a pint after the very tough section from St Ives to Zennor - it didn't disappoint, in fact we stayed for two and got the later bus back to St Ives. Not far from the Land's End Coaster bus stop.
The Queen's Arms, Botallack
Location for our warm down drink after the very tough ten miles from Zennor to Botallack - the beer tasted every bit as good as the Tinners Arms the day before - must be something to do with the relief at finishing!
Seven Bar, St Ives
Located right on the front in St Ives - we had a couple of great cocktails here on the evening of the third day of walking, watching nightfall over the harbour.
Cintra Seafood Bar, St Ives
Located right on the front at St Ives. Small plate / tapas type food, mainly fishy - the food was fantastic and the Vinho Verde equally delicious!
Old Success Inn, Sennen Cove
Perfect location for refuelling after the walk down the beach and before the final push to Land's End. We only had time for a drink but the food looked good too - especially the sharing flatbreads.
Porthminster Kitchen, St Ives
Great celebration with seafood and wine here on the evening of the day we reached Land's End.
Pasties from The Cornish Bakehouse
There's no shortage of pasty shops in St Ives and they all looked fabulously appetising, and this was the one we chose - it didn't disappoint!
Porthmeor Beach Cafe, St Ives
Located overlooking Porthmeor Beach, we ate here early evening in one of the booths - open fronted but covered and heated and with fab views of the sun setting. The food and wine lived up to it's billing as one of the best places to eat in St Ives!
By The Sea fish and chips, St Ives
Apparently shortlisted for one of the top ten fish and chip restaurants of 2023, we ate here the night before we headed home - very classy fish and chips, we loved it.
South West Coast Path in West Cornwall
Link to the excellent South West Coast Path site, West Cornwall section, covering this stretch
A1 Cars St Ives
This taxi firm took us to Godrevy on the morning of the first day's walking. Also ran us around St Ives at various times, mostly back up the hill after dinner when our legs were too achy to make it under our own steam!