Godrevy to Land's End

KC3 ECP Leg Number 6b

Overview
Date started:
9th September 2023
Date completed:
16th September 2023
Official miles:
35.0
Miles we actually walked:
36.4
Guest walkers
Fourth time walker Claire, Second timers Bill, Meg & Jess and first timers Susie & Tanya
We walked just over 36 miles from Godrevy to Land's End. From Godrevy, there's a big sweep of beach looking out towards St Ives Bay, some three miles on the sand to start the walk. Then there's four miles inland through Hayle, around the Hayle Estuary Nature Reserve, and then back to the beach looking over a hundred metres or so to where we were four miles ago. From there, it's a bit of climbing over the headland to Carbis Bay, and then a bit more round Portminster Point and into St Ives, around The Island (which isn't) to finish the day at Porthmeor Beach. This whole section has a busy seaside feel to it. That's all soon forgotten on day 2 - a few yards out of St Ives, and it's a complete contrast. It feels remote and lonely and the climbing and descending soon starts. This section is not just notorious for its gradients, and its beauty, but also for the tricky underfoot conditions, with sections that require scrambling over and round boulders, and ascending a waterfall. It lived up to expectations and we went as far as Zennor to finish the day. Day 3 is barely easier at the start - the first seven miles to Pendeen have similar gradients, though underfoot conditions are a little less bouldery. It's another remote and beautiful section, with sheer cliff edges at times. It's a little less lonely, and a little less steep once past Pendeen Watch. From Botallack on the final day, we headed first to Cape Cornwall, to get the first glimpses of Land's End, then along the cliffs, and down the coast to Sennen Cove before joining the tourist crowds at Land's End.
How we approached this leg
From our base in St Ives, we began day 1 in Godrevy, walking back to St Ives. On day 2 we walked from our accommodation to tackle the 'severe' rated section to Zennor, with its boulders and waterfalls. We took the Land's End Coaster back to St Ives. On Day 3 we took the Land's End Coaster to Zennor, walked to Botallack and then the Coaster back to St Ives. On day 4 we parked in Botallack, walked to Lands End and then bus back to Botallack at the end of the day.
Where we stayed
We stayed in St Ives, a buzzing seaside town with great beaches and lots of good restaurants and bars
Useful links