On Saturday, mid-August, we set off from our home in Newquay for a one-hour drive down to Sennen Cove and Gwynver Beach, just past Land’s End.

The day was warm at around 22°C, though very, very windy, so while we were comfortable in summer clothes during the day, we needed cardigans and hoodies by the evening.

These beaches had been on our list for a while. We’d only ever seen Sennen from the Land’s End Coaster bus from St Ives a couple of summers ago, so this time we wanted to properly explore on foot before meeting friends later for dinner.

Parking and First Impressions

We arrived around 9am, worried we might be too late for parking. Everything we’d read online suggested the car parks can fill by 10am during the summer holidays. To our surprise, the closest beach car park was only about a quarter full. Parking was £9 for 24 hours, which felt reasonable for a full day in such a popular spot.

From our front-row space overlooking the beach, the view was already inviting: golden sand stretching out below us, with turquoise waves rolling gently to shore.

A Morning Walk Along Sennen Cove

We started the day by walking the full length of Sennen Cove. At that time of the morning, it was calm and quiet, with only a few people about.

Not long into our walk, we spotted a seal gliding steadily across the bay. My daughter also enjoyed collecting sea glass, finding a good mix of colours and shapes to bring home for her artwork.

The sand was soft and golden, backed by dunes and rocky slopes, and as the clouds cleared, the water turned the most brilliant turquoise blue.

Walking the South West Coast Path to Gwynver

At the far end of Sennen Cove, where the sand turns rocky, we climbed onto the South West Coast Path. The trail was lined with ferns and scattered with boulders, with purple heather brightening the slopes above.

After a short walk, the view opened up to reveal Gwynver Beach below – and it was breathtaking.

Gwynver Beach: Abroad-Like White Sands and Turquoise Sea

Even though it’s right next to Sennen, Gwynver felt quite different. The sand was whiter, the sea clearer, and the colours were stunning. Our son, who’s ten, said it reminded him of the incredible turquoise waters of Rhodes in Greece, which we’d visited on a previous holiday.

We hadn’t brought our swimming things, planning to swim later at Sennen, and immediately regretted it. The water looked so inviting at Gywnver – calm, clear and turquoise. Next time we’ll definitely bring everything and swim here.

We sat on the beach for a while, but the wind made relaxing difficult. I tried to read my book, but it was impossible – sand kept blowing over me, and the pages flapped constantly in the gusts.

Access note: Getting down to Gwynver from the coast path involves a steep, rocky scramble that requires good mobility. There are proper steps in the middle of the beach, which most people seemed to use, likely from another car park at the top.

Back Along Escalls Cliff & Sennen Beach for Lunch

Around lunchtime, we made our way back the same way, climbing up to Escalls Cliff and returning to the car by walking across Sennen beach. By then, the car park was much busier, and the beach was filling up fast.

We’d lucked out with our front-row parking spot overlooking the bay, so we ate our picnic there, enjoying the view. Eating in the car meant we avoided the blowing sand, which would have made for very gritty sandwiches otherwise – the wind was up to 33mph and we’d been whipped with sand on the beach multiple times already!

Ice Creams, Sennen Harbour and Mayon Cliff

After lunch, we wandered into Sennen. At The Sennen Ice Cream Kiosk, Ben and the children picked vegan Magnums, which they enjoyed as we strolled past the lifeboat station and small harbour with wooden boats.

From there, we climbed up Mayon Cliff, where the wind grew even stronger. At the top, we ducked into the Lookout, a small building with information from the National Trust about local wildlife and history, to catch our breath.

The views were fantastic – one way across Sennen Cove and Gwynver, the other towards Land’s End. We considered carrying on along the South West Coast Path, but the children wanted to save their energy for swimming.

On the way back, we passed thatched cottages and the Grade II listed Round House, now an art gallery. We also paused at the free telescopes along the promenade to see what we could spot.

Swimming at Sennen Cove

By the time we returned to the beach, the tide was low, and a huge stretch of sand was revealed. The sea was still calm, so we braved a dip.

We’d actually hoped to do some bodyboarding here, as Sennen is known for its strong surf and powerful waves, but despite the wind, the sea was surprisingly calm. There just weren’t the conditions for it on this day, so instead we settled for a swim.

The water here felt much colder than Newquay, despite being only an hour away. My husband, who often swims without a wetsuit, reckoned it felt around five degrees colder.

I wore my shorty wetsuit, and it felt remarkably like a cold plunge, which we regularly do in the winter months! So my husband must have felt freezing! The kids, too, were in their swimming costumes and swim shorts. Brrrr!

We swam for about 15 minutes, but the sea here is very shallow, even far out, only reaching waist depth about 20 metres from shore. With the wind constantly splashing water into our faces, we didn’t last too long before heading back to dry off and warm up.

Dinner at Sennen Surf Beach Bar

By late afternoon, it was time to meet our friends at the Sennen Surf Beach Bar. We arrived around 4.15–4.30pm, just as the place was getting busier. The outside terrace, with its sea views, was already full, and they were serving pizzas from 3pm.

Inside, we easily found a table, but by the time the main evening menu began at 5pm, the bar was buzzing.

The décor was relaxed, the staff were friendly, and the service was quick. As vegans, we ordered mushroom burgers, fries and the poke bowl. All were tasty, and the poke bowl was a standout – I’d definitely order it again. The menu also had vegan tacos, which I’d like to try another time.

Ending the Day

After dinner, the children played rounders and did long jumps across the sand while we caught up with our friends. By 8pm, the wind had us all feeling chilly, and feeling quite tired of being pelted by sand, we decided to head home!

The sky was glowing with the start of what would surely have been a spectacular sunset, but after a long, windswept day, we were ready to call it a night.

Final Word

Our day at Sennen Cove and Gwynver Beach had everything: an early walk with a seal sighting, sea-glass hunting, a scenic stretch of the South West Coast Path, the abroad-like beauty of Gwynver, a bracing swim at Sennen, and a relaxed vegan-friendly dinner with friends.

If you’re looking for some of the best beaches near Land’s End, with shallow swimming, coastal views and turquoise seas that feel almost Mediterranean, Sennen and Gwynver are both worth the trip.

Where is Sennen Cove?

Sennen Cove is located in the far west of Cornwall, just a short distance from Land’s End. It’s around an 18-minute drive from Penzance and about 35 minutes by car from St Ives, making it easy to combine with other popular spots in the area.