Sennen Holidays

Holidays in Sennen offer the unspoiled beauty of a small Cornish seaside village, where in warm weather its fine sandy beach is perfect for families and in cooler weather, its wild seas deliver storm-driven panoramas and excellent surfing conditions.

Did you know? A local’s guide to Sennen holidays…

Set on Cornwall’s south coast, Sennen is bit of a beauty with its beach of fine white sand and its bay of clear water rivalling many of its Cornish counterparts. Busy as it can be in the summer, Sennen manages to retain an unspoiled serenity and it’s easy to understand why it sees generations of families holidaying there year after year.

Things to do in the area

Just 8 miles west of Penzance, this coastal village has a lot going for it besides a stunning beach and delightful village. Places like Mousehole, Newlyn and Marazion are only a few minutes’ drive away as is Porthcurno with the fantastic Minack outdoor theatre and PK Porthcurno Museum of Technology.

There is also a small working harbour at Sennen with a number of local fishing boats and a lifeboat station so if you enjoy early morning walks down to the seafront, the harbour makes a delightful viewing point over the Atlantic. Two terrific restaurants overlook the cove and include the 17th Century Old Success Inn and Ben Tunnicliffe’s restaurant right on the beach which has a marvelous terrace and wonderful views.

Walkers will relish the 3.3 mile South West Coast Path route which travels from Sennen to Lands End. With spectacular views and both wildlife and historical landmarks, it makes for a relaxing and scenic way to pass a few hours outdoors. Visitors can vary the length and difficulty of the walk to suit their needs as there are three options for returning to Sennen.

The abundance of wildflowers makes this a brilliant walk in spring, when shags and cormorants can be seen offshore and the cliffs are noisy with nesting fulmars, kittiwakes and guillemots. In autumn the flocks of seabirds passing in strong winds sometimes include a rare Sabine’s gull and the stubble in the newly-harvested fields is alive with linnets and buntings feasting on the fallen seeds. A little way beyond Land’s End is Nanjizal beach which is dog friendy and worth the extra distance.

Beaches

For those guests holidaying with their dogs, Gwynver Beach (which is less than 10 minutes’ drive away) is an excellent place for walkies! The beach is accessed via the South West Coast Path from Sennen or by a trickier path from above the cliffs, and is dog-friendly all year round. Gwynver is also a very good surfing spot and due to its more difficult access, remains relatively uncrowded even during the busiest seasons.

Sennen beach itself is Cornwall’s most westerly surf hotspot, drawing lovers of the sport in their droves when conditions are at their best. During Spring the waves are at their cleanest and most consistent, however, for the more experienced who prefer bigger swells September to November is the time to go.

For beginners who’d like to take to the waves for the first time, the award winning Sennen Surfing centre (which is one of the longest running surf schools in the UK) sits right on the beach, and there is no better place to learn to surf than here. Their qualified and experienced surf coach team offers a variety of surfing courses and provide lesson discounts for large groups, families, schools, colleges and community projects.

Not just for surfers, the beach here is a delight for families too with excellent water quality and plenty of sand for playing on. There are ice cream shops and beach stores selling everything you’d need to enjoy a holiday by the sea too so for guests of all ages it’s the perfect spot to spend a holiday on the Cornish coast.