Stage 23 of 52 · South West Coast Path

Sennen Cove to Lamorna

Sennen Cove → Lamorna
12.0 mi
Distance
19.4 km
Metric
6 h 24 min
Walking time
Moderate
Difficulty
974 m
Ascent
979 m
Descent
75 m
Highest point
Coastal
Terrain

Elevation profile

Climbs 974 m and descends 979 m, topping out at 75 m and dropping to 6 m. Measured along the mapped route.

0 km5 km10 km15 km 75 m

Underfoot

What you walk on, by distance (from OpenStreetMap way types).

Footpath 89% · 17.0 kmBridleway 5% · 1.0 kmTrack 2% · 0.4 kmRoad & lane 4% · 0.8 km

Difficulty breakdown

Four axes rated 1–5 — the single rating above is only the headline.

Terrain grade · SAC T2Some steep, rough or uneven ground
Physical3/5 Moderate
Fitness — distance & ascent
Terrain3/5 Moderate
Underfoot — rock, steps, scrambling
Navigation2/5 Modest
Route-finding — waymarking, open ground
Remoteness2/5 Modest
Exposure — escape routes, signal

Conditions & season

Best months
March to October
When this leg is usually at its best
Water
Moderate — 2 mapped water points on this stage
Refill points along the route
Shade
Minimal
Open cliff-top walking has little cover
Terrain grade · SAC T2
Moderate
Mountain hiking — some steep, rough or uneven ground
⬇ Download this stage (GPX) ⬇ Whole route (GPX)

Around Land's End and the granite cliffs past the Minack Theatre and Porthcurno to the cove of Lamorna.

Highlights

Know before you go

Planning guides for this stage

On this stage

Places on this leg with a full history, and free audio guides you can read or hear.

Land's End
Natural landmark ♫ 1 audio guide
Land's End is the most westerly point of mainland England, a granite headland facing the Atlantic with the Longships Lighthouse offshore and, on a clear…
Minack Theatre & Porthcurno
20th century / Telegraph heritage ♫ 1 audio guide
Carved into the granite cliffs above the turquoise sea, the Minack Theatre is one of the world's most spectacular open-air theatres, created by Rowena…

Questions about this stage

How long is the walk from Sennen Cove to Lamorna?

Sennen Cove to Lamorna is 12.0 miles (19.4 km). Allow about 6 h 24 min of walking, before stops.

How much climbing is there between Sennen Cove and Lamorna?

Stage 23 climbs about 974 m and descends about 979 m, with a high point of about 75 m. On the South West Coast Path the ascent, not the distance, is what decides how long a day takes — the route repeatedly drops to sea level and climbs straight back out.

How hard is Sennen Cove to Lamorna?

It is graded moderate. Rated out of five: physical demand 3/5 (Moderate), terrain 3/5 (Moderate), navigation 2/5 (Modest), remoteness 2/5 (Modest). On the SAC hiking scale it is T2 — some steep, rough or uneven ground.

What is the path like underfoot on Sennen Cove to Lamorna?

By distance the surface is footpath 89%, bridleway 5%, track 2%, road & lane 4%. Percentages come from the mapped way types along the route.

When is the best time to walk Sennen Cove to Lamorna?

March to October is the usual window for this leg. Outside it, daylight is short, some estuary ferries stop running and cliff-top wind and rain make an exposed route much harder work.

Is there drinking water on Sennen Cove to Lamorna?

Water on this stage is moderate. We map 2 refill points on the leg — mostly pubs, cafés and taps in the villages the path passes through. Shade is minimal: this is open cliff-top walking, so carry more than you think in summer.

What is there to see between Sennen Cove and Lamorna?

Highlights on this leg are Land's End, Minack Theatre, Porthcurno & Logan Rock. It also passes 2 places we cover in depth: Land's End, Minack Theatre & Porthcurno. There are 2 free audio guides between them.

What should I know before walking Sennen Cove to Lamorna?

Very busy at Land's End.