St Ives to Zennor circular walk

St Ives to Zennor

A fairly long and demanding but rewarding circular walk along the coffin path and rugged coast between St Ives and Zennor. The walk is organised so that the coastal section is in the optimal direction for panoramic views across St Ives bay.

Get the app to guide you around the walk

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Download the (free) app then use it to purchase this walk.
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The app will direct you to the start of the walk via satnav.
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The app guides you around the walk using GPS, removing any worries about getting lost.
Phone showing walk directions page in the iWalk Cornwall app
The walk route is described with detailed, regularly-updated, hand-written directions.
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Each time there is a new direction to follow, the app will beep to remind you, and will warn you if you go off-route.
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A map shows the route, where you are at all times and even which way you are facing.
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Each walk is packed with information about the history and nature along the route, from over a decade of research than spans more than 3,000 topics.
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Once a walk is downloaded, the app doesn't need wifi or a phone signal during the walk.
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The app counts down distance to the next direction and estimates time remaining based on your personal walking speed.
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We keep the directions continually updated for changes to the paths/landmarks - the price for a walk includes ongoing free updates.

either as a GPS-guided walk with our app (£3.29) or a PDF of directions (£2.79) Example of directions

The walk begins through the Upalong mining area of St Ives and then follows the coffin path to Zennor church. After passing through Zennor (where there is a pub), the route reaches the coast at Zennor Head. The walk then follows the coast path towards St Ives across the geological boundary from 400 million-year-old rocks to granite weathered over 275 million years into towering cliffs. As the route approaches St Ives, there are panoramic views across St Ives Bay to Godrevy lighthouse. The route then re-enters St Ives via Porthmeor Beach, the Island and two more beaches to reach the harbour before returning to the car park through the town. If travelling by car, you may want to start the walk at the Zennor end from direction 64, to do the harder coastal section first with lunch in St Ives.

Highlights

  • Rugged coastline between Zennor and St Ives
  • Panoramic coastal views from Zennor Head
  • Marine wildlife including seals, seabirds including gannets and coastal birds including choughs
  • Heather flowers in July and August
  • Sandy beaches of Porthgwidden, Porthmeor and around Carrick Du
  • St Ives historic harbour and buildings
  • Tate Art Gallery and a myriad of small galleries

Considerations

  • The coastal section includes some scrambles over boulders of varying sizes and most of it is on uneven rocky surfaces, many of which are smooth and slippery when wet. At the Zennor end, springs drain into a couple of sections of the coast path so the path and rocks are always wet in these sections.
  • The most difficult section of the coast path is at the Zennor end so if you have a car the least exhausting way to do the walk is to start at Zennor from direction 64 to get the hardest part out of the way at the beginning with the easiest flat section across the fields to Zennor at the end.
  • The route includes stone stiles in a range of shapes and sizes. Some of these consist of stone footholds over walls.
  • The route passes through farms that can get quite muddy in the winter months. One section of the coffin path is also marshy in winter.
  • Route includes paths close to unfenced cliff edges.

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Vital statistics

  • OS Explorer: 102
  • Distance: 12.1 miles/19.4 km
  • Steepness grade: Moderate-strenuous
  • Recommended footwear: Waterproof walking boots
  • Pub: ✓
  • Café: ✓

OS maps for this walk

Click or tap on map for more info (blue=laminated)

Pubs on or near the route

  • The Hain Line
  • The Lifeboat Inn
  • The Sloop Inn
  • The Tinner's Arms

Adjoining walks

either as a GPS-guided walk with our app (£3.29) or a PDF of directions (£2.79) Example of directions

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