Land’s End to Sennen and back

The best short introduction to Cornish coast running. Big views, a clear path and a beach and a café at the end of it.

GentleLoopCoast pathGranite stepsShort beach sectionGrass

Distance

9.5K

Ascent

210m

Difficulty

Gentle

Time

1h 10m – 2h

If you have never run on the coast path before, start here. From Sennen the path climbs gently along the cliff edge to Land’s End, which is touristy and unapologetic about it, and then you turn round and get the better view on the way back — the whole sweep of Whitesand Bay with the surf lined up behind it.

It is short enough that you can walk the climbs and still feel like you have done something. It is also exposed for almost its entire length, so it is a very different run in a westerly gale than it is on a still September evening. Both are worth doing. Only one of them needs a jacket you trust.

Runners wanting more can continue north from Sennen towards Cape Cornwall, which turns this into a much harder day.

The map

Map placeholder

An interactive map goes here. Drop in OS Maps, Mapbox, MapLibre or an embedded Komoot/Strava route — the container is ready and nothing else needs to change.

↓ GPX download — not available yet

GPX files will be published once each route has been recorded and checked. See gpxUrl in src/data/routes.ts.

Safety notes for this route

The path runs close to unfenced cliff edges. Keep well back, especially in wind or when passing.
The beach section is only usable around low water — check tide times before you set off.

Seasonal considerations

Busy with walkers between May and September — expect to slow down and say hello a lot.
Winter brings genuinely serious wind on this corner of the country. Waves overtop the Sennen slipway in a big swell.