Tiny seaside village home to a large sandy cove that’s one of the country’s top surfing spots – with a 17th century inn
A SEASIDE village in English is home to one of the best surf spots in the country.
The picturesque village of Sennen Cove sits on the Cornish Coast in England.
Located just under two miles from Land’s End, Sennen Cove is home to thatched cottages, many of which overlook the harbour.
The harbour itself boasts a small fleet of fishing boats and fishing crafts.
Sennen Cove also happens to be home to one of the finest surfing spots in the country.
Sennen Beach is often praised for its turquoise waters and white sands, which can make swimming at the beach extremely popular.
However, the beach is even more popular with surfers because it picks up swells just like other beaches in the area.
It’s also more likely to pick up southerly swells too, making it a great spot for surfers.
Vellandreath Cornish Cottages said: “Sennen Cove Beach is a surfing mecca for anyone looking for a surfing holiday, with it being one of the best surfing beaches in the country.”
Experienced surfers should head towards North Rocks, at the northern end of the beach, where waves tend to be bigger.
One of the UK’s top surf schools, the Sennen Surfing Centre, is also located at the beach, and it’s where beginners, and anyone who needs a little bit of practice on a board, can have a lesson.
There are other facilities on the beach too, including a Surf & Beach hire shop where beachgoers can rent equipment like surfboards, wetsuits, bodyboards, deck chairs and windbreaks.
Equipment hire starts from £4 for a full day’s worth of rental.
- Holiday Homes near Sennen Cove from £31pp per night
- Hotels near Sennen Cove from £74 per night
- Airbnbs near Sennen Cove from £60 per night
- Premier Inns in Cornwall from £69 per room
Across the road from Sennen Beach lies the Old Success Inn – a coastal pub dating back to the 17th century.
The landmark pub, which has seaside views, serves up a range of grub, including popular pub favourites like fish and chips, burgers and sticky toffee pudding.
Lifeguards are stationed at the beach throughout the summer.
Dogs are banned from the beach from May 15, 2024 until the end of September.
The beach has been praised by visitors on TripAdvisor, with one person saying: “A great beach sandy and rock pools, surfing and swimming and body boarding with friendly lifeguards.”
Another person added: “My favourite beach. It has beautiful sand, rock pools, turquoise seas and even the occasional seal during a storm. It’s a little piece of heaven.”
Other tourist attractions in Sennen Cove include the South West Coast Path – a 630-mile walking route that runs from Minehead in Somerset to Poole Harbour in Devon.
From Sennen Cove, visitors can walk along a stretch of the South West Path to Gwinver Beach – another Cornish beach that’s been praised by surfers.
My favourite beach
Geevor Tin Mine is a neighbouring attraction that’s just a 20-minute drive from Sennen Cove.
The tin mine explores the history of Cornish metal mining all the way from the Bronze Age until 1990 when the site closed.
Visitors can walk through underground tunnels and experience what life would’ve been like working on a 20th century tin mine.
Holidaymakers can also take part in Mineral Planning workshops where they can pan for “gold” and gemstones, and they can visit the Hard Rock Museum during their trip.
The Minack Theatre is also just a 15-minute drive from Sennen Cove.
Perched on the Cornish cliffs, the open-air theatre was built by Rowena Carr in 1932.
At the time, she stage a performance of The Tempest at the theatre.
Now the theatre seats up to 750 per performance, has plays and concerts in summer and autumn.
It is a popular tourist attraction, even if you don’t go to see a play, with gardens, exhibitions and a cafe.
The Sennen Cove Camping and Caravanning Club Site is one of the cheapest accommodation options in the area for holidaymakers.
Prices start from £25 per tent per night.
Other seaside villages
There are plenty tiny coastal villages in the UK for holidaymakers to visit this summer, including Sandsend.
Located just three miles from Whitby, Sandsend is a popular spot among holidaymakers thanks to its warm climate.
Sandsend is home to its very own microclimate – a set of unique weather conditions that differ from the surrounding areas.
The seaside village will generally have warmer weather compared to other parts of Yorkshire, making it popular with beachgoers.
Trebarwith Strand: Cornwall's secluded beauty spot
Finding somewhere peaceful in Cornwall can feel nearly impossible, but Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski might’ve found just the place.
Trebarwith Strand
She said: “Secluded beauty spots are becoming a rare phenomenon in Cornwall, yet Trebarwith Strand, just south of Tintagel, still feels relatively quiet – and it’s also where you’ll catch the best sunsets in the southwest, which paint the wet sands in shades of pink and orange.
“There’s not much there other than a rugged cliff top pub (definitely worth a visit), cottage holiday homes and rural walking trails, but that’s what makes it so special.”
Meanwhile, travel experts have revealed the best seaside town in England.
And this Victorian seaside town is tipped to be big in 2024.