St Ives, Cornwall to Pendeen Watch, Cornwall

- miles 104 - 106
- It's six fairly strenuous miles to Zennor, and not a pub
on the way. Leave St Ives along Porthmeor Beach, and on to the cliff path.
The path is along the cliff tops, with two steep descents to cross streams
at the mouth of two coves
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Still old engine houses on the way |
Rolling cliff tops |
- miles 106 - 108
- After a mile of cliff walking, you reach the trig point,
at 300 feet, above Carn Nuan Point. There are fabulous views from this high
point. After the trig point there is a steep descent to the sea at River Cove,
followed by another steep up and down to the sea again within a few hundred
yards before getting to Mussel Point.
- The path follows the cliffs round the bay (Wicca Pool) with
one descent and climb to cross a stream
- miles 108 - 110
- There is another steep descent and climb, to reach Zennor
Head. This is an imposing 300 foot high sheer cliff, scarred by deep gullies.
- Zennor hamlet is half a mile off the path, but does have
a good pub and 15th century church. There is a local legend of a mermaid,
who lured the squire's son to his death at sea many years ago, still being
heard singing in the bay - do listen
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Owned by the National Trust |
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See the mermaid at Zennor Cove |
- miles 110 - 112
- South from Zennor the coast path continues along the cliffs,
round Pendour Cove (one steep stream to cross), Veor Cove(steep descent) ,
Porthglaze Cove (two steep climbs) and Treen Cove (one steep descent) to get
to Gurnards Head.
- Gurnards Head is the site of another of those Cornish Iron
Age forts, with traces of huts and three ramparts.

- miles 112 - 114
- On along the cliff, with a descent at Porthmeor Cove, followed
by the inevitable climb up to another headland, with another Iron Age fort,
Bosigran Castle, which was defended by a stone rampart.
- At the end of this section there is a sunken path running
inland for half a mile to Morvah, a hamlet with a 15th century church
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Mainly glorious cliff
walking on this stretch |
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- miles 114 - 116
- Along the cliff, then down to Portheras Cove and up the other
side, heading towards Pendeen Watch Lighthouse. Like most of the Cornish lighthouses,
Pendeen Watch was built to prevent the tragic losses of life that occurred
as shipping volumes off shore increased, particularly with shipping from the
Welsh coal fields. The lighthouse was built in 1900, and is open to visitors
in the afternoons.
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The reef at Pendeen |
And the guardian |
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Return to Cornwall
Coast Cornwall coast Front Page
Corisande
Manor Hotel, Cornwall Corisande Manor Hotel, Newquay, Cornwall - the place
to stay to explore the Cornish Coast
And if you want to learn more about Cornwall,
then try our Cornish information site, Cornwall Calling
Cornwall Coast - your guide to the Cornish
Coastal Path