Sennen Cove Watersports

Cornwall has much to offer, history, art and the welcoming Cornish culture. Many visit this area for its magnificent coastline with hidden caves and coves. Of course, the sea and all it offers is a huge draw. From a gentle paddle to exciting kiteboarding, there is something for everybody, either on top of the wave or down in the depths. As you visit our lovely Vellandreath cottages, why don't you take the opportunity to try your favourite sports or find a new watersport while you are here? The mile-long golden sands of Sennen Beach are also very welcoming for those who like to watch others being active while sitting on their beach chairs soaking up the sun.

Sail Along The Coastline From Sennen Cove Harbour

An excellent adventure for a few hours is to sail along the local coastline. Take the kids, and make it a family outing. You can enjoy the dramatic Cornish coast in a different way by joining one of the local sea tours from St Ives, Penzance or Hayle, about a 20 - 30 minute drive from Vellandreath cottages. In this way, you also can view the local historic landmarks, the sea caves and the wildlife. From bird spotting to the excitement of seeing dolphins, whales and seals, this is a trip you will not forget in a hurry.

There is the nearby Sennen Cove Harbour for those who want to sail themselves, although facilities are limited, and the entrance to the harbour can be hazardous without local know-how.. St Ives would be a better option. It has a sandy bottom and is dry at low tide. The St Ives harbour has plenty of mooring for dinghies, speed boats and yachts.

Surfs Up In Sennen Cove

One of the exciting watersports you can try in Cornwall is surfing. There is a real surfing vibe about this county, especially at Sennen Cove, where any level of surfer can hit the waves. You can have private surfing lessons or join a group with two excellent surf schools nearby. Of course, kids can join in as well, but maybe they would prefer bodyboarding, rental available for boards from the beach.

Experienced surfers might want to take advantage of the swells coming over Crowloes reef, about 100m from the shoreline at the northern part of the beach. However, the rocks in the area could be a problem for novice surfers. If unsure, stick to the decent swells that come into all the other parts of the beach for fun rides.

Sennen Cove offers a lot of support to those who love their watersports, from the Sennen Cove sea webcams to bars and cafes to chat with others about your surfing experiences. Or you could try the Old Success Inn for a relaxing evening meal. Sennen Cove has it all, including lifeguards and a lifeboat station that makes for an interesting visit.

Kayak Surfing At Sennen Cove

Kayak surfing is also very popular at Sennen Cove and something you may wish to try. In 2022, Bude—a 2-hour drive up the coast—held the Word Kayak Surfing Championships, a spectacular event. There is a Beach hire shop at Sennen Cove where you can hire wetsuits, bodyboards and book surfing lessons. Do remember to act responsibly on the beach and on the waves and take notice of the lifeguards and the flags they fly. These are for everyone's safety.

Windsurfing & Kite Surfing

Flying along on top of the waves is another popular watersport for many people. You can windsurf at Sennen, but kite surfing is banned in the high season when the beach gets busy with tourists. If you plan to windsurf, the best time is low tide and with cross offshore winds. Be careful in the offshore easterlies. This is the Atlantic - next stop, America!

Kayaking & Canoeing The Cornish Coastal Waters

You can hire Kayaks at numerous points up and down the Cornish coastline. However, if you are new to the sport, it is better to book lessons and go out as a group. It's a great way to see the local wildlife up close and personal. You can also access some of the fascinating sea caves and idyllic coves you can only see from the sea. 

Another popular pastime is kayak fishing which you can do from Sennen Cove. For a kayaking trip away somewhere different, you can head to St Mawes. About 1hr 30 mins drive from Sennen Cove. You can rent single or double kayaks for a couple of hours or the whole day. Kayaking from there along to St Anthony's Head is an enjoyable trip. Don’t forget to pack a picnic.

Let's not forget the increasingly popular sport of paddleboarding. You can paddleboard at Sennen, but it is a beach renowned for its swells. You can take a short drive to St Ives if you fancy calmer waters. Or head a 15 min drive to the lovely and more gentle beach of Porthcurno.

Fishing The Cornish Coastline

As mentioned above, Kayak fishing is popular around the Sennen cove area. If you are lucky, you could catch a variety of fish, providing you have the right lure!

• Plaice, Dabs, Turbot, Gurnards and Greater Weever
• Bass, 
• Pollock & Codling
• Brill
• Rays and Bull Huss
• Mackerel and Garfish  

Be aware that strong tides flow towards Lands End, especially on Spring Tides. It is not the best idea to venture too far toward Lands End unless you are a confident paddler. The bay area within the Cowloe reef limits is much safer and offers good fishing.

Scuba Diving & Snorkelling

Both of these can take place in and around Sennen Cove. Again due to various sea conditions you can find from the Atlantic, it is best to go with experienced divers. The Cornish coast is renowned for its storms and subsequent shipwrecks, which makes it a fascinating dive for novice and experienced divers. The water visibility is some of the best in the UK, depending on when and where you are diving. But typically, good visibility is to 10m. Great for spotting the wrecks that abound on this coast.

Vallendreath Cottages are a perfect base for those who want to explore the watersports available on this southern coastline, from paddling and swimming in the sea to slightly more adventurous activities. Sennen Cove and the neighbouring areas offer something to everyone of every age.

Late availability offers

We have some great late availability offers for cottages at Vellandreath Cornish Cottages: