Photographing Land's End: a Penwith Heritage Coast Tour

(1 review)

Penwith, Cornwall audio tour: Photographing Land's End: a Penwith Heritage Coast Tour

This is a 3.2mi walking tour

It takes an average of 120 mins to complete.

Penwith, Cornwall

The United Kingdom

$8.99

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About the Tour

Discover why Land’s End is one of Cornwall’s most popular photography destinations with this walking tour. As well as being mainland England’s most westerly point, it’s also famous for its breathtaking scenery which provides both budding and professional photographers with plenty of inspiration.

On this two-hour stroll along the South West Coast Path from Sennen Cove to Nanjizal Beach, I’ll point out several eye-catching features and unique compositions. You’ll explore a combination of popular places the RMS Mulheim and the Enys Dodnan Arch whilst also discovering a few secret spots like Maen Castle, Carn Boel and Pordenack Point. You’ll learn a little about the history and geography of Land’s End, why it’s a landscape photography hotspot, and what to look for whilst you’re here.

Along the way, I’ll also share some useful photography tips including:

Best practices when it comes to shooting landscapes and seascapes
The best times of the day or year to visit key locations
Handy vantage points
Compositional suggestions
Other highly recommended locations near to Land’s End
Advice for other genres, especially wildlife, nature and drone photography

You’ll also have a chance to:

See Dr Johnson's Head, a rock outcrop named after the real-life 18th-century writer Samuel Johnson
Take in the First and Last House which, as its name suggests, is either the first or last house in mainland England if judged by how far west it is
Find out about the wildlife you might capture if you’re patient enough
Capture some beautiful photographs along Penwith Heritage Coast

This tour will help you make the most of your time on location, whether you’re planning your next trip, scouting a potential workshop or photoshoot destination, or just seizing the moment. The tour is suitable for all kinds and levels of photographer – from smartphone novices to mirrorless or DSLR professionals. And, while you're encouraged to bring your camera, you don't need one to enjoy the tour – just your phone, some sensible footwear and a little curiosity.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s go!

Tour Producer

Photodyssey

3 tours

Travel photography tours of the UK's most popular locations.

Discover iconic spots and hidden gems with the help of a curious adventurer who loves exploring incredible locations for you to enjoy. Join me as we scout the best vantage points to shoot from, uncover fascinating subjects and compositions for all kinds of outdoor conditions, and discuss practical tips which everyone can learn irrespective of skill level or equipment setup.

Why spend countless hours searching for your next photography adventure when these audio tours do the hard work for you, giving you the skinny in a fun and informative way. And because each tour is created with photographers in mind, you can be assured that each route is full of incredible subject matter and countless compositions.

So when you're ready, grab your gear, take a relaxing walk with me and hopefully you'll capture some amazing images - and some amazing memories too.

Preview Location

Location 30

Carn Cheer and Enys Dodnan Arch

A little further ahead the trail curves to the left and starts leading away from Zawn Wells. Leave the trail here and wander down the gentle grassy slope towards the rock outcrops which overlook Zawn Wells and the famous rock stacks out to sea.

You've made it, well done. ... A little further ahead the trail curves to the left and starts leading away from Zawn Wells. Leave the trail here and wander down the gentle grassy slope towards the rock outcrops which overlook Zawn Wells and the famous rock stacks out to sea.

You've made it, well done. This spot is the classic view of Land's End, allowing you to capture the Enys Dodnan Arch and the Armed Knight, with Longships Lighthouse in the background to the left and the Land's End attraction perched on the cliffs to the right.

This scene must have been photographed a million times - I've done it a dozen times myself - so don't be afraid to repeat what everyone else has already done or spend time exploring something different.

Even though it's a well-known scene, it's not as straightforward as you may think. For starters, you need to think about which elements you'd like to include in your frame and how they're positioned. Do you want a wide-angle image which includes everything or a longer focal length to focus on the rock stacks? How do you compose the stacks - are you happy for Enys Dodnan to obstruct the Armed Knight or do you prefer them separated? What about the cliffs - do they add anything or should you exclude them? If you exclude them then what about the rocks at the base of the cliffs to the right of Enys Dodnan? They connect the arch to the cliffs and are difficult to hide unless it's a very high tide or tall waves are rolling in. Does this mean that you need to return another time when conditions are better?

What about lighting? Would you prefer to shoot in winter when the southern faces of the stacks are both illuminated in soft light or what about a technically challenging shot on a midsummer evening when the southern faces are in shadow but a ray of sunlight shines through the archway and illuminates the foreground? And what about shutter speed - frozen motion, a silky wave shot or a glassy sea surface?

There are many more questions to consider when studying this scene but they offer multiple options to create a truly unique image, so don't be afraid to dive in and try multiple versions. And copying someone else's efforts is nothing to be ashamed of as a means to learn - understanding how to replicate an image allows you to reverse engineer it so you can adapt and customise your own version.

I have several more classic scenes to share with you during the tour but this is what most photographers think of when they consider Land's End, so don't worry about taking as long as you wish to explore Zawn Wells. When you're ready to continue, retrace your steps up the grassy slope, turn right and rejoin the trail as it leads towards another of my favourite locations which is Pordenack Point. In the meantime though, have fun! Read More

View locations and route

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Major Landmarks

Sennen Cove
South West Coast Path
RMS Mulheim Shipwreck
the First & Last House
Land's End
the Armed Knight
Enys Dodnan Arch
Greeb Farm
Pordenack Point
Carn Boel
Nanjizal Beach

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
Sennen Cove, Penzance TR19 7DB, UK
Total distance

5km
Final location
St Just, Penzance TR19 6JJ, UK
Distance back to start location

3km

Directions to Starting Point

If travelling by road, head for the Sennen Cove Harbour car park, which is pay and display (no overnight parking allowed).
Post code for sat-nav: TR19 7DB
what3words reference: intervene.intruders.infinite

If travelling to Sennen by public transport from Penzance or further afield, get off at the bus stop on Cove Hill, next to the lifeboat station. Then walk west along Cove Hill for 100 metres, passing the lifeboat station on your right before turning right at the Round House & Capstan Gallery. Continue walking for another 100 metres into the harbour car park and head towards the public toilets at the far side.

If following the South West Coast Path on foot, this area is covered by the Ordnance Survey Explorer 102 map. The path is easy to follow although the terrain can be challenging in places with frequent changes in elevation. Head south from Cape Cornwall for five miles (approximately two hours), enjoying the breathtaking coastal scenery as you go. If you approach from Porthcurno or Gwennap Head to the south however then you'll reach Nanjizal Beach first and end up walking the entire route in reverse, so you're advised to avoid this route or start the tour when you reach Sennen Cove (assuming that you'll walk back along the South West Coast Path to where you came from).

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

RMS Mulheim, Maen Castle, Land's End, Enys Dodnan Arch, The Armed Knight, Pordenack Point, Carn Boel, Nanjizal Beach

Best time of day

This route can be enjoyed at any time of the day, including at night if you're into astrophotography (although a head torch will be needed as there's no artificial lighting here). Winter sunrises can be amazing as light shines onto the southern faces of the Armed Knight and Enys Dodnan Arch, but be aware that much of the west-facing coastline will be in shadow until later in the day. This is a much better sunset location, with golden sidelight illuminating the towering cliffs or a spectacular sun drifting towards the horizon. Make sure you arrive at least an hour before golden hour to scout a good location and frame a composition. And allow 90-minutes to return to Sennen harbour car park from the furthest point of the route if you stay out after dusk and head back without stopping.

Low tide allows you to explore Nanjizal beach and its famous Song of the Sea Cave. Otherwise, high tide - especially when the sea is lively - provides incredible photo opportunities of waves crashing against the cliffs.

Precautions

Check tide times if you wish to explore Nanjizal beach. If you venture onto the beach, take extra care as the rocks can be loose or slippery. Sensible footwear - ideally walking boots or wellingtons - is essential if you don't want to fall over and damage your camera gear!

Stay away from cliff edges and be mindful of your footing when standing on rocky ledges or boulders, especially if you're preoccupied by the scene in your viewfinder. This is particularly important when wave-watching during rough weather or if shooting astrophotography - there are no lampposts here.

Be prepared for changeable weather and dress appropriately. It should take two hours to casually stroll along this route so take what you need to last that long. Be aware that mobile phone coverage is non-existent on Nanjizal beach and patchy everywhere else.

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“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”

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Questions and Reviews

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Photographing Land's End: a Penwith Heritage Coast Tour

About the Tour

Tour Producer

Photodyssey

Preview Location

Location 30

Carn Cheer and Enys Dodnan Arch

How VoiceMap Works

Major Landmarks

Sennen Cove

South West Coast Path

RMS Mulheim Shipwreck

the First & Last House

Land's End

the Armed Knight

Enys Dodnan Arch

Greeb Farm

Pordenack Point

Carn Boel

Nanjizal Beach