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If you’re visiting The Tinners, or staying at The Whitehouse next door or in the area, then there are plenty of really cool places to visit nearby. Here is a short, and by no means comprehensive, list of local (and some a bit further afield) places to visit.
Zennor and the surrounding area is well worth exploring before (or after) settling for some refreshments at The Tinners. Set above the rugged Atlantic coast, the one-time resident DH Lawrence said of Zennor: ‘When we came over the shoulder of the wild hill, above the sea, to Zennor, I felt we were coming into the Promised Land.’ Promised? Perhaps, but the area has been inhabited for more than 4,000 years and at the height of the Cornish mining industry during the 1800s, more than 1,000 people lived and worked in Zennor. Today the population is less that 200 people, with tourism and farming being the main local industries.
Cornwall is full of great beaches, but at Zennor there are some great local beaches near that are secluded and fun to explore.
Veor Cove is quiet and popular with adventurous swimmers.
Pendour Cove is famous for the Mermaid of Zennor legend and can only be reached by experienced swimmers. The beach disappears at high tide, so swimming during a dropping tide is not recommended.
Porthzennor Cove is located in to the east of Zennor Head and is accessed via the coast path and has fine white sand.
The church at Zennor is dedicated to St Senara, and has stood on the current site overlooking the sea since at least the 6th century. The current building is Norman and from from the 13th century. One of only two remaining bench-ends in the church portray the Mermaid of Zennor, depicted in a carving admiring herself in a mirror. The Mermaid Chair also has carvings of fish on the seat and is believed to be more than 600 years old and pays homage to the legend of the Mermaid of Zennor.
On the church wall is a memorial to John Davy, who died in 1891, the last person to speak Cornish fluently. The church is surrounded by a small circular graveyard, which has existed since the Bronze Age and contains many ornate headstones.
There’s a great circular walk from Zennor to Gurnard’s Head that follows the coast path past Veor Cove, over Carnelloe Cliff and Boswednack Cliff to Treen Cove where there are the remains of a medieval chapel and an tin mine engine house.
The Gurnard’s Head is a rocky headland that resembles the head of the gurnard fish and is set within the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. There are the remains of an Iron age fort called Trereen Dinas on Gurnard’s Head, but be careful when exploring the headland as there are several sheer drops over the cliffs. There are two small coves to the east of, and sheltered by Gurnard’s Head; Treen Cove and Rose-an-Hale Cove. You can start this walk at The Tinners and end at the same location for a relaxing drink. Park in Zennor, pop in The Tinners and ask at the bar for someone to point you in the right direction.
One of the most famous of Cornwall’s landmarks, St MIchael's Mount has a fascinating history, and is steeped in both legend and folklore with stunning panoramic views across Mount’s Bay to Land’s End and The Lizard. It boasts a picturesque harbour and has a spectacular castle, complete with majestic gardens.
The Minack Theatre, near Porthcurno is an awe-inspiring open-air theatre, constructed above a rocky granite outcrop jutting into the sea. The theatre shows performances runs each year from May to September and attracts 80,000 people a year to see a show. Production companies from all over the UK and visiting companies from the US, stage shows at The Minack.
Britain’s most westerly point is worth a visit with its gift shops, entertainment and craft centre. When there’s a big Atlantic swell you can sit for hours watching mighty Atlantic rollers crash spectacularly over the rocks.
Immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring, futuristic world of the St Eden Project, an hour and a half drive from Zennor. Wander through the spectacular biomes housing diverse plant species from across the globe, participate in engaging workshops, and explore the educational exhibits. This renowned eco-attraction offers fun, adventure, and learning opportunities for all ages, making it a must-visit destination in Cornwall.
St Ives is famous for its art galleries and studios and hosts the Tate St Ives Gallery. There are lovely beaches here and the streets are great to explore. Follow the coast road back to Land’s End passing the remains of old tin mines, unrivalled sea views and magnificent sunsets.
Home to the UK’s largest fishing fleet with an array of colourful vessels of all shapes and sizes. Good fish shops and a bustling fish market (if you rise early enough), boat chandlers and some excellent galleries can be enjoyed here.
Penzance has all you want: shops, banks, harbour, antique shops, restaurants, tea-rooms, museums, parks, supermarkets and Jubilee Pool - a magnificent open-air fully restored lido.
The most westerly town in Britain, once the centre of the tin mining industry, now set in the heart of a rugged and dramatic landscape. St Just is a haven for contemporary art galleries and hosts the Lafrowda Festivall each year in its ancient Plain-an-Gwarry.
Tate St Ives was built between 1988 and 1993 on the site of an old gasworks and looks over Porthmeor beach and is among the most visited attractions in the UK. The gallery exhibits work by modern British artists with links to the St Ives area, and stages many contemporary exhibitions.
Geevor Tin Mine (from Cornish: Whel an Gever, meaning ‘mine of the goats’), is a tin mine between the villages of Pendeen and Trewellard and was operational between 1911 and 1990, producing more than 50,000 tons of black tin. The mine is now a multi-award winning heritage attraction, learning centre and museum, and offers a hands-on place to discover the story of Cornish metal mining. Geevor is a real Cornish tin mine little changed from when the mine closed in 1990, with a real underground experience.
West Cornwall has more ancient stone circles, standing stones, iron-age forts, quoits and holy wells than any other region in Europe. The Merry Maidens is a circle of 19 standing stones, near St Buryan. Nearby are The Pipers – two 3-metre-high standing stones. Lanyon Quoit, situated nearby at Morvah, dates back to 3,500BC, predating the pyramids in Egypt. One of Cornwall’s most recognisable and important megalithic sites, the mammoth capstone, weighing over 13 tonnes and measuring 9 feet by 17 feet, sits atop three supporting stones. The Men-an-Tol, or holed stone, consists of four stones - the most memorable being the circular and pierced upright stone. The Men-an-Tol, near Madron, has had many a curative and magical power attributed to it. The local moniker the 'crick stone' alludes to its alleged ability to aid those with back pain and children suffering from rickets. Passing through the hole was central to the healing process and with its obvious feminine symbolism, the holed stone was also believed to aid fertility.
