Getting Around West Cornwall
Given Zennor is so rural, a car is a must to be able to get around and visit other areas of West Cornwall. There are bus links between St Ives and Penzance with onward rail links plus there is an open-top sightseeing bus during the busier season. So, it is plausible to leave the car at your holiday cottage in Zennor and explore West Cornwall freely. Having said that, due to its position on the West Penwith peninsula, if you fancy visiting places of interest or long stretches of sandy beach, it is worth having a car at your disposal to enjoy the freedom with a sense of adventure!
Please find below some helpful tips on getting around from Zennor and don’t forget to refer to our other Area Guides for more information that will help holiday planning!
St Ives is just 15 minutes from Zennor by car and there are so many wonderful places to visit in St Ives as well as things to do. Parking in St Ives can be tricky during busier months so, park like a St Ives local and read our blog about parking in St Ives.
Buses
The Land's End Coaster!You can catch the Land’s End Coaster and head east to St Ives and on to Marazion or head west to St Just, Sennen, Porthcurno finishing up at the Jubilee pool in Penzance. It will take a while, be warned! But if you are in no rush and are happy sightseeing from the comfort of an open-top bus or inside if it’s a bit wet or cold, it’s a great way to see this part of Cornwall and not have to be the one negotiating the narrow lanes!
Visit the First Bus website for the most recent timetables and more information.
Train links
Once arrived in St Ives or Penzance, the rest of Cornwall can be visited using train/ bus linksSt Ives Train Station
St Ives is the end of a branch line so once you are aboard the train, it heads in one direction to Carbis Bay and then onto St Erth. Once at St Erth, you can change to head into Penzance or hop onto the train to Truro and beyond!
Penzance Train Station
Penzance is the end of the line for Great Western Trains which arrive from London Paddington. From Penzance, you can reach St Erth, change and head along the coastal branch line and arrive in St Ives within 15 minutes. Alternatively, head up to Truro and change for Falmouth or continue on to Lostwithiel and catch a bus on to Padstow.
For more information and train timetables, check out the Rome2Rio website for great travel tips.
Hire car
You may decide to travel to Cornwall by public transport but then have a car for a day or two during your holiday to explore further afield. This makes sense if you don’t want the hassle of finding a holiday cottage in Cornwall with parking for the entire duration of your stay. Hiring a car is made easy particularly if you collect from Penzance or from Newquay airport but you can choose to collect from Liskeard further up the train line so as to explore beautiful places on the way to West Cornwall. Some car hire companies also deliver a car to your holiday cottage for a fee; super easy!
Car Hire Cornwall is a family-run business established in 1993.
Promising no cancellation fees or collision damage waivers, excellent customer service, £100 insurance excess, free collection and drop off service as well as being carbon neutral, you will feel like you are supporting a local Cornish family business by hiring a car through Car Hire Cornwall. You can collect a car from either Penzance or Liskeard train stations if this is more convenient to holiday plans.
Visit their website above for more information or call Alan, Linda or Callum on 07790039780
Enterprise Car Club in Longrock just a short distance from Penzance.
It offers the national car hire experience such as a large range of cars to hire, fuel and roadside assistance is included, free cancellation up to 5 hours before car collection, hourly rental charges are capped at day rates, physical damage/ liability is included with an excess of £750 as standard, 24/7 Clubhouse support.
Visit their website for more information or call them on 0345 266 9290
Newquay Airport Car Hire offers a full range of new cars and their prices include insurance, VAT, unlimited mileage and breakdown cover.
They offer free delivery and collection anywhere in Cornwall when hiring for 3 days or more plus flexibility to leave the car at alternative locations throughout Cornwall.
Visit their website by clicking on their name above for more information or call them on 01637 850971
Europcar Penzance Train Station is located very conveniently as you exit the train station
All you need to do is get off the train, exit the station, and cross the road, their office is in the car park so a very short distance to walk with luggage. Their office is open 8 am until 4 pm but do charge an after-hours service between 4 pm and midnight. They can offer automatic cars, luxury, 4×4 and SUV cars. Choose their ‘Full Tank’ option and you will get a car which is fully fuelled up and you won’t have to return the car full either. To make the experience either more hassle-free, choose their ‘Deliver & Collection’ service for as little as £10 each way.
Visit their website above for more information or call them on 0871 384 9900
*(Calls to 0871 numbers will cost 10 pence per minute plus your phone company’s access charge)
Coastal Roads
The roads in Cornwall are narrower than many in the rest of the UK and they certainly aren’t in a straight line either! There are many twists and turns that follow the coastline as well as high hedges making them feel even narrower. Often you will find a herd of cows being moved from one field to another too so it’s best not to be in a rush going from A to B!
E-bikes
A great way to explore the west of Cornwall is by bike. As the roads are narrow, we do urge anyone wishing to tour the area by bike to take care and have properly fitting helmets. Thankfully, as the coastal roads are narrow, the cars move more slowly. There are some challenging hills to negotiate under your own steam so why not try an e-bike and get around more comfortably and quickly. We recommend St Ives Bikes who have a selection of bikes and wonderful routes for you to explore on two wheels.
St Ives eBikes provide fabulous bikes for exploring spectacularly beautiful coastal routes and Cornish coves without the effort of too much peddling!
Hire an e-bike from St Ives Bikes and download one of their set routes from the Zennor Zoom which is a 10-mile bike ride to Land’s End Loop which is a whopping 55-mile bike ride (but so worth it!). Try their Cape Caper, Godrevy Gambol or Moorland Meander; they have rides for everyone and the sheer sense of being outdoors, inhaling the freshest of sea air and feeling the benefits of cycling (made easy) is a perfect way to spend a day in the saddle exploring beauty spots around West Cornwall while on holiday in St Ives.
Visit their website by clicking on their name above or call them on 07536 171214
Taxis
If you fancy an evening out, why not make the designated driver a taxi! Below are a list of taxi firms in the local area around Zennor and we recommend using the ones closest to your destination.
A local Penzance taxi firm, for more information give them a call on 01736 366366
A local taxi firm in Penzance, give them a call for more information on 01736 888888
A local taxi firm in St Just covering West Cornwall, for more information give them a call on 01736 786586
A local taxi firm in St Ives, for more information give them a call on 01736 796633
A local taxi firm in Hayle, for more information give them a call on 01736 754000
A local St Ives taxi firm, call their telephone number for more information 01736 799999
A local taxi firm in Hayle, for more information give them a call on 01736 758555
A local taxi firm covering Penzance area, for more information give them a call on 01736 763400
A local taxi firm covering Penzance area, for more information give them a call on 07920 105270
A local taxi firm in Penzance, for more information give them a call on 01736 366666
A local taxi firm in Hayle. For more information, give them a call on 01736 756565
You have come to the end of 'Getting Around' in the Zennor guide...
We are constantly adding to our guides so check back soon to see if we have added more helpful tips!
Read Orange Roofs' Area Guides for even more ideas, tips and helpful information for your self-catering holiday in Cornwall.