Thursday 26th March 2026: Gwennap Head and Kenidjack Valley

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 This is one of our favourite walks, with a scramble up the cliffs, then a flattish walk across the top, with fantastic views out to sea and down to the rocks below. It is a top spot for Choughs, and it didn’t take long to find a pair probing for food in the short grass, completely unfazed by our presence and giving superb views. 

Choughs

Looking out to sea, we could just make out a constant stream of distant Manx Shearwaters, rising up, then down as they scythed across the waves. A few gleaming white Gannets, with bold black wing tips flew intermittently past the headland too.

Chough and Jackdaw

On the cliffs below, we found seven Fulmars perched on the rocks, then launching skywards with narrow, outstretched wings to soar around a small sheltered cove. Nearby glossy, green-tinged nesting Shags could be seen on the rock faces and a pair of busy Rock Pipits called frequently as they flitted amongst the grass and rocks.

Fulmars

Several Meadow Pipits wandered the grassy areas, and a couple of Wheatears were here too, giving a flash of white bum as we approached and they departed. Stonechats popped up onto tiny bushes, and a cronking Raven, a Kestrel and Buzzard all passed overhead.

Meadow Pipit

We continued until we could view the iconic Tall Ships rock formation at Lands End, before retracing our steps to Porthgwarra Cove, then continued on to Kenidjack Valley, another of our favourite Cornish destinations.

Here we encountered more Choughs, calling as they powered across the valley, our first Blackcap of the year, a chestnut-headed female, feeding in the low bushes as we approached the donkey pastures, and a bouncing Grey Wagtail moving about the stream towards the sea. We climbed above the valley, enjoying the fabulous views of Cape Cornwall, before heading for home. 

Cape Cornwall


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