(includes bed and breakfast, bag transfers, maps & info packs, arrival and departure transfers between accommodation and local train stations/car parks. B&B includes the night prior to starting the walk and the night after finishing the walk)
Bed and Breakfast - includes night prior to starting the walk and the night after finishing the walk
Luggage Transfers
Maps & Route Notes
Arrival and departure transfers between accommodation and local train stations/car parks
Help, support and great customer service
Itinerary
Afternoon transfer from Penzance train station to your St Ives accommodation. Arrive early to enjoy time in the town.
Distance:
7 Miles/11 Kilometres
Height Gain:
1621 feet/494 metres
Time Walking:
4 hours 30 minutes excluding breaks
Difficulty:
Difficult. The distance is short but there are several steep hills and rocky/muddy sections.
Description:
This first stage of the walk is a dramatic introduction to the Cornish landscape. Beyond the narrow, sheltered streets of St Ives the path soon leads out into one of the wildest sections of the entire South West Coast Path. Rugged granite moors rise inland, while the narrow strip of land between the windswept cliffs and the hills is studded with tiny farming hamlets and stitched with stone walls dating back to prehistoric times.
The views are spectacular from the craggy headlands, with buttresses of weathered stone dropping dramatically to an often restless sea. This is an isolated area, and it is important to remember that long sections of the coastline are inaccessible and offer no refreshments or relief once you are underway.
Distance:
7 Miles/11 Kilometres
Height Gain:
1598 feet/487 metres
Time Walking:
4 hours 15 minutes excluding breaks
Difficulty:
Moderate to difficult. The path is hilly, narrow and for the first 6 miles it is littered with rocks, making for slow progress.
Description:
This section offers an incredible hike through one of the most dramatic and varied sections of the entire Cornish coast. The region is littered with the relics of Cornwall’s industrial past, with ruined mine buildings perched on cliff tops and nestled in valleys as reminders of a vanished era. Once again the landscape is dominated by high cliffs, cut into narrow zawns and sheer promontories by the often violent storms of the Atlantic
Distance:
8.5 Miles/14 Kilometres
Height Gain:
627 feet/191 metres
Time Walking:
4 hours 30 minutes excluding breaks
Difficulty:
Moderate. There are no major hills but the path can be uneven and muddy.
Description:
This is a circular walk around the famous stone monuments of West Cornwall. From Pendeen, the route heads inland to the barren moors. These empty spaces stretch across the Penwith peninsula and offer outstanding and unexpected views of the south coast. Gorse, heather and bracken dominate the landscape and hide many secrets.
Many have also been uncovered such as Men-an-tol (Bronze Age monument), Lanyon Quoit (Stone Age Dolman) and Boskednan Nine Maidens stone circles. This walk takes you around all of these and a few lesser known gems.
With ramshackle cottages, old tin mine workings, Bronze Age burial chambers and Stone Age standing stones, you will cover over 6000 years of Cornish history before heading back to Pendeen and the 21st Century.
Distance:
9.5 Miles/15 Kilometres
Height Gain:
1670 feet/509 metres
Time Walking:
4 hours 30 minutes excluding breaks
Difficulty:
A moderate start with few hills but some rubble on the path. Several moderately steep hills are encountered later on and there is some scrambling over/around rocks towards the end.
Description:
Starting among the ruins of the mining coast, where granite engine houses perch at the foot of craggy cliffs, the path soon rounds the striking promontory at Cape Cornwall before traversing wilder, west-facing shores where Atlantic swells pound against boulder-strewn beaches.
The final stage of the hike takes you across the sandy sweeps of Gwenver and Sennen beaches.
Distance:
6.5 Miles/8.5 Kilometres
Height Gain:
1368 feet/417 metres
Time Walking:
3 hours 30 minutes excluding breaks
Difficulty:
Moderate - just one or two hills of note.
Description:
A short hike packed full of incredible scenery. Some of the most photographed and most acclaimed Cornish landscapes are to be found here. From the vaulted cliffs and sea arches of Land’s End to the outstanding pink hued cliffs of Porthcurno Bay. Add to this crystal clear waters and a profusion of wild flowers and the region’s popularity is easily understood.
The coast path can be busy at either end of this walk, but remains relatively quiet in between. With Land’s End and the Minack Theatre, it is a region that draws many visitors but it doesn’t take long to get away from the commotion. With just over six miles to cover, it is an easy walk with plenty of time to stop off and enjoy the incredible views.
Distance:
8 Miles/11 Kilometres
Height Gain:
1818 feet/554 metres
Time Walking:
5 hours excluding breaks
Difficulty:
A difficult start with several steep hills to climb. It remains relatively difficult until Lamorna, where boulders litter the path but from then on it is quite straight forward.
Description:
The wooded valleys and boulder beaches of the south coast, separated by high granite headlands, offer a rich variety of flora and exceptional views. Tiny fishing hamlets are nestled in quiet coves, and the sea comes increasingly under the shelter of Mount’s Bay.
The day’s walk ends at Mousehole. Once the premier port of Mount’s Bay, today it is the quintessential Cornish fishing village, with a sheltered harbour and a jumble of granite cottages.
Distance:
6.5 Miles/10.5 Kilometres
Height Gain:
148 feet/45 metres
Time Walking:
2 hours 45 minutes excluding breaks
Difficulty:
Easy. Flat and well surfaced coast path.
Description:
This gentle hike traverses the inner reaches of Mount’s Bay, with its clutch of seaside towns and villages. This is the economic hub of West Cornwall, but it has kept its seaside charm and the area attracts thousands of visitors each year. With promenades, harbours and busy roads it is a stark contrast to the previous days’ walking.
The towns share a history dating back to pre-Roman times and the short distance to be covered allows ample chance to wander the streets, investigate the busy harbours and even pay a visit to St Michael’s Mount, the castle-crowned offshore outcrop that gives the bay its name.
Distance:
11 Miles/17.5 Kilometres
Height Gain:
1985 feet/605 metres
Time Walking:
5 hours excluding breaks
Difficulty:
The first part of the walk is easy although there are steps and boulders to deal with; the middle part is moderate, and the final third has some difficult sections (steeper hills).
Description:
Leaving behind the developments of Mount’s Bay, the hike follows the gentle slopes of the south coast. In contrast to the towering granite cliffs of the north and west, here there are more modest outcrops of dark metamorphic rock.
Sloping fields run down towards the cliff edge and sheltered coves protect shingle beaches. Approaching Porthleven the landscape becomes wilder, the cliffs higher and the coves narrower.
Distance:
7 Miles/11.5 Kilometres
Height Gain:
1053 feet/321 metres
Time Walking:
3 hours 30 minutes excluding breaks
Difficulty:
Generally easy with very few hills and rocks to contend with.
Description:
Leaving behind the sheltered haven of Porthleven with its busy harbour, the coast path traverses windswept beaches and dramatic cliffs out towards the Lizard Peninsula, Britain’s most southerly point.
This is an open, empty landscape; few people walk this way, and it is not uncommon to have no other company than the gulls screeching down below. The views are spectacular, and many walkers consider the view over Mullion Cove alone worth the journey.
Map
Interests
You can enjoy great food in many of the stop over towns on this walk.
The Cellar Bistro (St Ives), the Gurnards Head (Zennor), The Old Coastguard (Mousehole), The Godolphin Hotel (Marazion) and Kota (Porthleven) all boast great reputations.
Mention this when booking and we will try to book your accommodation close to the best restaurants.
Walk through Botallack, Levant, Penberth, Porthgwarra, Porthcurno, Gunwalloe – all featured in the hit BBC drama.
Fancy a little luxury at the end of a long day walking?
Why not include stays in the Old Coastguard, Mousehole, The Godolphin Hotel, Marazion and Polurrian Bay Hotel?
Let us know if you would like to include upgraded accommodation (surcharges apply).
St Ives, Lamorna, St Michael’s Mount, Mousehole, Cape Cornwall are just a few of the locations used to film the popular Rosamund Pilcher television movies and they are all included in this incredible walk.
Terrain
The coast path is much more demanding and time consuming than hill walking and a 10 mile (16 km) hike typically takes five hours.
Throughout most of West Cornwall the coast path is made of compacted earth, sand and natural rock. Steps are often cut into the ground but it is rare that you will find a hand rail to support yourself.
The coast path runs close to the cliff edge and if you suffer from dizziness or vertigo, a coast path walking holiday may not be for you. However it is rare that you will be walking along high cliffs with a sheer drop to the sea. More commonly there is a series of rocky platforms leading down to the sea. The exception to this is on the north coast between Hayle and Perranporth and then Newquay to Padstow where the path meanders to within one metre of the cliff tops and usually there is no barrier.
The are a lot of hills in Cornwall and for every descent down towards the sea there is a corresponding climb back up. Consider that over its total 630 miles, the South West Coast offers an estimated 35,000 metres to climb – that’s almost four times the height of Mount Everest!
The South West Coast Path is a natural trail and signage is minimal. There are discreet signs at most junctions but in some places you will need to use a map.
We provide route notes and 1:25000 maps and most walkers find that as they progress along the path they become quite adept at spotting the coast path signs.
Map reading skills are an advantage but with a smart phone/GPS, our route notes and a little common sense you should be fine. If you feel uncomfortable with this and would prefer a walk with regular sign posts, we advise looking for an alternative holiday.
Accommodation
We are walkers ourselves and we know that at the end of a long day you want a warm welcome and a comfortable bed. That is why we use B&Bs, hotels and guesthouses that we have carefully selected and importantly, visited ourselves. These are chosen for their access from our walking routes, their quality and their friendly atmosphere.
In practice this means that you will not have to walk more than 20 minutes from the coast path to your accommodation, there are restaurants or pubs within a short walk of all the B&Bs, you will be greeted by a friendly owner and enjoy a decent breakfast.
Double room
One bed for two people. The standard UK dimensions are 135cm x 190cm.
Twin room
Two single beds in one room. The standard UK dimensions for a single bed are 90cm x 190cm. These offer less floor space than a double due to space between the beds.
Single room
Smaller rooms, often with a shared or private bathroom. The standard UK dimensions are 90cm x 190cm.
Family room
A double bed plus single bed or a double bed plus bunk beds. These can accommodate three or four people.
Ensuite – Toilet, shower and wash basin are contained within the room.
Private – Facilities are outside the room but are not shared with any other room.
Shared – Facilities are shared with at least one other room.
Travel Information
Most of our international clients arrive at one of London’s major international airports (Heathrow or Gatwick) and then make their way to Cornwall by train (five hours 30 minutes from London Paddington).
Heathrow
Good connections with the main London Paddington to Penzance train and journey time is 6 to 7 hours. Connecting flights to Newquay take less than one hour.
National Express coaches run to Penzance and journey time is approximately 8 hours.
Gatwick
Trains connect with the main London Paddington to Penzance train service at Reading and total journey time is 6 to 7 hours.
Newquay
Cornwall’s own airport receives flights from major cities across the UK and Dusseldorf and Stuttgart.
We can include airport transfers at the start and end of your holiday for an additional cost (typically £20 to £35 per person). Journey times are approximately one hour to St Ives, Penzance and Falmouth.
London Stansted
It is necessary to travel into Central London if you wish to travel to Cornwall by public transport. Total journey time is approximately 7 hours 30 minutes.
Bristol
An express bus service connects the airport to Bristol Temple Meads train station (30 minute journey) from where there are trains to Penzance (4 hours 30 minutes).
If you are travelling to Cornwall by train, we suggest that you come to Penzance, from where we will provide a transfer to your B&B in St Ives. Although St Ives does have a train station, it is not on the main line and requires changing trains at St Erth. Penzance is the last stop on the main line and it is a pleasant 20 minute journey across to St Ives.
There are direct trains to Penzance from London Paddington (via Reading for airport connections) and journey time is 5 hours 30 minutes with trains leaving at approximately hourly intervals.
Driving to West Cornwall is straight forward but journey times can be long and in July/ August heavy traffic can be an issue. Once you leave the motorway (M5), just follow the A30 all of the way to Penzance.
Rental Cars – In addition to a standard rental, one way rentals are also possible, allowing you to pick up a car from anywhere in the UK and return it locally.
Parking – This can be difficult in St Ives, especially in the summer months and so we recommend leaving your vehicle in Penzance. We will provide transfers from your car to the first B&B and then back to your car at the end.
Journey times – For accurate driving times, use a journey planner. The following times are approximate and do not include rest breaks:
Heathrow/Gatwick – 5 hours
Central London – 5 hours 40 minutes
Bristol – 3 hours 15 minutes
Plymouth – 1 hour 45 minutes
Exeter – 2 hours
Dover – 7 hours
The South West Coast Path is Britain’s longest natural trail. That’s 630 miles of beautiful coastal scenery and four times the height gain of climbing Mount Everest.
This is the South West Coast Path in Cornwall, the most westerly and most beautiful section of the trail.
This is your chance to experience life on the South West Coast Path. Superb scenery, excellent hiking, top dining and as much (or as little) adventure as you like.