Walk Cornwall – Self Guided

Our guide will meet you to set you up for your week, providing maps and Ride With GPS navigation on your phones and provide recommendations for the week along the trails. At your leisure, set out in the morning from Padstow by catching the foot ferry across the Camel estuary to the small seaside village of Rock where our route takes you through the sand dunes to the famous and once partially buried St Enodoc Church, with its peculiar spire, ‘bent like a crooked witch’s hat’ as Sir John Betjeman once wrote. Enjoy an afternoon walking along the idyllic beaches of Polzeath and Daymer Bay before returning to Padstow by foot ferry in the late afternoon. Dine on Rick Stein’s famous fresh caught Fish and Chips in the evening or one of the many restaurant choices in town and rest your legs in your townhouse hotel for the evening.

Mileage: 5-8 miles

Walking from your hotel out of town and along the coastal path the route leads along the cliffs at Stepper Point, past the observatory with panoramic views of ocean, town and estuary. Keep an eye out for Peregrine Falcons, the fastest birds in the world, known to fly and nest in this area, as you traverse the coast and beaches towards lunch in Trevone or Harlyn Bay. Catching the bus back across the headland in the afternoon will give you plenty of time to explore Padstow, with further afternoon walking options available. Dine out in town with a wealth of restaurants to choose from by the harbour.

Mileage: 5-12 miles

In the morning we provide a transfer further South to Lelant for a beautiful walk into the jewel of Cornwall that is St Ives. Best known for its spectacular light, as a haven for painters and now as home to the Tate St Ives Art Gallery, this town is truly magnificent. Whether this is your first time here or if you have visited before, this town reveals something new with each trip. The stunning coastal walk passes by historic churches, sandy beaches and the idyllic Carbis Bay before entering the town itself. Lunch at one of the wonderful seafood cafes and, in the afternoon, enjoy a lovely walk around the harbour or visit to the Tate St Ives or Barbara Hepworth’s Sculpture Garden. Transfer to your hotel in Penzance after a long but rewarding day!

Mileage: 5-8 miles

Walk the coast path to Marazion for lunch and in the afternoon cross the causeway – tide permitting – to the mysterious 14th Century castle on St Michael’s Mount, perched atop a great granite crag. Steeped in legend and folklore, the island has panoramic views across to Land’s End and to Lizard Point, the most Southerly point in Britain. We head along the coastal path for some R&R at Praa Sands before returning to Penzance in the late afternoon – maybe for a dip in the famous Penzance Lido and its 35c geothermal pool. 

Mileage: 7-9 miles

Head out on a walk along the coast through some of Cornwall’s true gems: Penzance, Newlyn and to Mousehole Harbour (pronounced Mowzel), and on past Lamorna to the Caribbean like Pedn Vounder beach (pronounced ‘pednee’) and onto Porthcurno, famous for its amazing beach and the trans-Atlantic telegraph cables. Today is a longer but wonderful end to your week of walking. 

Mileage: 6-10 miles

After a relaxed breakfast we organise your transfer to Penzance station, helping all guests with their ongoing travel arrangements. Regular trains depart from here to London and beyond.

Cornwall is an easy train journey from London, Bristol and the Midlands, just 4 hours direct from London to Bodmin Parkway station. From here we transfer you the short 15 minute drive to the town of Padstow.  Finish your day on the beach with your feet in the sea, ready for a wonderful week of walking.

We have handpicked a selection of hotels and bed and breakfasts in ideal locations along the beautiful Cornish coast, with great access into towns and views over the harbours and ocean. There is a wealth of great restaurants and gastro-pubs in each location and your hotels are the perfect place to rest your legs and relax during the evenings while on your tour.

Read M.W’s review of our hotels: “The accommodations were first rate — small inns scattered throughout the countryside. And the food — out of this world! […] It was so relaxing to have the whole trip prearranged.”