Cornwall's South West coastal path

Make your own way to St Ives.

This town was once the most important fishing port in Cornwall. But like elsewhere on the surrounding coast, by the beginning of the 20th century, the fish stocks became depleted, and the fishing fleet largely disappeared. However as early as 1811 Turner visited to paint the seascapes and by the late 1880s there were several painters in residence and the town became famous for its vibrant artists’ colony. 

Accommodation: in guesthouses Old Vicarage or in a boutique B&B called Villamorva. If these are full you may be booked into Carbis Bay 15 minutes walk away.

Enjoy a hearty breakfast as there are some tough up and down and occasionally boggy walking for the next two days. Fortunately the days are quite short in distance and the seascapes are beautiful! As you leave St Ives, the number of walkers rapidly diminishes, as does your pace as the path roller-coasts through a series of steep dips. 
After the River Cove, you descend to rocks where you can sometimes see seals basking off the rocks. There is then a final steep climb going inland to the village of Zennor. It has a quaint church, a small museum on Cornish life, a great old pub called The Tinner’s Arms. 

Accommodation: The Tinners Arms, the only inn in Zennor and built in 1271

Returning to the coastal path, thread your way through beautiful coves to Gurnard’s Head. Being wary of tin mine shafts, you can look around the prehistoric fort site at the head. There is Geevor tin mine which is open March-October for guided tours and at Pendeen Watch an afternoon visit to the lighthouse is possible.

Accommodation: Pendeen Watch, from 1860 and carefully restored to bring the old and new together.

The first part of the walk is quite easy, following cliff tops. Later on, the path skirts inland beside Cape Cornwall, once thought to be England’s most westerly point, until they worked out that it was in fact Land's End. Continuing you pass Carn Gloose where a walled pit could be a Neolithic shrine. Then it is past the village of St.Just which has a square where ‘miracle plays’ were performed in Mediaeval times, then past the beach at Whitesand Bay to Sennan Cove, a pretty fishing and tourist port.

Accommodation: The Old Success Inn, which dates back to the 17th century

A shorter day, to enable you to visit the sights of Land’s End, the most westerly point in England. This is a highly developed commercial site and there can be big crowds milling around the centre and car parks. However, there are some great seascapes. The walking greatly improves as you continue and you will pass the attractive hamlets of Porthgwarra and St. Levan reaching the open air theatre at Minack Point. Steep steps take you down from there to the beach and to the village of Porthcurno, which has a wonderful bay.

Accommodation: Edwardian Cottage B&B with its private garden

The South West Coast Path follows the cliffs with an offshoot trail taking you to Logan Rock; an 80 ton rock owned by the National Trust. There follows a more challenging walk towards Penberth Cove and Porthguaron which are lovely places to pause. You will pass though Lamorna, with a famous once illegal old pub the ‘Lamorna Wink.’ Next you will reach your destination of Mousehole (pron ’Mowzl’), a picture postcard village with a history of pilchard fishing and now has a small artists community.

Accommodation: in the popular inn right by the harbour

The path from Mousehole to Newlyn is beside the road, there is an option to go inland via the village of Paul to see the monument erected to Dolly Pentreath, the last native Cornish speaker who spoke no English. Newlyn and Penzance are quite built up being ports as well as important holiday destinations. Although Newlyn has some nice galleries, you may wish to catch the bus into Penzance from here. The latter has more attractions including some Georgian and Regency housing, the exuberant Egyptian House, Maritime Museum and National Lighthouse Museum.

Accommodation: There are a number of guesthouses we use in the busy town of Penzance.

Arrangements end after breakfast.