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Walking in Cornwall - South West Coast Path
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Duration?
Cornwall's South West coastal path
style :
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Duration :
8 days
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period:
Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
Code:
UKSWWCS
Walking
price in double room from: € 905
Cornwall's South West coastal path

Cornwall's South West coastal path

Walk from St Ives to Penzance

  • Visit magical St. Ives & the picture postcard village of Mousehole
  • Art, ice creams & fish ‘n’ chips
  • Walk to Land’s End, the furthest Westerly point on the English Mainland
  • Views of St Michael's Mount
  • Quaint coves and beaches - once the haunt of smugglers & wreckers, now the abode of seals & surfers
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UKSWWCS
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ROUTE

Start: St Ives       Finish: Penzance

Day 1: Arrival in St Ives
Day 2: St Ives to Zennor (10km / 6 mi)
Day 3: Zennor to Pendeen Watch (11km / 7 mi)
Day 4: Pendeen Watch to Sennan Cove (14,5km / 9 mi)
Day 5: Sennan Cove to Porthcurno (9,5km / 6 mi)
Day 6: Porthcurno to Mousehole (11km / 7 mi)
Day 7: Mousehole to Penzance (6,4km / 4 mi)
Day 8: End of the tour

Day 1:    Arrival in St Ives

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.

Day 2:    St Ives to Zennor (10km / 6 mi)

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

Day 3:    Zennor to Pendeen Watch (11km / 7 mi)

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.

Day 4:    Pendeen Watch to Sennan Cove (14,5km / 9 mi)

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

Day 5:    Sennan Cove to Porthcurno (9,5km / 6 mi)

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

Day 6:    Porthcurno to Mousehole (11km / 7 mi)

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

Day 7:    Mousehole to Penzance (6,4km / 4 mi)

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.

Day 8:    End of the tour

Arrangements end after breakfast.

STANDARD HOTELS
The Old Vicarage (St Ives)
The Old Vicarage (St Ives)

This is an attractive historic building set in peaceful wooded grounds in a quiet residential area of St Ives. Hosts Dianne and Martin serve an award-winning breakfast with Full English, Continental and Vegetarian options.

www.oldvicarage.com

The Tinners Arms (Zennor)
The Tinners Arms (Zennor)

Built in 1271, The Tinners Arms has been at the heart of village life in Zennor for over 700 years. Originally built to accommodate the masons who constructed St Senara’s Church, famous for its mermaid, you’ll find little has changed over the years, modern life slips away as you step inside.

www.tinnersarms.com

The North Inn (Pendeen Watch)
The North Inn (Pendeen Watch)

Right in the middle of Pendeen village opposite the school, The North Inn was a favourite haunt of tin miners until the local mine closed in 1990. It has previously been voted CAMRA (Campaign For Real Ale) Cornwall Pub of the Year which recognises not only the standard of the beers but also the atmosphere, the mix of clientele, the availability of food and even the condition of the toilets.

www.thenorthinnpendeen.co.uk

The Old Success Inn (Sennen Cove)
The Old Success Inn (Sennen Cove)

On the road and by the Beach at Sennen Cove. This is a breathtakingly beautiful location, with its clear blue sea and fine sands. It features frequently in guides as one of Britain's best beaches and many people know it as "the bay where the dolphins play". The Old Success Inn enjoys magnificent views overlooking the beach and towards Cape Cornwall, the only cape in England. Sennen Cove's beach is perfect for activities such as swimming, surfing, fishing and sunbathing.

www.oldsuccess.co.uk

Sea View House (Porthcurno)
Sea View House (Porthcurno)

Built around 1910, Sea View House is situated in the sheltered Porthcurno Heritage Valley, approximately 400 yards from the National Trust Beach and South West Coastal Footpath.

www.seaviewhouseporthcurno.com

The Ship Inn (Mousehole)
The Ship Inn (Mousehole)

This is directly on the coastal path through the village. It is a quaint pub style accommodation in this famous fishing village at the heart of local tales and traditions. Bustling in the summer, it’s full of Cornish character and charm. The seaside Inn is boutique in size and style with 8 bedrooms. Oak beams and open fires provide a warm welcome to locals and guests alike. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, they offer great value, traditional Cornish pub food and award winning St Austell Brewery ales. Their fish pies, meaty burgers, salads, sandwiches and fresh crab are all sourced from local suppliers and home cooked to perfection.

www.shipinnmousehole.co.uk

The Longboat Inn (Penzance)
The Longboat Inn (Penzance)

This traditional, family-run inn is conveniently located close to Penzance’s atmospheric harbour and promenade.

www.longboatinn.co.uk

PRACTICAL INFO

This program can be booked any day between Late March and mid-October, subject to availability. 

The nearest international aiports to fly to are Newquay, Bristol, Exeter

Getting to St Ives

You can get to St Ives (and back from Penzance) by train from London and connecting places in between including Birmingham, Manchester and Bristol. Then it's a short taxi to your guesthouse in St Ives.

Overnight trains are also possible. 

You can also fly to Newquay Airport (though a limited range of flights) and then take a coach or taxi to St Ives.

Return from Penzance

Train connections back to London and elsewhere, as per above.

GPS tracks are available on request.

INCLUDED

Included

  • 7 nights´accommodation (small hotels, lodges, pubs, and B&Bs)
  • 7 breakfasts
  • One piece of luggage per person transferred between your accommodation daily, not exceeding 20kg
  • Detailed route descriptions and maps
  • 24-hour telephone assistance
  • Routes in digital format (.gpx) for GPS or mobile devices

Not included

  • Dinner, lunch and drinks
  • Travel to the start and from the end point of the trip
  • Admission fees
  • Personal expenses such as laundry and phone calls
  • Unscheduled transfers required during the trip

Extras

  • Single room supplement(s)
  • Solo traveller supplement
  • Airport transfers
  • Extra nights
REVIEWS

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