- Overview
- Trip Outline
- Trip Includes
- Trip Excludes
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Highlights
• Walk a classic section of the South West Coast Path from St Ives to Penzance
• Dramatic clifftop walking with far-reaching Atlantic views
• Visit Land’s End, the most westerly point of mainland England
• Discover hidden coves, golden beaches and old smuggler’s paths
• Pass through characterful fishing villages such as Mousehole and Newlyn
• Experience Cornwall’s rich artistic, maritime and tin-mining heritage
• Enjoy fresh local seafood and relaxed harbour towns along the way
Itineraries
Day 1
Arrive in St Ives
Make your own way to St Ives. This beautiful cobbled-lane fishing village dates back to AD460, when the missionary St. Ia- daughter of an Irish chieftain- landed here and gave her name to the settlement in a similar way to how St. Beda gave her name to St. Bees in Cumbria. Protected from Atlantic storms, St. Ives 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. This perhaps reached its heyday during the late 1940s and the 1950s. Today their work can be seen in the St Ives Tate Gallery, with its popular roof restaurant, the Barbara Hepworth Museum, and the Bernard Leach Gallery. This is also a great place for fish & chips, and extra nights are recommended.
Accommodation: There is a mixture of accommodation here for us to book ranging from B&Bs to Hotels.
Day 2
St Ives to Zennor
Enjoy a hearty breakfast as there is 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! Around St. Ives Head, the walk passes St. Nicholas Chapel (patron saint to seafarers) and a hut that was used for spotting pilchards from the cliffs. 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 on the rocks. There is then a final steep climb, from where you have to take a path going inland half a mile to the village of Zennor, which has a quaint church, a small museum on Cornish life, and a great old pub called The Tinner’s Arms. D.H Lawrence arrived here in 1916 and wrote ‘Woman in Love,’ inviting Katherine Mansfield over but she was frightened by the seagulls and had to leave! Lawrence, who had failed to pass the army medical and was married to a German, raised local suspicions. They presumed that the pair were spies signaling German submarines and they were officially ordered to leave! You might want to look out for the standing stones, ringed ‘quoits’ and other prehistoric remains on the moors above the village.
Accommodation: You will stay in one of the accommodations here in Zennor. There aren’t many to choose from.
Day 3
Zennor to Pendeen Watch
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. Just before you reach Pendeen, there is Geevor tin mine - which is open March to October for guided tours - and at Pendeen Watch an afternoon visit to the lighthouse is possible.
Accommodation: Pendeen Watch, The North Inn dates back to 1860 and has been carefully restored to bring the old and new together. You will stay in one of these accommodations.
Day 4
Pendeen Watch to Sennen Cove
The first part of the walk is quite easy, following the cliff tops around the old lead and tin mines, through the detritus of hundreds of years of activity. You pass Levant Mine - that closed in 1919 after an accident there killed 31 miners, however, there is a restored beam engine which can be visited in the summer. Next is Crowns Mine at Botallack, perched on the rocks. 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 Lands' End. Continuing you pass Carn Gloose - where a walled pit is thought to 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 Sennen Cove, a pretty fishing and tourist port.
Accommodation: You will stay at one of the fabulous Hotels/B&B’s.
Day 5
Sennen Cove to Porthcurno
A shorter day to enable you to visit the sights of Lands’ End - the most westerly point in England. This is a highly developed commercial site, with various ‘attractions’ including a theme park! There can also be big crowds milling around the centre and car parks, however, there are some great seascapes with views as far as the Scilly Isles and towards Long Ships and Wolf Rock lighthouses. 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, dramatically situated, and built by Rowena Cade. Steep steps take you down from there to the beach and to the village of Porthcurno, which has a wonderful bay in a magnificent location.
Accommodation: There are limited accommodations to choose here, so if they are already full, we will book 2 nights in Sennen Cove or Mousehole with a taxi transfer (extra charge).
Day 6
Porthcurno to Mousehole
The South West Path follows the cliffs with an offshoot trail taking you to Logan Rock - an 80-ton rock owned by the National Trust. Up until 1824 this could be rocked without much effort, but then one Lt. Goldsmith and 12 of his ship’s crew levered it off with crowbars. This caused local outrage as it was a tourist attraction and the admiralty forced him to replace it - which took 60 men, a series of block and tackle and a bill of £130 that went to the Lieutenant. Although restored to its original place it will not rock so easily! There follows a more challenging walk towards Penberth Cove and Porthguarnon which are lovely places to pause. You will pass though Lamorna, with a famous once illegal old pub the ‘Lamorna Wink.’ The walk continues the walk around Penzer Point and views over Mounts Bay, and towards the island of St. Michael’s Mount. Next you will reach your destination of Mousehole (pron’Moazl’), a picture postcard village, with a history of pilchard fishing and which now has a small artists community.
Accommodation: We use a number of guesthouses in this very busy town.
Day 7
Mousehole to Penzance
The path from Mousehole to Newlyn is beside the road but you can go inland via the village of Paul to see the monument erected to Dolly Pentreath (died 1778), regarded as 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: We use a number of guesthouses in this very busy town.
Day 8
Depart
Your trip ends after breakfast but do take time to enjoy the sea-side buzz of Penzance before your onward travel home.
7 nights' accommodation (small hotels, lodges, pubs, and B&Bs)
7 breakfasts
One piece of luggage per person transferred between accommodations, not exceeding 20kg
24-hour telephone assistance
Digital information pack including Navigational App, maps and route notes
Travel to the start point in St Ives and from the finish in Penzance
Travel insurance (required)
Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
Entrance fees and attractions
Personal equipment
Personal expenses, including laundry and phone calls
Unscheduled transfers required during the trip
Excess luggage charges
Single room or solo traveller supplements, where applicable
Guiding services – this is a self-guided holiday
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