- Spectacular scenery throughout as you follow the coastal path around the most westerly part of Cornwall
- Crystal clear waters with flora and fauna in abundance, wild flowers and sea birds a plenty
- Lands End; the most westerly point in Britain and the incredible Minack outdoor theatre
- Beautiful beaches, gorgeous fishing villages and excellent sea scapes
Walking The Western Tip of Cornwall
Walking & Trekking
Activity Level
Moderate
See our Activity Level Guidelines to check if this holiday is right for you
Cornwall has the longest coast in the UK and much of it is designated as ‘An area of Natural Beauty (AONB)’
This stunning walk follows the coastal paths, from wild cliffs and heathland to golden sands and charming harbours, these are five days of exceptional walking in one of the UK’s most spectacular and unique regions. The coast is wild in this area with stunning scenery and this holiday takes in Cape Cornwall, Sennen Cove, Land’s End, the Minack Theatre and Mousehole.
Starting in picturesque St Ives, a beautiful town which seems to have it all, sandy beach, charming harbour and narrow streets full of interesting craft and art shops and galleries, not to mention the restaurants and cafes with their tempting treats, the trail heads West following the coast each day. The natural scenery often competes with human history for your attention, stunning beaches and impressive cliffs are punctuated by hill top forts, bronze age burial chambers and reminders of Cornwall’s tin mining history along the way. As you reach the most westerley tip of mainland UK the geological feautures surround Lands End with its arches and stacks and the pink hued cliffs of Porthcurno Bay are a beautiful sight. Flora and fauna are visible at every turn on this impressive coastline, wonderful wild flowers, including sea pinks line the coast, look out for the sea birds and if you are really lucky you may see grey seals bobbing about in the waters below.
Staying in pretty villages all along the coast, starting in St Ives and continuing to Pendeen with excellent views across the coast. Stay in Sennen Cove, one of the finest stretches of sand in Cornwall and Porthcurno, the home of the Minack theatre (our B&B is only 400 yards away) before concluding your holiday in the charming fishing village of Mousehole.
Why not enjoy an extra night at the end or the beginning of you holiday to fully explore St Ives or Mousehole?
Highlights
Key Information
- 6 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodation in 3 and 4 star hotels
- Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
- Countries visited: United Kingdom
What's Included
- All breakfasts
- Route directions and maps
- Luggage transfers
What's Not Included
- Travel insurance
- Visas and vaccinations
- Single accommodation (available on request, compulsory supplement)
5 Days of Walking & Trekking
Terrain:
Walks on this holiday are on coastal paths. There are parts that are rocky.
Day 2
11 km / 6.8 miles
Day 3
12 km / 7.5 miles
Day 4
15 km / 9.3 miles
Day 5
11 km / 6.8 miles
Day 6
12 km / 7.5 miles
Itinerary
St Ives Mousehole
Arrival in St Ives
The tour starts in St Ives
St Ives to Zennor
A dramatic introduction to the Cornish landscape today; beyond the narrow, sheltered streets of St Ives the path soon leads out into one of the wildest sections of the entire Southwest 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. In sheltered spots flowers find sustenance in the thin soil, while myriad seabirds make their homes on the cliffs, facing the full brunt of the Atlantic Ocean.
Zennor to Pendeen
Todays route passes along rocky paths and moorland fringes, through hard countryside littered with blocks of granite, towards the Pendeen and St Just mining districts. The harsh landscape maintains a beauty in its wildness, one that inspires countless stories of piskies and giants (how else can you explain the lumps of granite thrown across the land?).Sections of the path take you away from the sea edge and there are grand views of the granite hills (carns) that back the coast. Particularly impressive are the Carn Galvers and Watch Croft. Finally, passing by beautiful Portherras beach, the coastal path winds past Pendeen Watch lighthouse before reaching Pendeen.
Pendeen to Sennen
Along this exceptional stretch of coast, the natural beauty competes with human history for your attention. Proud headlands are crowned with Iron Age hill forts, towering cliffs are home to Bronze Age burial chambers and at every turn are reminders are of Cornwall’s mining heritage. The end of the north coast is rugged and impressive, with high cliffs cut by steep inlets and moorland hills rolling away in land. This is the St Just mining district, perhaps the birth place of the Cornish tin mining industry and a world leader in tin production in its heyday. Engine houses perch in the most precarious of positions and the remains of stamping mills and arsenic works are found in sheltered valleys. Moving on to the West coast, the scenery remains grand and impressive. From the treacherous Brisons reef to the golden sands of Sennen beach, the sea scape dominates. With lovely sheltered valleys and a path that constantly rises and falls, one minute you are at sea level and the next way up above, looking down on the gulls as they circle below.
Sennen to Porthcurno
A short walk packed full of incredible scenery today. From the vaulted cliffs and sea arches of Lands’ End to the outstanding pink hued cliffs of Porthcurno Bay. Add to this crystal-clear water 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 Lands 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.
Porthcurno to Mousehole
Leaving behind the beaches and windswept cliffs of the West coast, there is a significant change upon reaching the more sheltered South coast. Numerous deep valleys here are filled with palms, fuscia and gunnerera and even the highest cliff tops proudly display a good selection of wildflowers. The rocky sea line between Lamorna and Mousehole is lovely and the last section of open countryside until after Marazion. Mousehole is a working fishing village every bit as picturesque as the post cards suggest. Narrow streets run down to the tiny harbour where visitors enjoy the sea breeze.
Departure from Mousehole
Depart Mousehole after breakfast
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