Ultimate Guide to the Best Walks in Cornwall

Is there anywhere more glorious for walking than Cornwall? Whether you are looking for history, dramatic vistas, gorgeous countryside, or family-friendly circular walks, in Cornwall, you will find everything you seek and more. We have put together this Cornwall guide to the best walks, to help you find the ones that best suit your fancy and meet your needs. 

Top Coastal Walks

The stunning views and dramatic cliffs of Cornwall make coastal walks in this region a must-do experience. Our favourites include: 

• South West Coast Path: The entire South West Coast Path takes an average of seven or eight weeks to complete, stretching 630 miles. However, there are plenty of lovely walks that do not require such an investment of time and effort, and many popular sections to explore. 

  • The section from St. Ives to Zennor is a circular walk, long and demanding but well worth it. It features gorgeous, panoramic coastal views, abundant opportunities for wildlife spotting, sandy beaches to enjoy, and cultural highlights like the Tate Art Gallery and the St Ives historic harbour. The most difficult section of this walk is at the Zennor end, so if you are concerned about the strenuous nature of the walk, it can be easier to start there and get the hardest part of the walk out of the way at the start of your walk. Along the coast, the walk involves some scrambles over boulders, and if you are walking with a small or less athletic dog, your canine companion may need some help climbing over the stones. 

     

  

   

  • Another popular stretch is from Porthcurno to Land’s End. Begin at Porthcurno’s excellent beach, owned by the National Trust and made mostly of broken shells that make the sea look beautifully turquoise, even when the sky is overcast. From there you will take the coast path from the beach, past the astonishing Minack Theatre, carved into the clifftop. Past that point, there is an easy walk to St Levan and the quiet, sandy beach known as Porthchapel. Climb up from the beach for a fairly easy walk, past a shingle beach, to Porthgwarra, and then another easy walk around Gwennap Head and into Porth Loe, with the path remaining fairly gentle around Folly Cove and Pendower Coves. These bays are shallow and appear a lovely blue, particularly when the sun is shining. After a steep descent and a climb out of Nanjizal, the path gets easy again. Approaching Land’s End, you will see some gorgeous rock formations, and once you pass the pointed rock known as Armed Knight, you will only have a few more minutes of walking before you reach your destination. 

    

     

• Lizard Peninsula: Of all the South Coast walks in Cornwall, you will find some of the most beautiful on the enchanting Lizard Peninsula. The most southerly part of mainland Britain, the Lizard Peninsula feels like a different world, the sky bluer, the light brighter, and the land flatter than the rest of Cornwall. Beautiful and sometimes wild, this is a place of wonder, and delightful to walk. Within the Lizard Peninsula, you will find pleasant walks in its rare habitat, the only place where Cornish heather grows, accompanied by 600 other species of flowering plants that make it a captivating place to experience. One of the best walks is the one that goes from Kynance Cove to Lizard Point. It’s a challenging route that takes about three hours to cover seven miles, but it is worth every step. Taking the steps out of Kynance Cove, at the east end of the beach, you will walk up the hill, through the car park, and onto the coast path. As you follow the cliff path, you will pass above Pentreath beach, continuing past striking coastal views, towards the Lizard Lighthouse. Beyond that, you will see the Lion’s Den, a hole in the cliff formed by a cave collapse in the mid-19th century, then Pen Oliver, with breathtaking views that beg you to stop and have a picnic. From the Bass Point Old Signal Station, you will head left inland to Lizard village, and after passing the village green you can take a path back towards Kynance Cove. 

   

Historic and Cultural Walks

Historic walks in Cornwall are not just educational, they are magical. Do not miss: 

• St. Michael’s Way is ahistoric, coast-to-coast micro-pilgrimage route that goes from Lelant to Marazion, past diverse holy places. It is the only pilgrimage route in Britain that is part of a European Cultural Route, and it connects five churches, two hillforts, two standing stones, four holy wells, two disappeared chapels, a monumental needle, a nature reserve, and a river, passed near its source and where it joins the sea. The countryside is spectacularly scenic, and ending at the gorgeous St Michael’s Mount makes the walk imminently satisfying. Starting in Lelant, you will follow the South West Coast Path through Carbis Bay, then turn inland and climb towards Trencom Hill, past the large standing stone at Beersheba. The path then drops into the Red River Valley above Crowlas before you reach Ludgvan, where you can see the church where William Borlase preached for 52 years. Past Ludgvan, you will cross through some of the most fertile farmland in the UK, before the walk finishes with you strolling along Mount’s Bay to St Michael’s Mount. 

• The Tintagel Castle Walk involves the legends of King Arthur. This invigorating walk goes around the Barras Nose headland, a site occupied by humans since the Mesolithic period, and the first coastal acquisition by the National Trust, back in 1897. You will begin at the end of Fore Street, taking the private road to Tintagel Castle, then turning right at the coast to cross the stream and follow the coast path. As you look west, you will see the ruins of Tintagel Castle, associated with the legends of King Arthur and inspiring Lord Tennyson’s ‘Idylls of the King’. Once you have thoroughly enjoyed the views, take the path up the hill to the Camelot Hotel, where you might want to stop for refreshments and to view its unique artwork and interior décor. From the hotel car park, you can follow the road back to the beginning. 

Countryside and Moorland Walks

The countryside in Cornwall is so beautiful and scenic that you will never run out of things to love about it. Some of the walks we love best include: 

• Bodmin Moor features wild, open landscapes, stone circles, and panoramic views. It is less well-marked than the coastal path, and it can be a challenge to find your way, but it is a gorgeous place to walk, nonetheless, as long as you have good weather and sturdy boots. Here, you can take a primarily circular walk past prehistoric remains that include summit cairns, settlements, and a holy well, to reach the two highest tors in Cornwall, the iconic and rugged Rough Tor and Brown Willy, Cornwall’s highest point. Starting at the Rough Tor car park, you will take the path towards Brown Willy, keeping left to see the smaller outcrop known as Showery Tor, which looks like a stack of rocks, precariously balanced, but is sturdy enough to climb up for a photo.  The views across to Rough Tor are astounding, as are the vistas towards the north coast. From Showery Tor you will head towards Brown Willy, heading down and crossing the De Lank River, then climbing to the summit of Brown Willy. Take in the magical views before heading back to Showery Tor and onwards on a fairly flat path heading south towards Rough Tor. As you walk, you will see remains of Bronze Age huts, cairns, burial chambers, village ruins, and an old well, as well as rough stone walls that once defended the Tor. Climb Rough Tor, Cornwall’s second-highest peak, then continue south down to the massive Fernacre Stone Circle. Walking around to the other side of Rough Tor, you will see the car park, as your walk comes to a close. 

• The Camel Trail is a leisurely trail from Padstow to Bodmin, along a disused railway line. Following the railway line is simple, and while the trail is 18 miles long, it is easy to choose a section that suits your family. Suitable for walkers, cyclists, horse riders, and even those in wheel-chairs, the walk features flat terrain and scenic estuary views. This is an extremely family-friendly walk, and absolutely beautiful.

Family-Friendly Walks

Cornwall is the perfect place to instil a love of walking in your children and share this joy with family members of all ages. Some of the best places to take the whole family include:  

• Cardinham Woods has gentle trails that are suitable for all ages. Managed by the Forestry Commission, Cardinham Woods is a lovely mixed woodlands area with an imaginative animal-inspired wooden play area, streams for little ones to paddle, and well-marked walking paths in shady wooded areas with gorgeous views. The walking trails range from 1.5 to 3.5 miles in length and vary in difficulty from easy to demanding. The Lady Vale Walk is even wheelchair and pushchair friendly, as well as being a very pretty walk. 

• Goss Moor offers an easy, circular walk through Cornwall’s largest lowland wetland. It is a multi-use trail, surfaced to be suitable for walking, cycling, horse-riding, and use of wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and buggies. Goss Moor contains remarkable biodiversity, with a mix of habitats and some of the country's rarest species of butterflies and moths. The Moor also has a rich history, known as the legendary hunting grounds of King Arthur, and used between the 11th and 19th centuries for mining tin, and from the 1930s to the 1950s for sand and gravel. 

Make Your Cornwall Stay Unforgettable with Together Travel

Cornwall offers a wealth of wonderful walks, from coastal strolls and countryside rambles to historic walks and family-friendly hikes, but walking is far from the only great Cornwall activity. This gorgeous region offers something for everyone, with plenty of beautiful beaches, cultural attractions, and much more. When you are looking for a Cornwall accommodation, Together Travel Co. has the perfect spot for you, no matter what activities you are planning to enjoy. In Pelynt Looe, we offer picturesque cottages, a sumptuous shepherd’s hut, and even a grand manor house. In Newquay, our stylish apartments are on the doorstep of Fistral Beach. We offer Tresillian House a gorgeous manor house, or you can choose to stay in a lovely holiday home on the Gannel Estuary, close to Crantock Beach. If you are planning a visit to Trewhiddle, we have loads of options from which to choose, and if Fowey is your destination, we have a self-catering cottage by the sea for you. Find out how we can make your trip amazing by contacting our expert concierge team at +44(0)1625 416430 or emailing us for more information.