South West Coast Path: North Cornwall Coast

Welcome to Cornwall and the town of Bude! A small port that hit its peak late in the 19th Century, Bude is now a popular seaside resort. Each year, visitors are drawn to this fantastic coastline to enjoy the views, the spotless beaches, and activities such as golf and deep sea fishing.

Begin your walk on the South West Coast Path this morning! With the lovely Bude beaches behind you, the walk from here to Widemouth Bay is relatively easy, which gives you a good warm-up. The trail hugs the cliffs past landmarks such as Compass Point Tower, Phillip’s Point, Higher Longbeak and Lower Longbeak, and then eventually reaches Widemouth Sands. Follow the path as it descends into the lovely bay, then climb up again to reach the grassy hill at Black Rock.

As you continue along the path the environment varies between grassland, small woodlands, and gorse bushes. The route today offers spectacular views and geological points of interest such as Crackington Haven, where you can clearly see the rock strata. Follow the trail along the coast, passing a few sections of climbing steps, and when you reach Penally Point you can see across to Boscastle Harbor, where you will spend the night. Follow the trail into Boscastle and rest after your first day of walking.

Leave Boscastle by crossing the bridge. Be sure to pause to appreciate the stunning scenery. You’ll usually follow the cliff line, though occasionally the trail cuts straight across headlands that are especially rocky. Watch for the many rock stacks along your path today that have been formed over time by the wind and water.

When you come to Tintagel Head you can stop to visit the crumbling ancient monastery of Tintagel Castle. As you continue walking, watch for Gull Rock, which is out at sea, and Glebe Cliff. Both landmarks are marked. From here, the path to Port Isaac crosses the countryside. You’ll be spending the night in Port Isaac, which is primarily a fishing village. If you have time, you can walk down to the Port Isaac Harbor and see the catch of the day.

A series of small valleys greets you as you leave Port Isaac, which means a series of ascents and descents to start the day. Nevertheless, the trail is not overly strenuous and becomes much flatter later on. The South West Coast Path follows its now familiar rugged landscape and rounds both Rumps Point and Pentire Point.

You’ll leave Polzeath by way of a beach formation known as the “Doom Bar”. Past Daymer Bay you’ll come to a village called Rock, which is across the estuary from Padstow. There is a ferry to cross the estuary and bring you to today’s destination in Padstow. If time and energy permit, it is possible to walk inland to Weymouth to cross the water, but this adds a lot to your walk. Padstow got its start as a fishing village, but this is no longer its main industry. Boat trips are available from here.

Your walking route today from Padstow to Porthcothan is relatively easy, which means you should have enough time to stop and explore the local area along the way. There are plenty of bays and beaches, as well as two larger headlands to walk around, called Stepper Point and Trevose Head.

As you begin your walk the South West Coast Path runs inland across some fields and a wetland area, but you can also choose to walk across the beach. A few highlights that you won’t want to miss today are Pepper Hole, Butter Hole, Gunver Head, and Round Hole, all of which offer wonderful views.

When you come to Harlyn Bay, be aware that the path is nearly impassable when the tide is in. The best option if you come at high tide is to wait for a little while at the local inn, since there are no inland alternatives other than the road. At Trevose Head, you’ll cross the access road for the lighthouse and then follow the coast around several small bays until you reach your destination in Porthcothan.

Today’s scenic route from Porthcothan to Newquay is easy and full of great views. After leaving Porthcothan, you’ll soon come to a magnificent highlight of the trail, climbing the scenic Bedruthan Steps. The beach here is covered with fascinating rock stacks and the area is managed by the National Trust. There are many places along this route where you can choose between walking along sandy beaches or following the traditional South West Coast Path on the cliffs above.

As you continue, you can follow the coastal path as it passes Tolcarne Beach to Newquay. If the tide is out, you can also walk across the beach. Historically there was a town here called “Towanblistra” but when a new quay was built during the 16th Century, the port town began to prosper and was renamed Newquay. Newquay is the largest town you’ll encounter on this tour and a wide range of amenities and facilities are available. Spend the night in Newquay.

As you leave Newquay, you’ll walk around a few simple headlands just outside of town but soon reach the River Gannel. The official way to cross the river is by walking over a footbridge at low tide. There are two unofficial ways to cross as well. At high tide, there is a ferry available seasonally and at low tide it is possible to walk across the sand.

Once you’ve crossed the River Gannel, you’ll come to Crantock Beach near the town of Crantock. From here you’ll walk around a double headland, both Pentire Point West and Kelsey Head. You’ll then pass the vilalge of Holywell and at Penhale Point it is important to stay on the path so you avoid the old mine shafts in the area. At Ligger Point, the trail turns and you will descend onto the sand and cross Perran Beach. This brings you to Perranporth, which is your stop for the night.

The landscape of this area is described by many as being bleak or moody. Your walk today will clearly reflect the history of this area as a booming mining district. Often your view will be dotted with evidence of old mine shafts, engine houses, and chimneys. The area is safe but it is recommended that you stay on the marked trail.

There are a few tough climbs today, but each is rewarded with a wonderful view that makes it all worth it. Blue Hills Tin Streams is a living history museum that is well worth a stop. The mine closed in 1897 but reopened in 1975 as a museum where you can learn more about how tin ore is crushed, then washed, then smelted. After this, continue your walk around St. Agnes Head, then descend down Lighthouse Hill to your destination for today in Porthreath.

The trail from Portreath begins with some up and down climbs but it soon becomes level and you’ll enjoy an easy walk among the cliffs as you round several headlands to reach Godevry. You will not encounter many villages on today’s segment of the trail, but there are cafes available along the way for refreshments. Along the coast today you’ll notice many fascinating geological features such as rock stacks and small islands. At Godevry, you’ll see Godevry Island, which has a lighthouse.

When you come to the River Hayle Estuary, you’ll need to detour into the village of Hayle. Continue on, until you reach St. Ives, which is your destination for today.

St. Ives is situated at a natural harbor on the western end of St. Ives Bay that is well-protected by St. Ives head. While it began as a fishing port, today it is better known for its arts and crafts. Reservations for hotels and restaurants can be difficult to get here during peak season, so try to plan ahead. Spend the night in this beautiful and popular town.

Today’s walk on the SWCP offers some of the South West Coast Path’s most incredible scenery. You’ll also want to pack provisions well for today, since there are few opportunities for refreshments and these require adding a detour. With few detours inland, you will hug the cliff line today as the path wiggles and meanders around each point and headland. A few landmarks to watch for are the large granite tors near Boswednack Cliff, the Iron Age Promonotory Fort called Bosigran Castle and the ancient settlement site nearby.

When you see the lighthouse at Pendeen Watch, you’ll know you’re approaching today’s destination. Evidence of the tin-mining industry abound in Pendeen Watch, and you’ll see many engine houses, old chimneys, and winding gear. Spend the night here in Pendeen Watch.

Today you return to walking the classic cliff environment of Cornwall. Today’s route begins with rugged trail that takes you to such landmarks as Kenidjack Castle, which is a fortification from the Iron Age, and Cape Cornwall, which is one of the most popular views in Cornwall County. When you come to the small fishing village of Sennen Cove, you’ll notice that the trail becomes much easier.

Plan some time to visit the famous attractions at Land’s End, which marks the westernmost point of England. If you haven’t tired of cliff scenery yet, the easy trail between Land’s End and Porthcurno offers some incredible views. At Porthcurno you can choose to explore some unusual cultural sites, such as the cliff-edge Minack Theatre, or the Museum of Submarine Telegraphy. There is also a secret communications bunker from World War II here. Spend the night in Porthcurno.

Finish your self-guided walking tour on the SWCP today with a trail that offers a variety of conditions. The more rugged parts of the trail are spread out with long stretches of easy walking in between. When you leave Porthcurno, the path will move up onto the cliff, away from the beach, as it leads around a series of points and headlands. Enjoy walking through grassy fields and wooded areas, which are especially rare in this region. You’ll come to St. Loy’s Cove, then the Tater Du lighthouse which was built in the 1960s. On the other side of the lighthouse is Lamoma Cove.

Two special villages are also along your path today: Mousehole and Newlyn. While both of these began as fishing villages, Mousehole is currently well-known for arts and crafts. Newlyn continues to flourish in the fishing industry. From Newlyn, a short walk brings you to Penzance, which is your final destination for this tour. Penzance has an interesting history, beginning as a fishing village that was mostly destroyed by the Spanish Armada in 1595. It survived and was rebuilt into the thriving town that is there today.

Sadly, your South West Coast Path Walking Tour of the North Cornwall Coast has come to an end. Have a pleasant journey home!