Start: St Ives
Finish: Zennor

 

Distance: 7 miles
Time walking: 4 hours excluding breaks

 

Difficulty: Quite difficult. The distance is short but there are several steep hills and rocky sections.

 

Highlights: The Barbara Hepworth museum in St Ives, Porthmeor beach (and cafe), the view from Clodgy Point, Zennor Head and the mermaid chair in Zennor Church.

 

This is a walk through the emptiest and most isolated section of coast along the entire Southwest coast path. It is a granite-strewn and harsh landscape on the very edge of the West Cornwall moors. Jagged cliffs and rocky outcrops are incised by zawns (narrow coves) and inland barren hill tops keep watch over the wild seas.

 

Like all westward bound St Ives walking holidays, almost immediately after leaving busy cobbled streets, the path runs into rocky ground and a sense of wilderness prevails. It is difficult going for large sections, but there is no hurry in this land where time seems to have stood still.

 

This is the beginning of the isolated Lands End Peninsula and it is important to remember that long sections of the coastline are inaccessible and offer no refreshments or relief once you are underway.

 

The sea views are fantastic and high headlands are separated by the narrowest of coves cut out by the often violent waves.

Start Point: Zennor
Finish Point: St Just/Cape Cornwall

 

Distance: 11.5 miles
Time walking: 5 hours excluding breaks

Difficulty: Moderate to difficult. Although there are few serious hills, the path is often narrow and up to Morvah, is littered with rocks, making the going much slower.

 

Highlights: Bosigran cliffs, Portherras Beach, Pendeen Watch lighthouse, Geevor tin mine at Pendeen (underground tour of the mine workings), the Crowns Mines at Botallack.

 

The Penwith moors run right up the cliffs in this rugged landscape. The ground is strewn with granite rocks that appear to have tumbled down from the mighty hill tops looming just inland, although legend states that they were thrown there by the giants that once roamed this wild terrain. Indeed this entire region is crowded with myths and legends of small folk and giants, devils and mermaids and it is often a fine line between history and mystery in these parts.

 

Much of the path takes you away from the cliff edge, although on the occasions that the two meet, the views are great. Gurnards Head sticks far out in to the sea, confirming its selection for the cliff top castle that once kept guard there. Likewise the giddy heights of Bosigran and Brandys are superb.

 

It is a day that improves with distance and after a relatively uninspiring stretch, the path takes us to the beautiful Portherras beach; golden sands, heaving waves and only ever a thin scattering of beach goers.

Start Point: St Just/Cape Cornwall
Finish Point: Porthcurno

 

Distance: 11.5 miles
Time walking: 5 hours 30 minutes excluding breaks

Difficulty: Moderate with a little bit of scrambling required in one or two places.

 

Highlights: The raised beach and 'dinosaur egg' rocks at the Cot Valley, surfing at Sennen Cove, the sea arches around Lands End, the view from across to Treen headland and the Minack Theatre. To watch a performance on a summer’s night at the open air Minack Theatre is a magical experience.

 

Continuing along the West coast, the walk heads round Lands End and on to the spectacular southwest coastline. High empty cliff tops with only a sparse covering of low grass and hardy gorse give way to open bays and sheltered valleys on the south coast; green and luxuriant in an otherwise rugged landscape.

 

The waters are the clearest you will find in Cornwall and the few beaches en route are just as spectacular. Porthcurno and Porthchapel are real gems and worth stopping off in. It is a common part of the coast to observe seals and basking sharks (summer time only) so keep your eyes open.

 

Well known spots such as the outdoor Minack Theatre and Lands End are surpassed by the natural beauty and it is no wonder that many retired authors and artists choose to make this region their home.

Start Point: Porthcurno
Finish Point: Penzance

 

Distance: 11.5 miles
Time walking: 5 hours 30 minutes excluding breaks

 

Difficulty: Varied. Initially there are two serious climbs but the path is typically moderate and becomes easy from Mousehole on to Penzance.

 

Highlights: Lamorna Cove, Mousehole harbour (and the restaurants), Newlyn Harbour and Chapel Street in Penzance.

 

Navigating a grand part of Mounts Bay, this section of coast is divided between the empty wooded south coast valleys and the towns and harbours of Newlyn, Penzance and Marazion.

 

The rocky sea line between Lamorna and Mousehole is lovely and the last section of open countryside until the next day. 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.

 

Passing by Newlyn harbour and into Penzance, the land is increasingly urbanized. This can be a shock after the empty cliff tops of previous days but also a welcome break if you want to see a little life and explore the sights of Penzance and Marazion.

Start Point: Penzance
Finish Point: Porthleven

 

Distance: 14 miles
Time walking: 6 hours 30 minutes excluding breaks

 

Difficulty: One third easy, one third moderate and the last third has some difficult sections

 

Highlights: St Michael's Mount and Marazion, Praa Sands beach, Prussia Cove and the beautiful Loe Bar just outside Porthleven (this is Cornwall's largest fresh water lake and a lovely place to relax).

 

Leaving behind the streets and harbours of Mounts Bay, the coast path follows the gently sloping and rocky shoreline of the south coast. In contrast to the granite cliffs found further west, there are slates and shingles twisted into fantastic shapes and smoothed by millennia of waves.

 

Sloping cauliflower fields run down to the cliff edge and sheltered coves protect shingle beaches. Approaching Porthleven the landscape becomes wilder, the cliffs higher and the coves narrower. The sheltered waters of Mounts Bay become ever more prone to storms and the paths increasingly empty.

 

Porthleven weaves temptingly in and out of view and often appears a lot closer than it is. Finally however, the path drops down into this lovely harbour town.