Route One - The majestic South West Coast Path

The path leaves Lelant Church and follows the coastal path to St Ives. St Ives has a wide variety of options for an early lunch, snacks or an ice cream before the real walking begins. The coast path from St Ives to Zennor is one of the most challenging and remote sections of the whole South West Coast path, offering some amazing scenery. From Zennor Head we walk into the Hamlet of Zennor. Today’s walking is tough going with some steep climbs, rough and rocky paths and one section which might require hands on rock! The views and setting more than make up for the effort!

We leave the hamlet of Zennor and travel back out to the coastal path heading towards Gurnards Head, a rocky promontory pushing out into the sea. From there we continue on, passing the famous rock climbing area of Bosigran, to reach the secluded beach at Portheras Cove. Next we pass the lighthouse standing guard at Pendeen Watch and start to enter an area transformed by tin mining. We soon pass Geevor tin mine and the National Trust site of Levant, which still houses a working steam pump. From Levant the path reaches Botallack with its ruined Mine Engine Houses, modern winding gear and the impressive site of the Crown Mines buildings which are internationally famous. This is another day of tough walking but from Pendeen Watch on the path starts to level out!

We leave the car park at Botallack and continue on through ruined mine buildings, passing West Wheal Owles made famous by the recent BBC TV series Poldark. We descend into the Kenidjack Valley and then climb back up to reach Cape Cornwall. From the Cape is a further climb to Carn Gloose, then back down into the Cot Valley, another area of heavy historical mining. We continue on passing the beautiful beaches of Gwynver and Sennen before reaching Lands End. Leaving the crowds behind the coast path continues it rollercoaster ride across glorious cliff tops, eventually passing Nanjizal beach and the intriguing navigational day markers on Gwennap Head, to reach our destination of Porthgwarra. Another day of ascent and descent but a little easier than the previous two!

We leave Porthgwarra and pass a number of beautiful beaches, including Porth Chapel, Porthcurno and Pedn Vounder. At Porthcurno we pass close to the world famous Minack Theatre, then the rocky promontory of Logan Rock which is an excellent place to see Basking Sharks in summer, before we head down into Penberth Cove, another location used for Poldark. The path continues across large circular stones at St Loys, climbs a large flight of steps and continues on passing Tater-du lighthouse and the picturesque Lamorna Cove, before reaching Mousehole. There are several sections today where the path comes close to the edge and its another day of climbing and descending and can be somewhat overgrown in Summer!

The walking today is far easier and more urban, predominantly on tarmacked paths and cycleways. At this stage our legs will be pleased to have a rest! We leave Mousehole and head through the fishing port of Newlyn before walking along Penzance Promenade, following the seafront. The path continues behind the railway line from London and follows a cycle path all the way to Marazion and our finishing point of St Michaels Mount.