Route Two - Historic pathways and ancient ruins

Today’s route starts off in Sennen Cove with it’s beautiful beach of white sand. We follow the Coastal path, passing the stunning Gwynver beach, continue on through Nanjulian, Cot Valley and then climb up onto Carn Gloose for amazing views down onto Cape Cornwall. The walk continues through heavily mined areas which have World Heritage status, passing Botallack, with its famous Crown Mines buildings set into the cliff, Levant, with it’s working steam pumping engine, and Geevor, which is now a mining museum offering underground tours. The walk has numerous climbs and descents, including one area that might need hands on rocks, but is mostly a moderate day’s walking.

Today’s walk starts at Cape Cornwall and follows one possible route of the old ‘Tinners Way’, a track possibly used since the Bronze Age. It was heavily used in the 18th and 19th Century to transport Tin ore and supplies between areas like Pendeen and Botallack to the harbour in Hayle. It is packed with ancient sites full of history, passing Tregeseal Stone Circle, Chun Quoit and Chun Castle to name a few! The route uses ancient lanes to access the open moor and reaches the highest point in West Cornwall, near to the end of the walk on Watch Croft at 826ft. The walking follows footpaths, bridleways and quiet lanes, and although there are a number of assents and descents it is mostly a moderate walk.

The route picks up where we ended yesterday and continues across the moors visiting more ancient sites. Today we pass the famous Men an Tol holed stone, the Men Scryfa inscribed stone, Nine Maidens Stone Circle, the ancient settlement at Bodrifty, Mulfra Quoit and Zennor Quoit before dropping down off the high moors, passing Towednack Church and climbing over Rosewall Hill. From the top of Rosewall is a stunning view across to St Ives. We cross the coast road and head over Little Trevalgan, then follow paths through Trowan, continuing on to follow footpaths into the bustling town of St Ives. The walking follows footpaths, Bridleways and quiet lanes, and, although there are a number of ascents and descents, it is mostly a moderate walk.

From the church at Lelant the Saint Michaels Way initially uses the South West Coast Path to pass through Carbis Bay before heading inland to Knills Monument. It follows footpaths, bridleways and quiet lanes all the way to Marazion. With a lunch stop on the top of Trencrom Hill we pass through the village of Ludgvan and then the RSPB reserve at Marazion Marshes to reach the causeway to St Michaels Mount. The Saint Michaels Way is associated with the Santiago de Compostela, a pilgrimage route, and a passport is available to stamp along the route. The route uses a mixture of footpaths, bridleways and quiet lanes through countryside used for farming, and is a mostly moderate walk.

Leaving Sennen Cove we head across Mayon Cliff for the iconic site of Lands End. From Lands End the crowds are soon left behind and we head out across open cliff tops with stunning exposed boulders carved by the wind. We pass the beautiful Nanjizal beach and up over Gwennap Head with its brightly painted navigational day markers and Coastwatch station to reach Porthgwarra. 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 whilst filming Poldark.