Picture yourself striding out along the dramatic Cornish coast, taking in fantastic panoramas and the delightful scent of the salty ocean, and you’ll soon realise there is nowhere quite like this south-western county when it comes to walking holidays.
With the South West Coast Path looping around Cornwall’s entire coastline, you’ll be spoilt for choice! We’ve put together what we consider to be some of the best coastal walks in Cornwall, so you can quickly and easily pick your favourite before you travel.
Begin planning your trails by reading through our selection of coast path walks in Cornwall below or head straight over to our holiday cottages in Cornwall and book yourself a wonderful South West retreat.
Cornwall coastal cottages
The Lizard coastal walk
Best for a nature walk
This peninsula is a local favourite with walkers, known for its rare wildflowers and rugged cliffs. Follow this National Trust coastal walk in Cornwall for a day out seeing the best of the South West Coast Path. The National Trust has lots of beautiful spaces in Cornwall for you to explore but this is one of our favourites for its remote atmosphere and secret coves; the serene shoreline of Kynance Cove is certainly worth a visit. Step out on this National Trust walk for an excellent view and natural beauty.
Start and end: Kynance Cove
Distance: 7 miles
Difficulty: Challenging
Facilities: Kynance Cove has a café, car park and toilets. You’ll pass through the village of Lizard during your walk which has great places to eat and a post office.
Stay nearby: Woodpeckers Cottage, Mullion Cove | Sleeps: 2 guests
Cottages on The Lizard
Perranporth to Trevellas Circular Walk
Best walk for Cornish ruins
If you’re keen to try a Perranporth walk in Cornwall – it’s a particularly stunning corner of the country, after all – then roam along this Perranporth to Trevellas Circular Walk. Quite possibly one of the best beach walks in Cornwall, Perranporth Beach is a sandy stretch of coast in North Cornwall with cliff stacks and cafes, as well as plenty of things to do to enjoy after you’ve discovered every inch of this circular coastal trail.
Start and end: Perranporth
Distance: 5.4 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Facilities: Perranporth is a town bursting with facilities from places to eat out to shops where you can pick up supplies to take back to your cottage after your coastal adventure.
Stay at: Colmans Cottage, Perranporth | Sleeps: 2 guests
Perranporth cottages
St Just in Roseland to St Mawes
Best walk for views of Falmouth Harbour
Anyone who enjoys soaking up the sights of the classic English countryside will enjoy this circular walk in Cornwall from St Just in Roseland to St Mawes. These two destinations sit on the tranquil Roseland Peninsula from which you can take in views of Falmouth just across the estuary from St Mawes and watch boats and yachts bob about in the water. End your seaside stroll with a visit to English Heritage-managed St Mawes Castle.
Start and end: St Just in Roseland to St Mawes
Distance: 6.1 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Facilities: St Just in Roseland has a delightful tea room where you could pick up a traditional Cornish cream tea, while along the waterfront in St Mawes there are shops and cafes, and there are even gardens to the west of the village you may like to visit.
Stay at: Ros Creek Cottage | Sleeps: 6 guests + 2 dogs
St Mawes cottages
Gorran Haven to Mevagissey
Best lesser-known walk in Cornwall
After a day out and about, a tasty pub lunch is well earned and the wonderful Harbour Tavern, Mevagissey, is a delightful place for a pint while taking in views of this fishing village’s pretty harbour. Discover the sandy shores of Great Perhaver Beach in Gorran Haven and soak up the coastal vistas from Chapel Point to the south of St Austell Bay. This walk from Gorran Haven to Mevagissey is magical.
Start and end: Gorran Haven Beach to Mevagissey
Distance: 3.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Facilities: There are a couple of cafes and a chip shop in Gorran Haven, as well as two beautiful beaches, while Mevagissey has plenty of pubs and shops. Mevagissey Harbour is a highlight while the renowned Lost Gardens of Heligan attraction is just 3 miles outside of the village.
Stay at: Mevagissey Quayside Cottage, Mevagissey | Sleeps: 4 guests
Mevagissey cottages
Whitsand Bay Circular Walk
Best walk for wide sea views
Take the long trail or choose the shortcut during your stroll along this National Trust coast walk in South Cornwall; it’s less than 20 miles from the city of Plymouth so you could enjoy peaceful coastal trails and city days out in this region. Whitsand Bay is a bit of a hidden gem with important wildlife habitats including wetlands and a natural reservoir to see. The beach itself offers 3 miles of sand with rock pools dotted about the beach and some fantastic surf.
Start and end: Freathy Farmers Field Car Park
Distance: 6.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Facilities: There are few facilities in Freathy and Whitsand Bay, although over in Millbrook (2.5 miles) there are cosy pubs and shops you can stop by.
Stay at: Laburnham, Whitsand Bay | Sleeps: 2 guests + 2 dogs
Whitsand Bay cottages
Trewarmett to Tregardock
Best walk for waterfalls
Get away from the crowds by exploring Trebewith Valley along this circular walk in Cornwall and come across beautiful natural spaces as you meander through the countryside and along the coast. Tregardock Beach Waterfall is a spectacular sight at the end of this trail where water tumbles over the mouth of a cave and down onto the sandy beach below, a real treasure for explorers and photographers.
Start and end: A car park and old slate quarry called Jeffrey’s Pit.
Distance: 5.9 miles
Difficulty: Moderate/Challenging
Facilities: There’s a pub nearby, while more facilities can be found 2 miles away at Tintagel village.
Stay at: Lamorna Cottage, Delabole | Sleeps: 4 guests + 1 dog
Delabole cottages
Rinsey Walk
Best for a short cliff top walk
Uncover Cornwall’s rich mining heritage on this National Trust coast walk with three old engine houses with World Heritage Site status to see on your visit. You may also glimpse a range of wildlife as you follow this circular walk in Cornwall, such as ponies, choughs and even dolphins out in the water.
Start and end: Rinsey Car Park
Distance: 1 mile
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Facilities: There are limited facilities in Rinsey; we’d recommend stopping at Praa Sands or Porthleven (both 3 miles) to pick up supplies.
Stay at: 2 The Chapel, Praa Sands | Sleeps: 4 guests
Praa Sands cottages
Hawkers Cove to Stepper Point
Best trail for wheelchair users
If you are travelling with a wheelchair or have limited mobility, this fantastic walk in North Cornwall offers breathtaking views out to sea and of the Camel Estuary. The South West Coast Path passes through here with uneven terrain but you can also take your pick of two other fairly smooth, firm paths from the peaceful hamlet of Lellizzick out to magnificent Stepper Point.
Start and end: Lellizzick to Stepper Point
Distance: 2 miles
Difficulty: Easy/Accessible
Facilities: There’s a tea room in Lellizzick but we’d recommend heading into Padstow (3 miles) for more facilities.
Stay at: Padstow - Treetops, Padstow | Sleeps: 2 guests + 1 dog
Padstow cottages
Godrevy to Hell’s Mouth coastal walk
Best walk for lighthouse views
Godrevy Point in St Ives Bay is a beautiful destination year-round but it becomes even more magical in winter. With the crowds long gone and the early morning frost glistening across the landscape, wrap up warm to discover one of the best St Ives beaches and make your way through the dunes up to cliff tops for unforgettable views of a lighthouse, seal haulouts, and St Ives on this Cornish coastal walk. On reaching Hell's Mouth, you’ll get to see the full force of the waves that have wrecked many ships over the centuries.
Start and end: Godrevy National Trust Car Park
Distance: 5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Facilities: There are two beaches and plenty of places to eat at Godrevy, while there’s one stylish kitchen/bar over by Hell’s Mouth. The cultural hub of St Ives is 12 miles away while Camborne is 6 miles.
Stay at: Sea Esta, Hayle | Sleeps: 6 guests + 1 dog
St Ives cottages
Tintagel Walk
The walk best for castles
Kids will be in awe of this ancient castle filled with tales of King Arthur and Merlin, and you can even climb down to the small beach below the fortress at low tide to see if you can spot Merlin in his cave. Pop into Tintagel village after exploring this legendary location for a bite and to discuss this impressive and ancient family attraction. This walk is one of the very best coastal walks in Cornwall.
Start and end: Tintagel Forestreet
Distance: 1 mile
Difficulty: Moderate (if you decide to pop down to the beach, the steps are pretty steep!)
Facilities: There are car parks, shops and pubs in Tintagel village.
Stay at: The Old Borough House, Tintagel | Sleeps: 8 guests + 2 dogs
Tintagel cottages
Discover these coastal walks in Cornwall on a map:
Need more inspiration?
Explore more places to go and things to do while in Cornwall in our selection of guides. From sandy beaches to impressive walks, you're sure to have a fantastic time in this South West landscape.
Stay with us in Cornwall
There’s so much to see and do all around this beautiful county renowned for its impressive coast; you’ll soon the perfect route for you on your break. Whether you choose to follow one of our routes in this blog or strike out on your own along the coastal path to see where it takes you, Cornwall will amaze with its unbeatable scenery.
Find a holiday cottage in Cornwall by the coast so you can go walking along the South West Coast Path whenever the mood takes you; we have a wonderful collection for you to browse through.
Cornwall coastal cottages
