The Lizard to Par
7 Nights accommodation with 6 Days Walking
Total Distance: 70 miles
Average Daily Distances: 11.5 miles
Prices from £449 per person based on 2 people sharing a double/twin room
Lizard to Coverack 10 miles (16km)
A walk through an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty awaits as you set off from the most southerly point of Great Britain. There are a few relatively short steep ascents and descents as you leave Lizard Point, followed by some more strenuous climbs, until you pass Cadgwith and begin the approach to Coverack, which is a lot easier. You will see some extraordinary geology along this stretch as the Path crosses serpentine, granite and schist. Kennack Sands, once famous for shipwrecks, is a National Nature Reserve with beautiful cliffs of layered rock, with veins of talc, and lovely displays of wildflowers. A steep climb up to join the seabirds around Beagles Point marks the beginning of a stretch with particularly far-reaching views of the Coast Path ahead. You may also be rewarded with a glimpse of a whale from Black Head.
Coverack to Helford 13 miles (21km)
his walk follows the South West Coast Path through a huge variety of different landscapes, involving dramatic cliffs, fishing villages by the sea, lush woodland, beaches, heathland, a working quarry, pastures and a creek crossing. As you leave Coverack the Path crosses fairly flat heathland which is not much above sea level, as this is in fact a raised beach and the original cliffs are a few hundred yards inland. Easy walking leads you around the edge of the Bronze Age field systems of Lowland Point. It is important to follow the signs from here as you will be passing through active quarry workings between Lowland Point and Dean Point. A steep climb out of Porthoustock begins the inland route to Porthallow, where you then join the sea again and walk round Nare Point to the beautiful Gillan Creek. At Gillan Creek there is a feeling of shelter and peace in contrast to the exposed cliffs of The Lizard Peninsula. From here on some sections of the Path are wooded and others offer fine views ahead extending to the lighthouse at St. Anthony Head, the Roseland and the headland of Dodman Point.
Helford to Falmouth 10 miles (16km)
The day begins with a journey across the Helford River, once favoured by pirates and smugglers. The river supports many different types of fish, birds and plantlife and at the other side you will cross the openings of lush valleys with subtropical gardens. After the river crossing, the journey consists of fairly gentle, easy walking through fields and along wooded clifftop paths, passing many attractive little coves, offering fantastic views across the Fal to St Anthony Lighthouse and Zone Point. Exhilarating views from Pendennis Castle await after passing the Swanpool Nature Reserve. There is much to see in Falmouth including the The Killigrew Monument, the red brick chimney known as the King or Queen’s Pipe, which was used to burn confiscated contraband tobacco, and the beautifully restored Arwenack House, the former 14th century manor house of the Killigrew family who were the original town planners of Falmouth.
Falmouth to Portloe. 14 miles (22.5km)
Leaving Falmouth harbour, reputed to be the third largest natural harbour in the world and once the second busiest port of the British Empire, you set off across the Fal to another of Cornwall’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty: The Roseland Peninsula. The second ferry from St Mawes to Place only operates from Good Friday until the end of October so please ask us about alternative arrangements if required. There are magnificent views back to Falmouth and the River Fal from the windswept stretches around Carricknath Point and St Anthony Head. The Path offers fairly easy walking until the approach to Nare Head and Portloe beyond, where you will find several steep ascents and descents and walking becomes a lot more strenuous. The Path twists and plummets in places through wooded areas and across high open fields until the welcome descent into Portloe.
Portloe to Mevagissey. 12 miles (19.5km)
A bit of a clamber across rocks along a rather rugged Path out of Portloe eases around the more pastoral landscape of Caerhays Castle, before becoming tougher again on the approach to Hemmick Beach.
From here the high cliffs to the windswept, 375 foot headland of Dodman Point looms ahead. Views from here are fantastic, especially on a clear day when you may even be able to make out Berry Head in Devon. The landscape of the Path varies between a mixture of wild scrub and soft pastures and some road walking around Gorran Haven. The Path then really opens up on the approach to Chapel Point and walking is easy with rewarding views in all directions. Mevagissey, with its double walled harbour, is a busy fishing port and offers a good range of refreshments after a day of walking the South West Coast Path.
Mevagissey to Par. 11 miles (18km)
The day begins in the fishing town of Mevagissey, but try not to spend too long wandering the streets and waterfront as a Path of roller coaster climbs awaits! High cliffs pass rocky coves between Pentewan and Charlestown produces dramatic scenery, but tiring walking. The inland china clay works around St Austell come in and out of view. The clay industry boomed in the 19th century, resulting in the formation of the ‘Cornish Alps’, and continues today with 80% used to make paper. There are many steps to climb along this stretch as the Path continues to rise and fall past Phoebe’s Point and Silvermine Point. Charlestown, with its beautiful historic harbour and quay, provides a welcome spot for rest and refreshment before the final stretch of the journey to Par. A diversion around china clay works at Par, where the 19th century docks still serve to export china clay, leads you to the pubs and cafes and large expanse of beach at Par Sands.
Please send an enquiry to Budget Walking for further details giving sufficient information for us to asses your requirements.
