Padstow to St Ives
7 Nights accommodation with 6 Days Walking
Total Distance: 67 miles Average Daily Distance: 9.5 miles
Prices from £449 per person
Padstow to Porthcothan. 14 miles (22km)
This section of Coast Path offers a day of easy walking along low cliffs, with beautiful, tempting beaches below. The Path leaves the attractive town of Padstow behind, passing the sheltered beach of Hawker's Cove, before leading you out to the Atlantic Coast. The Path can become narrow in places and is quite rocky around Constantine Bay. Walking round Trevose Head, one of Cornwall's most prominent headlands provides spectacular views of the sandy bays ahead and if you can resist the beaches on your journey you will have more time to enjoy the sheltered dune-backed beach of Porthcothan at the end of your walk.
Porthcothan to Newquay. 10 miles (16km)
This stretch of coast, with it's vicious rocks and wild seas, was once particularly hazardous for ships and responsible for many wrecks before the lighthouse was built at Trevose Head. The Coast Path leads you in and out of little coves and headlands with generally fairly easy walking, with some steep steps to climb in places.
This stretch can be quite populated, especially as you approach the busy holiday resort of Newquay, however you can also feel a sense of escape when looking out to sea from one of the many headlands, such as the windswept Park Head which also offers fantastic views of the famous Bedruthan Steps. Local legend, fed to the Victorian tourists who loved this area, told of the Cornish giant Bedruthan who used the stacks as stepping-stones to cross the bay.
If you feel like a picnic break and the tide is out, you may be tempted to take the long flight of steps down to explore the stacks as well as the many pools and caves on the beach.
Newquay to Perranporth. 13 miles (20km)
After leaving Newquay harbour, keeping a lookout for the Kittiwake colony on the cliffs out to Towan Head, the Path crosses the famous Fistral Beach.
The route across the River Gannel varies depending on season, tide and weather conditions and therefore you will need to plan ahead. Either way there is plenty to see, including beautiful salt marsh plants and many species of wading birds enjoying the worms and crabs.
The West Pentire headland is a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its breathtaking seasonal wildflowers such as the June poppies and corn marigold flowers in the arable fields overlooking Crantock Beach. Fantastic views of the seabirds around the offshore twin pyramids of Carter's Rocks await around the next headland as you approach the dunes of Holywell and Perran Sands.
It is important to follow signs around Perran Bay as you will be passing Ministry of Defence land. Walking across the dunes can be very tiring, but if the tide is right out you can walk to Perranporth across the beach.
Perranporth to Potreath. 12 miles (20km)
Leave the bustling seaside resort of Perranporth behind as the Path passes through an ancient coastal mining district following rugged cliff tops.
The mines along this stretch are home to bats, including the rare Greater Horseshoe bat.
Not only do you pass many remnants of the mining industry, but you will also see some fascinating geology along the way, especially around Cligga Head.
The Path can prove difficult in places with some tiring ascents and descents, but there are also some more restful sections with level walking above high, sheer cliffs and fantastic views of your journey ahead. Look out for razorbills, guillemots and kittiwakes nesting around St Agnes Head.
Portreath to Hayle. 12 miles (19km)
After leaving Portreath the Coast Path follows the cliffs with some beautiful views of rocky coves, such as the wonderfully named Ralph's Cupboard, apparently a favoured smugglers spot for stashing loot.
After just a couple of steep climbs the Path soon levels and walking becomes fairly straightforward. As you follow the sheer cliffs, surrounded by brightly coloured spring and summertime flowers, such as blue sheep's bit, primroses and yellow rattle, look down to the contrastingly raw, jagged reefs below. Seals are a common sight around the waters of Godrevy and Gwithian and sunfish and basking sharks have been spotted from the North Cliffs. The dunes behind the spectacular beach which stretches from Godrevy Point to the entrance of the Hayle estuary are also rich with wildlife.
Hayle to St Ives. 6 miles (10km)
The route from Britain's oldest swing bridge leads you along roads following the Hayle estuary. You are able to take small detours in places in order to reach the muddy flats which are home to many different species of birdlife. Hayle was once the most important industrial port in Cornwall and a centre of copper mining and smelting.
The Path also follows part of the ancient pilgrim route called St Michael's Way which led pilgrims across Cornwall from Lelant to Marazion, near Penzance, where they would then travel on to the Cathedral of St James in Santiago de Compostela in North West Spain. Follow the railway line to St Ives, passing Carbis Bay and passing through the wooded outskirts of the town before arriving at the large, sheltered expanse of golden sand that is Porthminster Beach.
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