Penzance to Falmouth
6 Nights accommodation with 5 Days Walking Total Distance: 61 miles
Average Daily Distances: 12 miles
Prices from £399 per person based on 2 people sharing a double/twin room
Penzance to Porthleven. 14 miles (22.5km)
Much of this walk through an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty offers fantastic views of Mounts Bay and the magical island and castle of St Michael’s Mount. Fairly easy, level walking allows time to enjoy the views, until the Path begins to narrow and roller coaster over the cliffs up to and beyond Praa Sands. Travelling through a landscape with clear evidence of a mining history, especially around Perranuthnoe, the Path passes tempting sandy beaches, followed by rugged scenery beyond Rinsey Head where there are some tiring climbs. The granite then turns to slate resulting in dramatic vertical cliffs. The stretch on the approach to the pretty fishing village of Porthleven is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Porthleven to the Lizard. 14 miles (22.5km)
This stretch of the South West Coast Path is, without a doubt, unique and exceptionally beautiful. The Path is fairly level and easy beyond Porthleven, but then becomes narrow in places with some steep ascents and descents. There is a special sense of wildness and isolation on the Peninsula, notably along Mullion and Predannack Cliffs, which are part of the Lizard National Nature Reserve. Here rare heathers and wildflowers grow, adding to the colour and drama of the spectacular views. It is no surprise that the white sand and turquoise sea of Kynance Cove has been recognised as being part of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the seas are particularly dramatic at high tide, and even more so on a windy day. The Lizard Peninsula is also known for its banks of pink and yellow flowered Hottentot's Fig and its serpentine granite, which is a dark green rock veined with red and white, and, of course, the symbol of Cornwall: the chough.
Lizard to Coverack 10 miles (17km)
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)
This 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
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