Stretching for 630 miles (1,014 km) along England’s southwest peninsula, The South West Coast Path is the country’s longest National Trail, and also the location of two new seven-day self-guided walking tours from Wilderness England: St. Ives to Penzance and Penzance to Falmouth. Do just one or combine them for a full two weeks out on the spectacular Cornish coast!
Recently featured in a starring role as the setting for the film The Salt Path, starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs, the South West Coast Path is widely regarded as one of the finest long-distance trails in the world and the film beautifully captures the rawness of nature that is found here, along with the challenges of the journey, and the connection that can grow between people when interacting in, and with, nature.
Designed to be enjoyed at your own pace, both trips follow Cornwall’s stunning coastline, walking above crescents of white sand, along glittering turquoise bays, and beside sweeping, craggy cliffs. Offering a powerful sense of place, travelers are invited to explore ancient sites, charming villages, and iconic landmarks, set to the soundtrack of waves crashing against the coast. With accommodation arrangements, baggage transfers, detailed route notes, and maps all taken care of, all that’s left to do is lace up your boots and enjoy the journey.
“We’re thrilled to offer these new self-guided experiences on a trail that holds deep emotional and cultural meaning for so many,” says Matt Loveland, Wilderness England’s managing director. “The South West Coast Path is more than just a walk – it’s an immersion into the raw beauty, history, and soul of the Cornish coast.”
St. Ives to Penzance
Discover the beauty of Cornwall’s coastline on this seven-day self-guided walking trip, from the artistic charm of St. Ives to the historic harbor town of Penzance. This landscape has long inspired artists and writers, and it won’t take long for you to see why.
Highlights:
- Kick off the trip in the picturesque town of St. Ives, a bustling seaside village complete with cobbled streets, historic buildings, and small, independent shops.
- Clifftop hikes provide you with a strong sense of Cornwall’s wilder character, full of captivating scenery carved out by the winds and a powerful sense of history.
- Pass through a section of the area’s oldest mining district, including by old engine houses and Cape Cornwall, a distinctive headland where the Atlantic currents divide. Spot wildlife and take advantage of many pretty picnic spots.
- Visit Land’s End, mainland Britain’s most westerly point, before continuing along a dramatic stretch of coastline, weaving past granite headlands and deep zawns – steep, narrow inlets often filled with churning white water. Watch for seabirds and wildflowers.
- Visit the cliffside Minack Theatre, an open-air amphitheater with sweeping sea views.
Penzance to Falmouth
This particularly varied and beautiful section of the path rises over wild, grassy headlands, skims above sweeping beaches, and threads through woodlands, fields, and old fishing villages. Explore sheltered coves, crumbling ruins, and Britain’s southernmost spot, Lizard Point. Set to the soundtrack of seabirds, discover a landscape shaped by tin mining, smuggling, and shipwrecks on a trail renowned for its outstanding natural beauty.
Highlights:
- Discover the coastal town of Penzance, known for its creative spirit and distinctive charm, and home to the elegant 1930s Jubilee Pool, where a geothermally heated section offers warm saltwater bathing with sea views.
- As you being your walk, enjoy sweeping views across the tidal island of St. Michael’s Mount, home to an ancient castle, chapel, and local community.
- Enjoy one of the most scenic stretches of the Path on the walk from Porthleven to Lizard Point, where you will also come across the Loe Bar Beach, a half a mile of sand and shingle bank that separates The Loe, Cornwall’s largest natural freshwater lake, from the sea.
- Explore the Lizard National Nature Reserve, one of the UK’s top sites for rare plants, on your way to Lizard Point, the southernmost tip of mainland Britain.
- Spend a night in the quiet coastal village of Coverack, once a hub for smuggling, and now a peaceful spot with a working harbor and lovely views.
- Take a river boat across a beautiful estuary – this is reported to be the oldest ferry crossing in Britain and offers a great opportunity to see local fauna.
