The Cornwall section of the South West Coast Path offers one of England’s most iconic walking holidays — a 300-mile adventure of dramatic cliffs, fishing harbours, rolling countryside, and ever-changing sea views. Stretching from Marsland Mouth near Bude to Plymouth via Land’s End and Lizard Point, this is outdoor adventure at its most elemental. Along the way, you’ll pass through destinations like St Ives, Padstow, and Fowey, and walk famous stretches such as St Ives to Zennor.
One moment you’re perched on a cliff edge above crashing waves; the next, you’re dipping into a wooded cove or arriving in a harbour town for crab sandwiches and a pint. It’s a route of salt spray, granite cliffs, and coastal solitude — and a challenge worth every step.
Begin on the north coast near Bude, where steep cliffs and roaring surf set the tone. From here, the path winds through Boscastle, Tintagel, and Port Isaac — a dramatic landscape of sea stacks, hidden bays, and smuggler legends.
Further west, St Ives to Zennor offers one of the trail’s most rugged and scenic stretches, while Land’s End and the Lizard Peninsula showcase wild headlands, maritime heath, and turquoise coves.
The southern coast softens, with the path tracing river estuaries and wooded creeks past Falmouth, Mevagissey, and Looe — eventually finishing on the banks of the Tamar near Plymouth.
The South West Coast Path is ideal for self-guided walking holidays, with accommodation in every style: sea-view cottages, coastal B&Bs, and welcoming pubs right on the trail. Stay in scenic hotspots like St Ives, Padstow, or Fowey, or pick a quieter stretch for a deeper sense of escape.
Off the path, explore subtropical gardens, historic mine sites, or take boat trips to seal colonies and sea caves. Spring is a riot of wildflowers; autumn brings golden light and empty trails.
