Coastal walks in Cornwall

Coastal walks in Cornwall

Enjoy the walks by being guided by the app

Phone showing walk for purchase
Download the app and use it to explore the walks and to purchase a guided route.
Phone showing Google navigation to start of walk
The app will direct you to the start of the walk via satnav.
Hand holding a phone showing the iWalk Cornwall app
The app guides you around the walk using GPS, removing any worries about getting lost.
Phone showing walk directions page in the iWalk Cornwall app
The walk route is described with detailed, regularly-updated, hand-written directions.
Person looking a directions on phone
Each time there is a new direction to follow, the app will beep to remind you, and will warn you if you go off-route.
Phone showing walk map page in the iWalk Cornwall app
A map shows the route, where you are at all times and even which way you are facing.
Phone showing facts section in iWalk Cornwall app
Each walk is packed with information about the history and nature along the route, from over a decade of research than spans more than 3,000 topics.
Person looking at phone with cliff scenery in background
Once a walk is downloaded, the app doesn't need a phone or wifi signal during the walk.
Phone showing walk stats in the iWalk Cornwall app
The app counts down distance to the next direction and estimates time remaining based on your personal walking speed.
Person repairing footpath sign
We keep the directions continually updated for changes to the paths/landmarks - the price for a walk includes ongoing free updates.

These walks all feature the Cornish coast path as part of the circular route. Since the coast in Cornwall is usually rugged, walking speed along the coastal path will generally be slower than the inland footpaths, so take your time and enjoy the coastal scenery as the return route will generally be relatively quick.

  • 1.9 miles/3 km - Easy

    Park Head and Pentire Steps

    Pentire Steps

    Park Head and Pentire Steps

    1.9 miles/3 km - Easy

    A circular walk on Park Head, used as one of the filming locations in the Poldark BBC TV series and with spectacular views over Bedruthan Steps and the Trescore Islands.

  • 2 miles/3.2 km - Easy

    Trevose Head (short version)

    Trevose Lighthouse

    Trevose Head (short version)

    2 miles/3.2 km - Easy

    A circular walk around the rugged coastline of Trevose Head via the iconic lighthouse and golden sandy beach at Mother Ivey's Bay, with spectacular wildflowers in spring and summer and thundering waves in winter that sometimes expose the shipwreck at Booby's Bay.

  • 2.7 miles/4.3 km - Easy

    Hayle and The Towans

    Gardens at Hayle

    Hayle and The Towans

    2.7 miles/4.3 km - Easy

    A circular walk on the Towans at Hayle, where Cornwall's beam engines were cast using sand from a prehistoric lagoon when West Penwith was an island.

  • 3.4 miles/5.5 km - Easy

    Botallack Head and Levant Mine

    Crown Mines

    Botallack Head and Levant Mine

    3.4 miles/5.5 km - Easy

    A circular walk around Cornwall's most iconic mining remains, used for the filming of the BBC's Poldark series

  • 3.5 miles/5.6 km - Easy

    Bude to Northcott Mouth

    Northcott Mouth

    Bude to Northcott Mouth

    3.5 miles/5.6 km - Easy

    A circular walk past the historic Sea Pool to Crooklets beach and along Maer cliff to the beach at Northcott Mouth, where the shipwreck of the SS Belem is exposed at low tide.

  • 3.5 miles/5.6 km - Easy

    Par and Tywardreath

    Path through Tywardreath marshes

    Par and Tywardreath

    3.5 miles/5.6 km - Easy

    A circular walk at Tywardreath where a mediaeval Priory was based and Par where much of the route was once a tidal creek and a wetland nature reserve has been created on some of the reclaimed land.

  • 3.7 miles/6 km - Easy

    Polzeath to St Enodoc Church

    St Enodoc Church

    Polzeath to St Enodoc Church

    3.7 miles/6 km - Easy

    A circular walk along the coast from Polzeath past a number of small coves to the vast sandy beach at Daymer Bay, returning through the dunes past St Enodoc Church which was once so deeply buried in the sand that entrance for services was through the roof.

  • 3.9 miles/6.3 km - Easy

    Bude Canal and Coast

    Bude Canal

    Bude Canal and Coast

    3.9 miles/6.3 km - Easy

    A figure-of-8 walk at Bude where the demand for lime-rich sand could not even be met by a reported 4000 horses a day, and so a 35-mile canal was built to transport it to the Tamar Valley.

  • 2.2 miles/3.6 km - Easy-moderate

    West Pentire and Polly Joke

    Poppy fields at West Pentire

    West Pentire and Polly Joke

    2.2 miles/3.6 km - Easy-moderate

    A circular walk through the poppy fields of West Pentire to Polly Joke beach, returning over the headland to the pub that was a cowshed until the mid-20th Century.

  • 2.3 miles/3.7 km - Easy-moderate

    Crantock

    The Gannel Estuary

    Crantock

    2.3 miles/3.7 km - Easy-moderate

    A circular walk along the Gannel Estuary from Crantock Beach to Penpol Creek, returning though the village of Crantock.

  • 2.4 miles/3.8 km - Easy-moderate

    Gwithian and Upton Towans

    Gwithian Towans

    Gwithian and Upton Towans

    2.4 miles/3.8 km - Easy-moderate

    A circular walk around the nature reserve in the sand dunes that was once the National Explosives Works where girls manufactured dynamite from nitroglycerine.

  • 2.4 miles/3.9 km - Easy-moderate

    Tintagel, Church and Castle

    Tintagel Castle

    Tintagel, Church and Castle

    2.4 miles/3.9 km - Easy-moderate

    A short circular walk exploring some of the historic sites in Tintagel including King Arthur's Castle and Merlin's Cave, the Old Post Office, and the ancient parish church on the cliffs.

  • 2.5 miles/4 km - Easy-moderate

    Stepper Point and the Doom Bar

    The Pepper Pot

    Stepper Point and the Doom Bar

    2.5 miles/4 km - Easy-moderate

    A circular walk overlooking the infamous Doom Bar - from which the internationally popular beer is named - on which hundreds of vessels were wrecked when attempting to navigate into Padstow harbour and many still lie beneath the sands

  • 3 miles/4.8 km - Easy-moderate

    Looe woodland, river and coast

    Looe

    Looe woodland, river and coast

    3 miles/4.8 km - Easy-moderate

    A walk following the West Looe river from woods to its confluence and then to meet the Atlantic beside one of Cornwall's mediaeval ports.

  • 3.0 miles/4.9 km - Easy-moderate

    St Agnes Beacon and Wheal Coates

    Towanroath Engine House at Wheal Coates

    St Agnes Beacon and Wheal Coates

    3.0 miles/4.9 km - Easy-moderate

    A circular walk between St Agnes Head and the engine houses of Wheal Coates via St Agnes Beacon, with spectacular panoramic views

  • 3 miles/4.8 km - Easy-moderate

    Tintagel Church to Trebarwith Strand

    Port William

    Tintagel Church to Trebarwith Strand

    3 miles/4.8 km - Easy-moderate

    A circular walk on quarrymens' trails along the cliffs of Tintagel past the Thunderhole blowhole to the long, sandy beach at Trebarwith Strand from Tintagel's mediaeval clifftop church with relics including the font that once stood in Tintagel Castle's chapel.

  • 3.1 miles/5 km - Easy-moderate

    Padstow to Harbour Cove

    Camel Estuary

    Padstow to Harbour Cove

    3.1 miles/5 km - Easy-moderate

    A circular walk through Padstow's mediaeval network of streets to the church, the Elizabethan Manor at Prideaux Place and Tregirls Farm, with panoramic views of the estuary, returning along a mile of sandy beaches.

  • 3.3 miles/5.3 km - Easy-moderate

    Penrose to the Loe Bar

    Porthleven

    Penrose to the Loe Bar

    3.3 miles/5.3 km - Easy-moderate

    A circular walk alongside the Loe Pool to the Loe Bar and back via the farm on the hill spur, which in Cornish gave the name to the Penrose Estate.

  • 3.3 miles/5.4 km - Easy-moderate

    Towan Beach to Place House

    Towan Beach

    Towan Beach to Place House

    3.3 miles/5.4 km - Easy-moderate

    A walk on contrasting coastlines, from the rugged Roseland coast to the sheltered creeks of the Percuil River opposite St Mawes.

  • 3.4 miles/5.4 km - Easy-moderate

    St Anthony Head (short version)

    St Anthony Lighthouse

    St Anthony Head (short version)

    3.4 miles/5.4 km - Easy-moderate

    A walk on the Roseland coast and then into the Fal estuary to St Anthony Church via the fort St Anthony Head and the golden sandy beaches of Molunan.

  • 3.5 miles/5.6 km - Easy-moderate

    Mawnan

    Mawnan

    3.5 miles/5.6 km - Easy-moderate

    A circular walk through three of the wooded valleys to the sheltered coves at the mouth of the Helford River

  • 3.6 miles/5.8 km - Easy-moderate

    Lost Church and Perranporth dunes

    Perran Sands

    Lost Church and Perranporth dunes

    3.6 miles/5.8 km - Easy-moderate

    A circular walk on the highest dune system in Britain to the chapel dating from Celtic times which was lost in the dunes for nearly 1000 years.

  • 3.9 miles/6.2 km - Easy-moderate

    Holywell to Polly Joke

    Polly Joke

    Holywell to Polly Joke

    3.9 miles/6.2 km - Easy-moderate

    A circular walk from Holywell Bay on the dunes and Kelsey Head to the sandy beach of Polly Joke.

  • 3.9 miles/6.3 km - Easy-moderate

    Land's End

    Land's End

    Land's End

    3.9 miles/6.3 km - Easy-moderate

    A circular walk on the rugged cliffs at the most westerly point of the British mainland with spectacular views and spectacular wildflowers.

  • 3.9 miles/6.3 km - Easy-moderate

    Penzance to Newlyn

    Newlyn Harbour

    Penzance to Newlyn

    3.9 miles/6.3 km - Easy-moderate

    A circular walk at Mount's Bay from the largest port town in the bay to the harbour of Cornwall's largest fishing fleet.

  • 4 miles/6.4 km - Easy-moderate

    Towan Beach to Portscatho

    Bridleway from the Rosteague Estate

    Towan Beach to Portscatho

    4 miles/6.4 km - Easy-moderate

    A circular walk on the Roseland coast where, during the Napoleonic Wars, smugglers would row out to the middle of The Channel in pilot gigs to trade with the enemy.

  • 4 miles/6.4 km - Easy-moderate

    Watergate Bay to Newquay (via bus)

    Watergate Bay

    Watergate Bay to Newquay (via bus)

    4 miles/6.4 km - Easy-moderate

    A one-way coastal walk, made circular via an initial bus journey, from Watergate Bay along the coast path to Newquay, passing the sea caves at Whipsiderry beach, the Iron Age hillfort on Trevelgue head and the beaches of Porth, Lusty Glaze and Tolcarne.

Download the iWalk Cornwall app and use the QR scanner within the app to find out more about any of the walks above.