As someone who has walked these trails myself, I can personally recommend Penzance’s coastal routes for a refreshing glimpse into local life.
I think that sharing personal experiences is the best way to present these amazing spots in the UK. So stay with me as I write about the five hiking trails around Penzance that you shouldn’t miss.
1. Mount’s Bay Coastal Walk
One walk I never miss when visiting Penzance is the bluff-topped Mount’s Bay Coastal Trail. Beginning near the old stone railway depot, it provides around 4.3 kilometers of breathtaking scenery.
On a sunny afternoon not long ago, I set out from the platform and followed the coastal path as it hugged the cliff edges. Families with little ones, couples strolling arm in arm, and lone hikers like myself all shared in the unfolding panorama.
Gentle rises and dips along that seaside route allowed for leisurely taking in the expansive vistas: the wide bay itself sparkling beneath Cornwall’s unique light, the pilgrimage isle of St. Michael’s Mount rising fairytale-like from the waters, and color-washed fishing villages like Mousehole nestled snug between verdant hills.
Pausing atop one bluff to better absorb such natural beauty, I spied a mother pushing her babes in a pram over the path’s smooth terrain. Smiling at memories made, they reinforced how this walk’s accessibility leaves no one deserving its treasures. For a relaxing ramble bathed in the scenery, I’ve yet to find somewhere as rewarding as Mount’s Bay Coastal Trail.
The convenience of returning by foot or hopping aboard a bus back to Penzance makes the destination of St. Michael’s Mount so accessible too. As you noted, being able to walk across to the island during low tide is a memorable bonus. The wide-open vistas and peaceful atmosphere there always motivate me to linger with an ice cream in hand on warm days.
I’m also intrigued by the longer Southwest Coast Path option you mentioned, extending all the way to Poldhu Cove’s scenic shores. While more strenuous at nearly 30 kilometers, the expansive seascapes and sense of accomplishment must make such an outing beautifully worthwhile for enthusiastic hikers.
This walk from Penzance to Marazion is perfect for a relaxed day out, offering a mix of stunning scenery, local wildlife, and a touch of adventure.
You should check out my experience on this route.
2. Perranuthnoe to Prussia Cove
The coastal trek from Perranuthnoe to Prussia Cove proved a memorable excursion indeed. Accompanying a friend on that ramble allowed us both to discover Cornwall’s rich natural and human heritage.
Setting out from Perranuthnoe’s quaint lanes amid the salt-tinged breeze of a late summer morn, we soon reached the clifftop walking path. There, expansive vistas opened before us like glimpses into ages past. Rolling surf and ribbons of sea kelp lent raw poetry to each pebbled beach and secluded inlet below.
Stories of daring past souls who braved these shores, skirting authorities with cargoes under moonlit sails, brought history alive along our trail. We smiled to picture such characters evading pursuit amid the stony shallows. One inlet appeared much like any other—until imagining rum barrels stashed in dim sea caverns just offshore!
Reaching Prussia Cove as the sun climbed high, we sank upon its sands, simply soaking in the solace of that turquoise lagoon ensconced by wooded heights. All stress from life’s busier currents seemed gently swept out with the tide.
Continuing inland through bountiful farmland, fresh angles unveiled themselves like glimpses through a child’s wondering eyes. Stately Mount, too, appeared newly animated against the changing sky…this walk reminds me how adventures close to home, shared among good company, can refresh the spirit as powerfully as any epic quest.
- Distance: 2.4 miles (3.9 km)
- Starting point: Perranuthnoe village
- Highlights: Small coves, panoramic views, Prussia Cove
- Terrain: Coast Path, fields
3. Loe Pool Nature Reserve
My stroll around Loe Pool offered a refreshing respite from the bustle of Penzance. Following the winding path through verdant farmland, I encountered numerous native birds flitting through leafy copses or standing attentively among reed-fringed shallows.
Where fresh waters mingled with the sea presented a peculiarly dramatic coast. Shifting sands deposited by the tides fashioned an ever-varying barrier separating lake from ocean, carrying reminders of hazards navigated here through the decades.
Pausing atop an overlooking knoll, I glassed distances beyond for seabirds coasting upon offshore thermals. To my pleasant surprise, fleeting glimpses of an uncommon migrant lifted my spirit amid those tranquil rural surroundings. Simple pleasures like these reinvigorate the soul during stressful times.
4. Porthgwarra to Minack
The coastal walk between Porthgwarra and Minack proved truly memorable for its blend of stunning natural scenery and glimpses into cultural heritage. Beginning in the quaint fishing village, the route wound through cliffs and greenery with the sea always in sight, presenting visually striking views.
Stops along well-trodden trails included the historic St Leven’s Church with its ties to the remote cove, as well as the ingeniously constructed open-air Minack Theatre perched dramatically above the water. Further sights were the tranquil sands of Porth Chapel beach and the ancient Holy Well, said to possess healing properties.
Diverse wildlife also enriched the experience, with sightings of various seabirds flying past the waves and playful seals near Gwennap Head. The tranquil and rugged coastal landscape, accentuated by these cultural points of interest, left me deeply impressed by this special corner of Cornwall. I would highly recommend the walk for anyone wishing to absorb the natural beauty and history of the area.
- A moderately challenging 3.1-mile (5 km) circular route
- Historical landmarks such as St Leven’s Church and the Minack Theatre
- Beautiful coastal scenery and wildlife encounters
- Opportunities for swimming at Porth Chapel Beach and visiting St Levan’s Holy Well
5. Newlyn to Mousehole
A walk through history, from harbor to harbor – this trail around Mount’s Bay promises rich rewards. Setting out from the lively waterside cottages of Newlyn, the route steadily ascends green pastures, bearing me upward to the quaint village of Paul nestled inland.
Within its simple church, tales of the vicar with links to famed French leaders long past spark curiosity about this place’s legacy. Past Paul the route descends once more, now threading a route perhaps trod hastily by villagers fleeing invaders centuries prior. Their plight imbues the fields with meaning.
Soon appears Mousehole, its lanes, and harbor as charming as lore suggests. Dylan Thomas’ praise, it seems, hit its mark – the village charms with quaint beauty against the natural canvas of cliff and tide.
Retracing footsteps through this storied geography restores a traveler, imparting a sense of those who came before as well as the locals’ resilient character. Some 6 kilometers in total invites a moderate venture
Here are the highlights of my walk:
- Started at Penzance Station’s main car park
- Passed through the docks of Penzance and Newlyn
- Explored Paul Village and its church
- Took the footpath through the fields to Mousehole
Each stop is worth your time, but remember, the 3-mile journey requires at least an hour. The path is mostly paved, which makes it fairly easy to navigate.
