We recently went on a day trip near the shore. I love the south of England for that. Whenever feeling tired or depressed( from all the rain), just get in your car and take a round near the sea. This time, we went from Newquay to Penzance. What is usually a one-hour drive turned into a few hours as we chose all those side paths to stay near the sea all the time.
The amazing part of our trip is that reached the southern side just at the right moment, to see the amazing sunrise from St Buryan and reach Penzance at the best time for a nice walk through nature.
I will also add that this city is known for much more than its landscapes. For example, for its pirate legends.
After we finally reached the city, we took a short rest and then started this beautiful journey.
2.1 miles (3.4 km) Walk
The kids love the idea that they’re standing where Prince Albert once did, even if they’re more interested in the ice cream van than the history.
The Coastal Path
We head to the coastal path, making sure to avoid the seawall route that leads to a dead end. We were all impressed right away as this trail is way more interesting than those in St. Austell.
That is one of the main reasons why I included it in my top list of places never to miss around here.
The path next to the railway is a hit with the kids as they love watching the trains and pretending they are racing them along the trail.
Passing Penzance Railway Station also offers some interesting sights. It has that old industrial design that reminds me of the late 19th century in the UK.
Chyandour Beach and Beyond
When we got to the spot overlooking Chyandour Beach, we took a short break.
The kids use this time to ask a million questions about everything and anything.
The view of Mount’s Bay from here is a family favorite, especially on clear days when St Michael’s Mount is in full view. We got lucky as the weather was perfect this time.
Long Rock Beach
The next spot was the Long Rock Beach. It was so relaxing around there. Honestly, the best part was the lack of people, like, any people at all. So the early arrival really pays off for us. The only problem was to prevent kids from running around sand and getting near water as it was cold. Luckily, we took a few extra pairs of socks. I just knew we will need them.
Marazion Finally
After more than 2 hours spent watching the open sea and enjoying the breeze, we finally reached our destination, the Marazion.
We decided to spend the whole day in this place. As it was lunchtime already, we got to a restaurant with the most amazing view in this part of the country, The Godolphin.
The kids got the Halloumi Burgers, while we all combined Mussels and Crabs.
The food was pretty good, but the highlight was actually the view we got even though we were sitting inside. Just check this out.
After the lunch, we were thinking about what to do next. We heard there are some great spots we should visit, such as the museum and art district, but again, it would be boring to kids. So, we left that for another time and went to Marazion Marsh Nature Reserve.
Even though this little nature spot doesn’t get as many visitors as the big parks, those who come here really enjoy seeing the changing of the seasons up close. People can just sit and watch quietly on their own.
This area is home to over 280 types of birds.
Why We Do This?
These walks have become more than just a way to spend a day.
They’re about making memories, spending quality time together, and giving the kids (and ourselves) a bit of a history lesson mixed with lots of fun.
Each walk feels new in some way, showing us that even familiar paths can surprise you if you’re with the right people. It’s a simple tradition, but it’s ours, and we love it.
