Independent Trails: Fact File.SWCO2
Total distance: 60
miles (96km)
Duration: 6 nights, 5 days walking (hiking)
Minimum/maximum daily distances: 10 miles (16km)/13 miles (21km)
Average daily distance: 12 miles (19km)
Waymarking: The route is very clearly waymarked with South West Coast
Path National Trail acorn waymarks and is very easy to follow
Season: All year
Starting point of holiday: Penzance
End of holiday: Falmouth
Code: SWCO
Itinerary
Day 1 :
Travel to Penzance where your first nights accommodation has been booked.
Penzance is an attractive small town that is worth exploring. Places of interest
include the Market House, the extraordinary Egyptian House, the Maritime Museum
and the National Lighthouse Centre.
Day 2:
Penzance to Porthleven. 13 miles (21km)
From Penzance the coast path follows the beach around Mount's Bay to the evocative
island castle of St. Michael's Mount. Approached by a granite causeway at low
tide or by boat at high tide the little harbour, village and dramatic castle
perched on top of this rocky island is a delight to explore. Returning to the
mainland, cliff top paths lead around Cudden Point to Prussia Cove. Taking its
name from the King of Prussia inn, run by the notorious smuggler John Carter,
the cove was the base of the Carter family 'business', with storage caves, a
landing and roadway from it - the ruts in the rock above the beach bear witness
to the scale of operations. The path then follows the lovely beach at Praa Sands
before returning to the cliff top to inspect the beautifully restored engine
house and chimney of the Wheal Prosper Mine. Continuing along the cliffs above
the impressive ruins of Wheal Trewavas Mine, the path passes a poignant memorial
to all the shipwreck victims who were buried on the cliff tops, rather than
in consecrated ground, and then descends to the attractive fishing village of
Porthlevan.
Day 3:
Porthleven to Lizard. 13 miles (21km)
After passing the old coastguard station, the path follows the natural shingle
bank of Loe Bar past the Loe, a large freshwater lake noted for its birdlife,
and one of the two places claiming to be where the sword Excalibur was restored
to its watery source. Above the bar is a memorial to Henry Trengrouse who invented
the rocket-fired lifeline after witnessing the loss HMS Anson that was beached
in a storm in 1807, with the loss of 120 lives. The path continues along the
cliff edge to Gunwalloe church, which has an unusual detached bell tower cut
into the cliff-face, then drops down to Polurrian Cove, climbs up again and
then drops back down to the delightful fishing village of Mullion Cove. Exhilarating
walking along the cliff top path past Rill Point, where the Spanish Armada was
first sighted in 1588 leads to the outstanding beauty spot of Kynance Cove.
With its islands, stacks and arches of serpentine rock, the cove has an irresistible
grandeur. Around the islands' bases and the cliffs bordering the cove are several
exciting and interconnected caves and blowholes. The path then wanders past
old serpentine workings to reach Lizard Point, Britain's most southerly point.
Day 4:
Lizard to Coverack. 11 miles (18km).
Lighthouse, Coastguard station and lifeboat station are passed in succession
as the path turns around the headland and follows the cliff edge past the Devil's
Frying-pan, a vast chasm caused by the collapse of a sea cave, to Cadgwith,
another beautiful Cornish fishing village with thatched, whitewashed cottages
and a small harbour. Continuing past the ruin of an old serpentine works, the
path drops down to Kennack Sands, renowned for its multi-coloured pebbles of
serpentine, granite, gabbro and gneiss, and then rises up to follow the cliff
top path around Black Head Point to Coverack, whose name - hideaway- suggests
that smuggling, rather than fishing provided its main source of income.
Day 5: Coverack to Helford. 13 miles (21km)
Cliff top paths lead around Lowland Point, which provides thrilling views over
the Manacles, a notorious reef that has caused countless shipwrecks over the
centuries, which were happily claimed by local wreckers. After visiting the
former fishing villages of Porthoustock and Porthallow, the path continues around
Nare Point, with glorious views over the Helford River, to Gillan Harbour. After
crossing pretty Gillan Creek the path visits St Anthony Church, which is as
beautiful as its surroundings, before continuing along the shores of the Helford
River to the delightful village of Helford, an old Smuggler's haunt of snug
thatched cottages with an ancient inn. Just upstream of the village is Frenchman's
Creek, one of many creeks and inlets branching off the river that was the inspiration
for Daphne Du Maurier's novel of the same name. Her description of it still
holds true: “ still and soundless, surrounded by trees, hidden from the eyes
of men”.
Day 6:
Helford to Falmouth. 10 miles (16km)
After taking the ferry across the river the path proceeds through sleepy hamlet
of Durgan and around Rosemullion Head to Maenporth, where the wreck of a trawler
lies. Continuing along the cliffs, the path winds around Pennance Point and
Pendennis Point to reach the busy port of Falmouth. In Tudor times, the River
Fal saw more shipping than any other port in Britain and Henry VIII concerned
about attacks by the Spanish had Pendennis Castle built on the promontory. Facing
out to sea, the ramparts of this magnificent castle provide all-round views
of the coast, harbour and the town. Other places of interest include Arwennack
House; the Tudor manor house of the Killigrew family who planned Falmouth; the
Killigrew Pyramid; the Georgian Custom House; the King's Pipe, a chimney built
to burn contraband tobacco; the Maritime Museum and the parish church of King
Charles the Martyr.
Day 7:
Depart from Falmouth after breakfast.
Extra nights/Rest days
An extra night gives you a chance to explore some of the villages on the path
or simply relax on one of the sandy beaches for which Cornwall is famous. Porthleven
with its picturesque harbour is a lovely place to linger, the delightful village
of Coverack is another good choice or consider Helford if you would like to
visit Daphne Du Maurier's Frenchman's Creek in the beautiful Helford River.
What's included
Travel Information
Detailed instructions on
how to get to the start of the holiday and back from the end of it are sent
to you on booking. A summary is given below.
Most convenient International airport: London
Outward journey from London to Penzance: There is a fast and
frequent rail service from London Paddington to Penzance (5 ½ hours).
Return journey to London at the end of the holiday: There
is a regular rail service between Falmouth and London Paddington via Truro (5
hours).
Returning to your car at the end of the tour: Train to Penzance via Truro.