Cornwall In Style

Padstow is a charming and bustling harbour town and is your base for the next three nights. The town has a dramatic setting at the head of the Camel River Estuary and is surrounded by natural beauty. It is also famous due to its association with Rick Stein, the celebrity chef!

After checking into your centrally located B&B, why not try one of the local pubs for some traditional food and beer which will give you sustenance for your first day of walking tomorrow. Or it is also possible to eat at one of Rick Stein’s four acclaimed restaurants, The Seafood Restaurant, St Pedroc’s Bistro, Rick Stein’s Café or Steins Fish & Chips. Gourmet heaven!

Today’s walk takes you on a circular route beginning with a short ferry ride across the estuary to Rock, which takes its name from the Blue Elvan rock which is quarried nearby. This village has also been named “Britain’s Saint Tropez” due to its popularity as a holiday destination for the rich and famous, including Prince Harry, the Rothschilds and the actor, Hugh Grant.

From Rock head along the coastal path on the tops of the sand dunes and towards the mouth of the Camel River. You then turn inland and pass by St Enodoc Church which is the burial place of the poet, Sir John Betjeman and dates from the 12th century. Follow trains to Pityme where you can enjoy a pub lunch. The walk finishes back at the ferry crossing where you will take the little ferry back to Padstow. (payable locally)

Today’s walk takes you along the South West Coast Path to Constantine Bay. Begin by walking alongside the Camel Estuary before coming out onto the coast. Pass the sweeping golden beaches of Trevone, Harlyn Bay and Mother Ivey’s before rounding Trevose Head. This area has been designated “An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty” and on a clear day you can see all the way to Newquay. From here pass a lighthouse which takes you to another small headland and to Booby’s Bay, a wide sandy beach and into Constantine Bay, where your walk finishes. It is possible to take a local bus back to Padstow.

Enjoy another fabulous evening in the quaint seaside town of Padstow where you might try another of the many great restaurants or local pubs.

After a transfer of around one hour (included) begin today’s walk in Carbis Bay. St Michael’s Way is a walking route that takes you from Cornwall’s north to south coast and due to its historical significance it is the only footpath in Britain that is part of the designated European Cultural Route. It is part of a network of pilgrim routes that lead to St James’ Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela and dates back to pre-historic times. It is thought to have been used by pilgrims and missionaries who arrived from Ireland and Wales and chose to abandon their ships and walk across the Cornish peninsula, rather than navigate the treacherous waters around Land’s End.

Although the route officially begins in Lelant, you will begin in Carbis Bay and from here the route takes you inland and to the striking granite sculpture known as Knill’s Steeple. Then come upon Bowl Rock, a lump of granite which is said to have been placed here by a giant! The route continues around Trencom Hill, a Neolithic Hill Fort and onwards through the Marazion marshes, a wetland reserve for wild birds.

Your walk today begins in Marazion and takes you through the Parish of Perranuthnoe, a small and ancient village. The trail follows footpaths, bridleways and quiet lanes in the surrounding countryside and from where you can also see coastal views. This is indeed a stunning part of Cornwall with constant reminders of the area’s history of trading and of pilgrimages.  You will also see the remnants of the copper and tin mining industry and walk past several old mine workings. 

As the walk today is a bit shorter, you may want to begin this morning (if the tide is right!) by following the footsteps of pilgrims across the causeway to St Michael’s Mount, a prominent British landmark and the official end of the St Michael’s Way. Thousands of years ago this island was a busy port trading tin with Europe and an abbey was built on top of the island and granted to the Benedictine monks from Mont St Michel in France.

Todays walk initially takes you along a pleasant coastal path to Penzance, a bustling town whose heyday was in the 19th century when it was the commercial centre of the tin mining industry. Today it has a plethora of art galleries, tea shops, coffee houses and pubs. Continue on a cycle path which hugs the shoreline to reach the pretty fishing port of Newlyn. This idyllic place attracted a whole host of artists in the 19th century due to its similarity to Brittany in France.

You may wish to stop for lunch in one of the many restaurants such as The Smuggler’s Restaurant, which has great views over the harbour and the boats which have possibly brought in the fresh fish in that you are eating.

Continue to Mousehole (pronounced ‘mowzal’), an iconic Cornish village with its typical old stone quay and cottages. From here you can either catch a bus back to Marazion (via Penzance), or retrace your steps.

The tour finishes after breakfast and you can make your way by bus or taxi to Penzance Station in order to continue your onward journey.