Cornwall Short Break: St Ives to Padstow

5 Days & 4 Nights

Discover Cornwall's North Coast on a short break in St Ives and Padstow
Rugged cliff tops, peaceful and pristine coves
The picturesque seaside town of St Ives with its lovely sandy beach
Walk to St Michael’s Mount on Cornwall’s Pilgrimage Route
Freshly caught fish and chips at Rick Stein’s famous restaurant

Discover the highlights of Cornwall's North Coast on a wonderful two-centre short break. Enjoy overnight stays in the quaint seaside towns of St Ives and Padstow, and follow trails throughits beautiful and varied landscapes. Walk along the rugged clifftops and hear the wild Atlantic seas crashing against the rocks. Or as a contrast relish a walk through Cornwall's beautiful rural countryside on the St Michael's Way leading to Marazion. With optional easy walks from both St Ives and Padstow, and perhaps even a refreshing cycle along the Camel Estuary, this is the perfect Cornish escape to blow away those cobwebs!

What To Expect

Travel restrictions and resources, to and from any destination

This tour is perfect if you are looking for a quick escape to classic Cornwall, with overnight stays in the famous Cornish towns of St Ives and Padstow. The walks are easy, mostly low-level and well way-marked although you do have the option to choose a couple of slightly longer/more difficult walks if you so wish. Overnight stays will be in small and welcoming B&B's, guesthouses or inns in the centre of St Ives and Padstow.

Tour Type:

Slower Adventures | Where walking and cycling meet easy-going exploring, our Slower Adventures are the perfect combination. Most days are filled with picturesque journeys with some free time to dive into the destination and experience the people, local food and culture as you go.

Activity:

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&B’s, inns, and guesthouses.

This trip is suitable for:

Solo Travellers

As a guide, we would suggest that the minimum age of traveler this tour would be suitable for is: 5 Years

Ideal if you have an interest in:

Short Break

Activity Level & Terrain

This tour is graded as easy overall. There are some elevation gains and losses as you walk up and down the cliff paths but all of the walks included are fairly low-level. There are also a couple of inland sections where the terrain will be more rolling. You will be following well-trodden trails for the most part, but when walking inland, you may be walking on trails through farmland and occasionally on wooded trails and country lanes. If you choose to do the longer loop walk from St Ives via The Carracks, this particular walk is graded more towards moderate due to the fact that the terrain is slightly more varied than on the inland walk to Marazion.

Navigation

When walking on the South West Coast Path the route is well waymarked and easy to follow. However, for all the walks we provide comprehensive route notes, maps and GPS tracks through our smartphone app, so you shouldn’t have any problem finding your way.

Accommodations

You will stay in a mixture of carefully chosen B&B’s and guest houses.

Single Rooms & Solo Walkers

If you require single rooms we would be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable.

We welcome solo walkers on this trip although you should, of course, take extra care in the outdoors when walking solo.

Included

4 Nights in B&B’s and guesthouses
4 Breakfasts
Luggage transfers
Transfers as mentioned in the itinerary
Detailed Information Pack, route notes and map
Access to gps tracks on our smartphone app
24/7 telephone support

Excluded

Travel to St Ives
Travel from Bodmin Parkway
Bus from Marazion back to St Ives
Ferry from Padstow to Rock
Dinners & lunches
Drinks and snacks
Personal equipment
Travel insurance

Extras

Additional nights before or after the holiday

When To Go

This tour can be enjoyed from March to October and you can start on any date which suits your plans. Spring and Autumn/Fall are great because it is quieter on the paths.

Getting to the Start

By Rail/Bus - Trains run from London to St Erth (5hrs), where you need to change trains to St Ives (15mins)

By Car - St Ives is a 5 and a half-hour drive from London, there is limited parking and the car parks can often be very busy in the summer months so we recommend taking the train wherever possible.

By Air - You can also fly into Newquay Airport. From here you can take a public bus to Newquay Bus Station (one every 30 mins). Then you can take a bus to St Ives from here. The journey takes about 2 hours and buses only run every 4 hours, so be sure to check the timetables on the Traveline website. Alternatively we can arrange private transfers from Newquay Airport to your accommodation for you - please just ask for prices when booking.

Getting from the End

By Rail/Bus – A transfer is included from Padstow to Bodmin Parkway railway station. From here you can catch a direct train to London Paddington (4hrs).

By Car – There is a long stay car park in Padstow. If you wish to drive, you could leave your car here, but it would mean taking 2 buses from Padstow to St Ives (approx 3hrs) or a taxi (approx 1hr). If at all possible we recommend taking the train as it is much easier.

By Air – Padstow is easily accessed from Newquay Airport. Buses run regularly from here to Padstow and take approx 1hr or again we can arrange private taxi transfers for you - just ask us for prices when booking.

Luggage Transfer

Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.

General Information

The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes and do not include the walk to/from your overnight accommodations.

Equipment

Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.

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What personal equipment do I need?

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What happens if I cant walk a stage?

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive St Ives & overnight Day 2 Choice of walks from St Ives 8 miles / 11 km

Today you can choose from two wonderful walks from St Ives.

You may wish to take a walk along the St Michael’s Way pilgrimage route to Marazion, where you can see the iconic view over to St Michael’s Mount and perhaps take a walk over the causeway (tidal times permitting).

The other option is to head along the South West Coast Path and past beautiful coastal scenery to The Carracks, rocky islands just offshore and which mean “rocky” in Cornish. Continue inland climbing Rosewall Hill for more fabulous views before walking back into St Ives.

Walk to Marazion: 8m/13km / Ascent: +320m / Descent: -340m

Loop walk to The Carracks: 9m/15km / Ascent: +275m / Descent: -275m

Overnight St Ives

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Cornerways | Guest House

Cornerways was built in the 1830's and has been a Guest House for over 70 years. Only 50 yards from the harbour, beaches and restaurants, Daphne Du Maurier stayed here in the 1940's. The Tate Gallery, for which they provide complimentary tickets, and St Ives Art School are only 150 yards away. With a modern feel that echoes the artists’ quarter in which it sits, Cornerways’ rooms have been renovated and totally redecorated over the last 7 years and all have en-suites. All bedrooms have LCD TVs, DVD Players, Wi-Fi, tea and coffee facilities, fridges and complimentary Cornish bottled water. The 3' thick Cornish Granite walls and no passing traffic will ensure you a snug and quiet night’s sleep.

The Painters Cottage | Bed and breakfast

A small friendly guesthouse in the setting of a former artist's residence. The accommodation retains many of its arts and crafts period features updated with the latest fabrics and furnishings to give it that modern twist. They also provide walkers with a very warm welcome!

Seaforth | Bed and breakfast

Seaforth is a boutique B&B providing luxury accommodation in the heart of St Ives. The rooms are large and provide wonderful views over the harbour and surrounding beaches.

Day 3 Transfer to Mawgan Porth. Walk to Padstow 10 miles / 16 km

A transfer of about 1 hour, brings you to the beautiful golden beach of Mawgan Porth further up Cornwall’s north coast. After walking along its stunning coastline and some trails inland reach the fishing port of Padstow, your home for the next 2 nights.

Overnight Padstow

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Old Custom House | Inn

Standing on the quayside, the Old Custom House is still one of the finest buildings in the town. Today it is famous for its fine food, award-winning ales, elegant, accommodation and for its Beauty Studio. The Old Custom House hotel has 24 bedrooms, as it is an old building, each room has a unique view and dimensions. It has long been a pub, providing a focal point for Padstow fishermen, local people and visitors to enjoy a drink and a bar meal. They serve stylish pub grub, washed down with award winning St Austell Brewery ales and a choice of good wines throughout the year. Next door to the Old Custom House is Pescadou restaurant. Although part of the hotel, Pescadou is far from the pub atmosphere. It excels in providing contemporary, informal dining with all dishes cooked to order in the open plan kitchen.

The Golden Lion | Hotel

This inn dates back to the 14th century and is the oldest inn in Padstow. They have three guest rooms which have all the amenities you require for a comfortable night’s stay. They also offer a selection of home cooked food.

London Inn | Hotel

The London Inn opened in 1803 which original housed three fisherman’s cottages and taking its name from an old Local Sloop. The owners will welcome you to their family run pub, full of charm, atmosphere and character. All rooms offer tea and coffee making facilities, TV and hairdryers. All their rooms are situated above the sometimes-busy bar. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the pub. Their classic pub menu is sourced locally using local ingredients whenever possible and comprises of local fish and meat dishes, which can be eaten in the main bar or in the lounge bar area.

Day 4 Free day in Padstow or optional walk or cycle 7 miles / 11.5 km

The town of Padstow is very charismatic with its little harbour and tiny cobbled streets that stretch away from the sea. There’s plenty to explore here and don’t forget to sample the excellent fish & chips at Rick Stein’s famous shop/restaurant.

Alternatively you can choose a more active option and take the little ferry to Rock where you can enjoy a short loop walk on sand dune trails and footpaths. Another option is to pick up a hire bike in Padstow (arranged and paid for locally, see your info pack for details) and follow the Camel Cycle, a route that initially takes you alongside the Camel Estuary, abundant with wildlife. The route actually goes all the way to Bodmin passing Wadebridge, but you can go as far as you like before turning back to Padstow.

Overnight Padstow

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Old Custom House | Inn

The Golden Lion | Hotel

Trevose | Guest House

Trevose is a small family run B&B located in a quiet residential area, approximately a 10-15 minute walk from the harbour, shops & restaurants of Padstow. Their aim is to make your stay as comfortable and as memorable as possible. All of their rooms are elegantly furnished, blending contemporary cool with coastal comfort. Both of their double guest bedrooms have been decorated with soft neutral colours and white bed linen with the aim of providing a calm & relaxing environment for guests to chill out & unwind. Rooms include: Free Wi-fi, Flat screen Freeview TV's, Guest toiletries, bathrobes soaps and hair driers. Tea and Coffee making facilities. Fridges with fresh milk & chilled water.

Your reservation will be on a room only basis for this night.

Day 5 Onward travel