Highlights of Cornwall's North Coast
- Walking the best of Cornwall’s north coast from St Ives to Padstow & Tintagel.
- Rugged cliff tops, peaceful and pristine coves.
- Tintagel and its mystical connections to King Arthur and Merlin.
- The quaint port of Port Isaac, where TV drama Doc Martin was filmed.
- Freshly caught fish and chips at Rick Stein’s famous restaurant.
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive St Ives and overnightSt Ives is a bustling fishing village with a wonderful harbour, winding narrow streets, art galleries, and plenty of restaurants. Settle into your charming accommodation, then begin to explore!
The Pedn Olva, with the sea only thirty feet below and flanked by golden sands, is founded on blue-black granite rocks on the southern shores of St. Ives Harbour and Bay. Each bedroom at the Pedn Olva has stunning views of St Ives and the Cornish coast – light, airy and contemporarily decorated – they have everything you need for a relaxing, memorable and comfortable stay.
In a breathtaking location the St Ives Harbour Hotel enjoys stunning views across the Porthminster Bay. Individually decorated in natural colours, the rooms at the St Ives Harbour Hotel each have a private bathroom and tea/coffee facilities. All rooms have a TV and radio, and many have wonderful balcony views of the sea. The Terrace Bar and Restaurant serves a seasonal à la carte menu, using fresh local produce. You can try the speciality Fruits de Mer dish, with shellfish caught just 15 minutes’ walk away. Cornish cream teas and real ales are served in the spacious lounge bar, or al fresco on the terrace. The St Ives Harbour Spa includes an indoor pool and hot tub, a sauna, crystal steam room, state-of-the-art fitness suite, and 4 treatment rooms. Slippers, robes and towels are provided, along with free herbal teas and water.
Steeped in history, The Western Hotel is one of St Ives's oldest coaching houses and has been a St Austell Brewery hotel since the 19th century. It has the perfect blend of comfort, convenience, and character in the heart of St Ives, this charming hotel resides within a characterful building, providing a unique and inviting atmosphere.
The beginning of today’s walk takes you 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.
Ascent: +275m / Descent: -275m
The Pedn Olva, with the sea only thirty feet below and flanked by golden sands, is founded on blue-black granite rocks on the southern shores of St. Ives Harbour and Bay. Each bedroom at the Pedn Olva has stunning views of St Ives and the Cornish coast – light, airy and contemporarily decorated – they have everything you need for a relaxing, memorable and comfortable stay.
In a breathtaking location the St Ives Harbour Hotel enjoys stunning views across the Porthminster Bay. Individually decorated in natural colours, the rooms at the St Ives Harbour Hotel each have a private bathroom and tea/coffee facilities. All rooms have a TV and radio, and many have wonderful balcony views of the sea. The Terrace Bar and Restaurant serves a seasonal à la carte menu, using fresh local produce. You can try the speciality Fruits de Mer dish, with shellfish caught just 15 minutes’ walk away. Cornish cream teas and real ales are served in the spacious lounge bar, or al fresco on the terrace. The St Ives Harbour Spa includes an indoor pool and hot tub, a sauna, crystal steam room, state-of-the-art fitness suite, and 4 treatment rooms. Slippers, robes and towels are provided, along with free herbal teas and water.
Steeped in history, The Western Hotel is one of St Ives's oldest coaching houses and has been a St Austell Brewery hotel since the 19th century. It has the perfect blend of comfort, convenience, and character in the heart of St Ives, this charming hotel resides within a characterful building, providing a unique and inviting atmosphere.
St Ives is a mine of shops and galleries so you can, if you wish, spend the day exploring the town. There is even a small Tate Gallery here that you can visit. Alternatively you may wish to take a walk along the St Michael’s Way to Marazion, where you can see the iconic view to St Michael’s Mount.
Optional Walk: St Michael's Way Micro Pilgrimage (via Lelant or St Ives)
The Pedn Olva, with the sea only thirty feet below and flanked by golden sands, is founded on blue-black granite rocks on the southern shores of St. Ives Harbour and Bay. Each bedroom at the Pedn Olva has stunning views of St Ives and the Cornish coast – light, airy and contemporarily decorated – they have everything you need for a relaxing, memorable and comfortable stay.
In a breathtaking location the St Ives Harbour Hotel enjoys stunning views across the Porthminster Bay. Individually decorated in natural colours, the rooms at the St Ives Harbour Hotel each have a private bathroom and tea/coffee facilities. All rooms have a TV and radio, and many have wonderful balcony views of the sea. The Terrace Bar and Restaurant serves a seasonal à la carte menu, using fresh local produce. You can try the speciality Fruits de Mer dish, with shellfish caught just 15 minutes’ walk away. Cornish cream teas and real ales are served in the spacious lounge bar, or al fresco on the terrace. The St Ives Harbour Spa includes an indoor pool and hot tub, a sauna, crystal steam room, state-of-the-art fitness suite, and 4 treatment rooms. Slippers, robes and towels are provided, along with free herbal teas and water.
Steeped in history, The Western Hotel is one of St Ives's oldest coaching houses and has been a St Austell Brewery hotel since the 19th century. It has the perfect blend of comfort, convenience, and character in the heart of St Ives, this charming hotel resides within a characterful building, providing a unique and inviting atmosphere.
A transfer of about 1 hour, brings you to the beautiful golden beach of Mawgan Porth further up Cornwall’s north coast. From here the coast path climbs moderately until reaching a plateau that undulates past sandy beaches, rugged coves and offshore islands until the pretty seaside village of Porthcothan. From here you turn inland across a patchwork of farmland passing through St Merryn and continue through the backstreets of Padstow to the harbour.
Ascent: +240m / Descent: -245m
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.
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.
The Old Ship Hotel is an historic Grade II listed building in the heart of Padstow and each one of the spacious bedrooms has its own unique character. All have ensuite bathrooms, hot drinks facilities, Freeview and secure safes. You are assured a very warm welcome at the Old Ship Hotel, the perfect place to relax after your days adventure!
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 walk along the South West Coast Path to Constantine Bay or take the little ferry to Rock and take a short loop walk around it (11.5km / 7.5 miles).
Ascent: +60m / Descent: -60m
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.
The Old Ship Hotel is an historic Grade II listed building in the heart of Padstow and each one of the spacious bedrooms has its own unique character. All have ensuite bathrooms, hot drinks facilities, Freeview and secure safes. You are assured a very warm welcome at the Old Ship Hotel, the perfect place to relax after your days adventure!
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.
A transfer (30 mins) brings you to the picturesque village and harbour of Port Isaac, the setting of the TV drama, Doc Martin. Explore Port Isaac, steeped in history, before striding out along the spectacular coastline to Tintagel and its stunning hilltop castle and mystical King Arthur associations. Locals claim he was even born in the castle!
Ascent: +760m / Descent: -680m
The King Arthur Arms Inn is a family run, family friendly Inn offering 4 star bed and breakfast accommodation in the heart of Tintagel Village. All rooms have hair dryers, flat screen TV's and tea and coffee making facilities.
Pendrin Guest House, situated near Tintagel Castle (with its links to the legend of King Arthur) in this popular tourist destination. Pendrin House has 7 rooms available throughout the year and you will always receive a very warm welcome from owners Derek and Jo. The guest rooms are all simply furnished and will have all the amenities you require for a lovely overnight stay.
Today you initially walk inland through the surrounding countryside, villages and farmland. Reach Boscastle further up the coast and discover its Medieval centre and distinctive harbour. It is a village associated with many authors and artists who have been inspired by its remoteness and rugged beauty. Perhaps have a fortifying lunch in a local pub before setting off down the South West Coast Path and back to Tintagel.
Ascent: +300m / Descent: -300m
The King Arthur Arms Inn is a family run, family friendly Inn offering 4 star bed and breakfast accommodation in the heart of Tintagel Village. All rooms have hair dryers, flat screen TV's and tea and coffee making facilities.
Pendrin Guest House, situated near Tintagel Castle (with its links to the legend of King Arthur) in this popular tourist destination. Pendrin House has 7 rooms available throughout the year and you will always receive a very warm welcome from owners Derek and Jo. The guest rooms are all simply furnished and will have all the amenities you require for a lovely overnight stay.
An included transfer is provided to Bodmin Parkway Railway Station, from where you can make your onward journeys.
This trip has a carbon score of 7kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 7kg is equivalent to 1 single running shoe (not even a pair!). Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information on how we've carbon counted our trips.
Other Information
Is it for me?This tour immerses you in the amazing natural beauty, sights and history of the north coast of Cornwall. Enjoy staying in pretty fishing towns and villages, and walking to places so stunning that they have been chosen as settings for TV dramas. Also encounter areas steeped in history, including historical links to the tales of King Arthur. If this sounds like your idea of a great holiday this tour is definitely for you.
Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!
Multi Centre Walking | With a mix of loop and point-to-point walks stay 2 or 3 nights in one place which offers the chance to slow down and really explore a destination.
Solo Travellers, Families with Teens
The minimum age for this tour is: 16 Years
This tour is graded as moderate overall and each individual walk varies in difficulty. The walks are along coastlines and so do include elevations and losses as you walk up and down to the cliffs from the beaches (the most challenging walk of the tour is Port Isaac to Tintagel with around 700m of ascent and descent). Walking inland at times will be more rolling and not as challenging. 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.
This trip is not suitable for anyone with vertigo, being a coastal path some sections can be narrow and may have exposed cliff-edge walking. The cliff line on the South West Coast Path trails is largely unfenced, so you must keep away from the edge at all times, making sure you take extra caution when there is a steep slope beside the path. Please also be vigilant of other walkers, especially those walking in the opposite direction, ensuring you have enough space to pass safely. If any erosion has taken place a diversion will have been put in place by the local authorities and the affected area will normally be fenced off. Do not enter any fenced-off areas and please ensure you follow these diversions for your own safety as these are in place for trail maintenance and ultimately to avoid any landslip.
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.
The paths are clearly marked and navigation is straightforward with the Macs Adventure App which has maps, GPS tracks, and daily route information. Simply download the GPS tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone with the assurance that navigation will be simple.
Recommended Reading
If you would like more information on the route please see our recommendation below:
- Map: Ordnance Survey OS102. Land's End. Penzance & St Ives. 1:25 000
- Map: Ordnance Survey OS106. Newquay and Padstow. 1:25 000
- Map: Ordnance Survey OS111. Bude, Boscastle & Tintagel. 1:25 000
- 7 Nights in B&B’s and guesthouses
- 7 Breakfasts
- Luggage transfers
- Transfers as mentioned in the itinerary
- Access to maps, GPX tracks and daily route information with the Macs Adventure navigation app
- All your trip documents provided digitally through your online Macs ‘My Account’
- 24/7 telephone support
- Travel to St Ives
- Travel from Bodmin
- Dinners & lunches
- Drinks and snacks
- Personal equipment
- Travel insurance
- Additional nights before or after the holiday
This tour can be enjoyed from March to October but you can walk at any time of year. You can start on any date that suits your travel plans. Spring and Autumn/Fall are great because it is quieter on the paths but be aware that the weather may not be as favourable - be prepared for colder temperatures, potentially prolonged heavy rainfall and strong winds.
By nature, the South West Coast of England is prone to the different extremes of weather year on year. Always be prepared for changeable conditions when walking on the coast and expect anything from soring heat to stormy weather, including strong winds and/or prolonged rainfall. The paths can be rocky in places; so take extra care as these may be slippery when wet. Before you set off each day, it is also important that you pay attention to any weather, wind, or gale warnings in the area (we recommend: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/).
It should also be noted that sea fog and sea mist in coastal areas is a thing and can make visibility difficult at times. If you happen to be walking and fog descends on you, ensure you pay close attention to the Macs Adventure app and always be vigilant of the immediate step ahead of you.
By Rail/Bus - Trains run from London to St Erth (3hrs), 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.
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.
A transfer from your accommodation in Tintagel will be included to Bodmin Parkway Train Station. From here there are direct trains to London Paddington which takes about 4 hours. More information can be found on the Traveline or National Rail.
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.
The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes and do not include the walk to/from your overnight accommodations.
Online Documents
At Macs Adventure we care about the environment! We’re taking action to minimize the impact we have by converting the majority of our tour documentation for online delivery.
On this tour, all your detailed tour information will be digitally delivered. You will have access to this documentation via “My Account” on our website.
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.
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.
As far in advance as possible! We suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalised as Cornwall is extremely popular, especially during the summer months. If booking at short notice we will always try and accommodate your plans.
You will need good walking shoes/boots (ideally waterproof), comfortable walking clothes, waterproof jacket and trousers, a daypack and hats/gloves etc.
This Cornwall itinerary is very enjoyable at any time between March and October , although it is particularly lovely in late spring and early Autumn.
All baggage transfers are included. We request that you have only one piece of luggage per person and it should weigh only 20kg.
Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate walkers with dogs as many of the accommodation providers we use do not accept pets.
You can use public transport or local taxis to continue to your next overnight stop.
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The South West Coast Path
Join us on a walk from St Ives to Penzance on the South West Coast Path. This remote and exhilarating walk along the clifftops visits the bustling towns, golden sands and secluded coves of Cornwall.
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Walking the South West Coast Path
The South West Path stretches around the south-west peninsula of England, exposing dramatic coastal scenery as the walk unfolds. The route is split into several delightful sections as walking the entire route at once would be rather time-consuming. This video gives you an overview of the route and how best to tackle it.
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Five Top Things to do in CornwallRead More2 Min Read15 November 2018
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WalkingA guide to exploring Poldark’s CornwallRead More2 Min Read26 June 2018
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Walking10 things you might not know about the South West Coast PathRead More2 Min Read28 March 2017
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WalkingThis Week on Instagram: Germany, Cornwall & NorwayRead More1 Min Read15 April 2016
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WalkingTop 5 Cornwall highlightsRead More1 Min Read05 August 2015
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WalkingHow long does it take to walk the South West Coast Path?Read More2 Min Read04 February 2019
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WalkingWhat Should I Pack for the South West Coast Path?Read More3 Min Read04 February 2019
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WalkingEating and Drinking on the South West Coast PathRead More5 Min Read04 February 2019
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Walking10 Most Frequently Asked Questions on the South West Coast Path.Read More3 Min Read04 February 2019
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WalkingTraining Tips for the South West Coast Path - How Fit Should I Be?Read More4 Min Read01 February 2019
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WalkingWhere does the South West Coast Path Start and Finish? - And how do I get there?Read More3 Min Read01 February 2019
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WalkingSouth West Coastal Path Walks - Which section is for me?Read More4 Min Read29 January 2019
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WalkingAdventure of the Week: SWCP - Minehead to Westward Ho!Read More3 Min Read03 October 2018
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Save %8 Days 7 Nights
Cornwall In Style
See the best of Cornwall's Coast In Style and dine at the Rick Stein iconic seafood restaurants.Highlights- Colourful Cornish fishing villages
- Stand at the tip of dramatic Trevose Head
- Charlestown Harbour of TV Drama Poldark's Fame
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Save %7 Days 6 Nights
Cornwall: Padstow to St Michael's Mount
Discover Cornish fishing ports, an ancient pilgrim route and the iconic St Michael's MountHighlights- Colourful Cornish fishing villages
- Stand at the tip of dramatic Trevose Head
- Follow St Michael's Way, an ancient pilgrim route
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Save %8 Days 7 Nights
South West Coast Path: St Ives to Penzance (8 Days & 7 Nights)
Walk a rugged and remote section of the South West Coast Path via Lands End at a relaxed pace.Highlights- Walk from St Ives to Penzance at a relaxed pace.
- The seaside towns of St Ives and Penzance.
- Visit Lands End, the most westerly tip of Britain