The South West Coast Path threads 288 miles along the Cornish coastline, taking in granite cliffs, fishing harbours, and some of the most varied terrain in England. You don’t need to walk it all. These 11 sections cover the best of it — from easy afternoon strolls to full-day routes that will test your legs properly.
Each walk is graded for difficulty and includes practical information on parking, refreshments, and whether your dog can come along.
Sennen Cove to Land’s End
1.5 miles one way | 40 minutes | Easy
The shortest walk on this list and one of the most rewarding for the effort. Follow the coast path south from Sennen Cove along granite clifftops to Land’s End, the westernmost point of mainland England. The path is well-maintained and mostly level. On a clear day you can see the Isles of Scilly, 28 miles offshore. Walk it late in the day and you’ll have the cliffs largely to yourself — the coach parties leave by 4pm.
Parking: Sennen Cove car park (pay and display, fills early in summer). Refreshments: The First and Last Inn in Sennen village, or the cafe at Land’s End. Dogs: Welcome on the path year-round. Sennen beach allows dogs on the northern section all year.
Lizard Point to Kynance Cove
2 miles one way | 50 minutes | Easy–Moderate
A short walk between two of the Lizard peninsula’s biggest draws. Start at Lizard Point — the most southerly spot in mainland Britain — and follow the coast path west to Kynance Cove, where serpentine rock stacks rise from turquoise water. The path has a few moderate inclines but nothing sustained. The serpentine rock here is unique in Britain — dark green stone threaded with red and white veins, formed 400 million years ago.
Parking: National Trust car park at Kynance (pay and display, £7 per day for non-members). Alternatively, park at Lizard village and walk down. Refreshments: Kynance Cove cafe (seasonal, National Trust). Top House Inn or Witchball in Lizard village. Dogs: Welcome on the path. Kynance beach has seasonal restrictions — dogs allowed before 10am and after 5pm in summer.
Pentire Head Circular from Polzeath
3.5 miles | 1.5–2 hours | Easy
A gentle loop around one of north Cornwall’s finest headlands. Start from the National Trust car park at Pentireglaze and follow the coast path out towards The Rumps — an Iron Age cliff castle that juts into the Atlantic on a narrow promontory. The views across to Stepper Point and the Camel Estuary are excellent. Return via the inland path through fields back to Polzeath. No severe gradients, and the going underfoot is good for most of the year.
Parking: National Trust car park at Pentireglaze (free for members). Refreshments: Plenty of cafes and pubs in Polzeath village, a 10-minute walk from the car park. Dogs: Welcome year-round on the headland path. Polzeath beach has seasonal dog restrictions.
Bedruthan Steps Circular
3 miles | 1.5 hours | Moderate
A compact loop taking in the famous sea stacks at Bedruthan Steps from the clifftop. Start from the National Trust car park at Carnewas, head south along the coast path with the stacks laid out below, then loop back inland through farmland. The beach itself is only accessible via a steep cliff staircase (National Trust, closed in winter for safety), but the clifftop views are the real draw here. At low tide the rock stacks cast long shadows across the sand — worth timing your walk for.
Parking: National Trust Carnewas car park (free for members, pay and display otherwise). Refreshments: National Trust cafe at the car park. Dogs: Welcome on the clifftop path. Beach access is difficult with dogs due to the steep steps.
Lamorna to Porthcurno
5 miles one way | 2.5–3 hours | Moderate
This south coast section between Lamorna Cove and Porthcurno passes through some of west Cornwall’s quietest coast path terrain. The route crosses the granite headlands of Boscawen Point and Tater Du, where a lighthouse has warned shipping since 1965. You’ll pass the tiny cove at Porthgwarra and the open-air Minack Theatre carved into the cliff above Porthcurno. Expect some steep descents into valleys and climbs back out — this section earns its moderate grade through repetition rather than any single climb.
Parking: Lamorna Cove car park or Porthcurno beach car park. Walk one way and arrange a lift, or catch the Land’s End Coaster bus back in summer. Refreshments: Lamorna Wink pub at the start. Porthcurno has a beach cafe and the Cable Station Inn nearby. Dogs: Welcome on the path. Both beaches are dog-friendly, though Porthcurno has seasonal restrictions.
Polperro to Looe
5 miles one way | 2–2.5 hours | Easy–Moderate
A south coast classic connecting two of Cornwall’s most characterful fishing villages. The path from Polperro to Looe follows wooded clifftops above sheltered coves, with views across to Looe Island (a nature reserve owned by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust). The terrain is gentler than most north coast walks — a few moderate climbs but nothing brutal. The path passes through Talland Bay, where there’s a beach cafe and a good spot for a swim. Catch the bus back from Looe to Polperro if you don’t fancy the return leg.
Parking: Polperro car park at Crumplehorn (the village is car-free, so you walk in from here). Refreshments: Plenty in both Polperro and Looe. Talland Bay Beach Cafe is a good midway stop. Dogs: Welcome on the path year-round. Talland Bay beach is dog-friendly.
Coverack to Cadgwith
4 miles one way | 2–2.5 hours | Moderate
Don’t let the short distance fool you. This section of the Lizard coast path crosses Black Head and Chynhalls Point, with steep descents into valleys and tough climbs back to the clifftops. The terrain is rocky and uneven in places. But the reward is two of Cornwall’s most authentic fishing villages at either end — Coverack with its harbour wall and Cadgwith with its thatched cottages and pilchard cellars. Grey seals haul out on the rocks below the cliffs here regularly, so keep your eyes on the water.
Parking: Coverack village car park (pay and display). Refreshments: The Paris Hotel in Coverack. Cadgwith Cove Inn at the finish — good crab sandwiches. Dogs: Welcome on the path year-round. Both village beaches are dog-friendly.
Godrevy to Portreath
6 miles one way | 3 hours | Moderate
A north coast walk that packs in mining heritage, seal colonies, and one of Cornwall’s best-known lighthouses. Start at Godrevy — Virginia Woolf’s inspiration for To the Lighthouse — and head east along clifftops above Hell’s Mouth, a sheer-sided cove that lives up to its name. The path passes above Mutton Cove, where grey seals breed in autumn, and the old smuggling haunt of Ralph’s Cupboard. Finish at Portreath, a former mining port with a harbour and beach.
Parking: National Trust car park at Godrevy (pay and display). Portreath has a car park by the harbour. Refreshments: Godrevy cafe at the start. Basset Arms in Portreath at the end. Dogs: Welcome on the path. Godrevy beach has seasonal restrictions. Portreath beach allows dogs year-round at the harbour end.
Zennor to St Ives
6 miles one way | 3–4 hours | Moderate–Hard
One of the most celebrated walks in Cornwall and consistently rated among the finest coast path sections in the country. The route follows a wild, granite coastline with no road access for the entire 6 miles between Zennor and St Ives. Expect steep ascents and descents through boulder fields, with some scrambling over rocks. The path is rough and uneven underfoot — proper boots are essential, not trainers. Start at Zennor (smaller car park, catches the morning light behind you) and finish in St Ives, where you can catch the bus back. The Tinner’s Arms in Zennor, where DH Lawrence drank during the First World War, is a good pre-walk stop.
Parking: Small car park in Zennor village (limited spaces — arrive early). St Ives has multiple car parks. Refreshments: Tinner’s Arms in Zennor. St Ives has everything. Dogs: Welcome on the path. No livestock fences for long stretches, so good recall is important near cliff edges.
Port Isaac to Tintagel
8.5 miles one way | 4.5–5.5 hours | Hard
This is one of the toughest day walks on the Cornish coast path. The route crosses seven deep valleys between Port Isaac and Tintagel, each requiring a steep descent to near sea level and a grinding climb back up. Total elevation gain is around 640 metres — more than many mountain walks. The reward is dramatic, remote coastline with very few other walkers once you leave Port Isaac. You’ll pass through Trebarwith Strand, a surf beach accessible only on foot or by a narrow lane, roughly two-thirds of the way through. Allow longer than the distance suggests — the constant climbs slow you down.
Parking: Port Isaac has a car park above the village. Tintagel Castle car park at the finish. Refreshments: Port Isaac has several pubs and cafes. The Port William at Trebarwith Strand is a good midway stop. Tintagel has plenty of options. Dogs: Welcome on the path. Some sections pass through farmland with livestock — keep dogs on leads.
Boscastle to Crackington Haven
7 miles one way | 4–4.5 hours | Hard
The highest cliffs in Cornwall sit on this stretch of coast. The path from Boscastle to Crackington Haven climbs over High Cliff (223 metres) and Cambeak, with relentless ups and downs through some of the most remote terrain on the north coast. Total elevation gain is around 540 metres. Before you start, walk down to the hidden waterfall at Pentargon, a 10-minute detour south of Boscastle harbour — a 30-metre cascade that drops directly onto the beach. This walk is genuinely demanding. Don’t attempt it in poor visibility or high winds, and allow more time than you think you’ll need.
Parking: Boscastle main car park (pay and display). Crackington Haven has a small car park. Refreshments: Napoleon Inn or Cobweb Inn in Boscastle. Coombe Barton Inn at Crackington Haven. Dogs: Welcome year-round. Exposed clifftops with steep drops — keep dogs on leads on the high sections.
Planning your walk
A few things worth knowing before you set out:
Bus links: Many of these walks work as one-way routes because the coast path bus services (like the Land’s End Coaster and the Atlantic Coaster) connect start and end points in summer. Check First Bus Cornwall timetables before relying on them — services are reduced or absent outside peak season.
Tides: Several walks pass beaches that are cut off at high tide (Bedruthan Steps, Trebarwith Strand). Check tide times if you plan to stop at beaches along the way.
Time of year: Spring (April–May) brings wildflowers and quieter paths. Autumn (September–October) offers warm temperatures and dramatic seas. Winter walking is viable — Cornwall rarely gets snow — but expect mud, wind, and shorter daylight hours.
What to carry: Water (there are few sources on exposed clifftops), waterproof layers, sun protection in summer, and a charged phone. Mobile signal is patchy on remote sections, particularly between Zennor and St Ives and on the north coast above Boscastle.
For more walking routes across Cornwall, including moorland and woodland options, see our full guide to walks in Cornwall.
