South West Coast Path: North Cornwall

Our North Cornwall holidays cover over 140 miles of coastline from Westward Ho! to St Ives, comprising tiny fishing villages with cobbled streets, ancient woodlands, rocky headlands, remote coastal landscapes and golden surf-washed beaches.

You’ll enjoy overnight stays in the popular towns such as Tintagel, Port Isaac, Padstow and of course St Ives itself. There are a great many historical sites along this route as well as museums telling the story of North Cornwall’s hidden past. Highlights along this stunning stretch of coast include Tintagel Castle, the mythical birthplace of the legendary King Arthur. There are a number of Iron Age forts which are of huge interest too. Also on display are abandoned engine houses, relics of a once prosperous tin mining industry.

The first half of the North Cornwall coast features some the wildest and remotest areas on the whole of the South West Coast Path. As a result, the walking can be challenging at times. Be prepared for numerous daily ascents and descents. The second half will see you pass by some of Cornwall’s most popular surfer beaches.

This is a dramatic landscape with magnificent waterfalls crashing from the clifftops onto the rocky beaches beneath. You might be lucky enough to spot grey seals. There’s a wealth of wildlife and wildflowers too. Birdwatchers should look out for stonechats, linnets and meadow pipits as well as peregrine falcons, buzzards and kestrels, while cornflowers, sea pinks and kidney vetch colour the countryside enhancing your experience of this awe-inspiring coastline.

Our Holidays

The South West Coast Path is England’s longest waymarked long-distance footpath and National Trail. We have a range of walking holidays along the entire length of the trail. All routes are well worth undertaking in their own right and you can take on each section separately until you’ve completed the whole path.

We offer 2 holidays walking between Westward Ho! and St Ives on the North Cornwall section of the South West Coast Path. Firstly we have the 80 miles from Westward Ho! to Padstow, followed by the 64 miles from Padstow to St Ives.

Please bear in mind that the distances each day are trail distances only. They do not take into account walking to your accommodation. On some days the accommodation might be on or close to the trail but on other days you may need to walk one or two miles to get to your overnight stop.

Note on transfers: Many of the accommodations on the Cornwall coast operate a two night minimum policy, therefore when booking, please be prepared to be transferred to and from your accommodation on several nights of your holiday.