Day 1: Arrive in London

Today we arrive in London and transfer to our hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy London. Overnight in London.

Day 2: London - St Ives, Cornwall

Transfer to St Ives, a delightful seaside resort with narrow streets lined with fishermen's and miners' cottages. We take time to acclimatize to the relaxed pace of Cornish 'West Country' life by soaking in the atmosphere of beautiful St Ives, exploring the narrow streets that meander there way to the many golden sanded bays around which St Ives is centered. Overlooking one such bay in stark contrast to rest of the historic St Ives, is the recently built Tate Gallery, a subsidiary of the London gallery, which displays paintings of the St Ives' school of modern art. The impressive building, built by local architects Eldred Evans and David Shalev, replaced an old gasworks, and has huge central windows framing the surfers below braving the Atlantic waves breaking onto Portmeor beach. Inside, the collection is small and exclusive, with works by Ben Nicholson, Naum Gabo, Terry Frost, Patrick Heron and other local artists. The cafe on the roof is almost as popular as the gallery itself. The gallery of local Stone Sculptor Barbara Hepworth. on Ayr Land across town from the Tate, is also worth a look. The beautiful garden forms a perfect backdrop for some of the sculptor's larger works. Overnight in St Ives.

Day 3: St Ives - Pendeen Watch

Our walk begins on the undulating cliff top path to the West of St Ives. It will soon become apparent that a coastal walk doesn't exclude climbing hills, since the route keeps close to the cliff, with steep descents into and back out of the tiny coves. However, any difficulties are more than compensated for by the superb views out to sea and by the interesting flora, which includes orchids and royal fern. Shortly after River Cove the path drops down to rocks where we can sometimes watch grey seals basking off The Carracks, twin offshore islets. It then climbs steeply to 90m (300 ft) at Zennor Head where we can follow a path inland to visit Zennor village, a remote isolated collection of stone houses and a tavern surrounding a delightful 15th Century church. Inside the church a curious benchend depicting a mermaid with a comb and mirror can be seen. Legend relates that the mermaid lured the local squire's son, Matthew Trewhella, into the sea at Pendour Cove. On the wall outside, look for a memorial stone to John Davey of Boswednack (died 1891), ‘the last to possess any considerable traditional knowledge of the Cornish language'. The apparent idyllic nature of this small community, hides a past of sinister suffering. A clue to this macabre history can be observed at the head of the village. An innocent looking water trough was actually used to exchange coins. The traders would collect money from the trough in return for goods to avoid personal contact with Zennors ostracized undesirable Leper colony. This and other curious aspects of village history can be discovered in the tiny village museum. We continue along the clifftop and round assorted coves to Gurnard's Head, topped by remnants of an Iron Age fort. From here on there are plentiful traces of the old Cornish mining industry. Beware the open shafts! Look out, also, for climbers on dramatic Bosigran Cliff. Just before Pendeen we'll visit Geevor Tin Mine. Overnight in Pendeen Watch.

Day 4: Pendeen Watch - Sennen Cove

The first part of today's walk as far as Cape Cornwall, is fairly easy, and the area is worth exploring for its disused quarries and mines, religious and historic ruins, and subtropical plants. From Pendeen Watch the trail once again follows the clifftop, bypassing a series of old tin and lead mines; it actually passes through the grounds of Levant Mine, which closed down in 1919 after an accident led to the death of 31 miners. Visitors can now inspect Cornwall's oldest beam engine. Shortly after this, look out for the Crowns Mine at Botallack, perched picturesquely right on the rocks. Just past the ruins of Crowns Mine, the footpath skirts Botallack village. Cape Cornwall was originally thought to be England's most westerly point, before that title passed to Land's End. From Cape Cornwall the route follows an unmetalled road inland to Carn Gloose where a mysterious walled pit could be a Neolithic shrine. The village of St Just makes an excellent place to spend the night. In the heart of the village is a square, part of which was used in medieval times to perform miracle plays. It's ringed with pubs, many of them offering wholesome pub fare including 'Cornish Pasties', the traditional lunch of Cornish miners; and of course fine West Country ales--the brave may even try the strong locally brewed cider called 'Scrumpy'. From St Just, we continue along the cliff to the mile-long Whitesand Bay, which is good for swimming. At high tide you'll have to skirt round the top of the Bay. Immediately afterwards we come to the village of Sennen Cove. Overnight in Sennen Cove.

Day 5: Sennen Cove - Porthcurno

It's less than two miles from Sennen Cove to Land's End. This, the most Westerly point on the British mainland makes for a superb photo opportunity, beneath the famous sign post that points towards the Atlantic and beyond to North America. New York may not be on the horizon, but the huge white Atlantic breakers crashing against the freestanding stacks and vertical cliff faces combined with the vast array of spiraling sea birds around the sea spray makes it a very memorable vantage place. Continuing along the well-marked but unsheltered path, we soon leave the day-trippers behind and pass through the hamlets of Porthgwarra (with a small, seasonal cafe) and St Levan. The open-air theatre at Minack Point (above Porthcurno) has one of the world's most spectacular settings. It was built by indomitable local woman, Rowena Cade, who did much of the construction with her own hands, continuing until her death in 1983. She got the idea in 1935 after her family provided the local theatre group with an open-air venue for a production of The Tempest, which proved so successful that annual performances where instituted. Overnight in Porthcurno.

Day 6: Porthcurno - Penzance

This day's walk is generally fairly easy, although the path is occasionally overgrown with stinging nettles, making long trousers a wise precaution. From Porthcurno, following the route along the clifftop we'll find an offshoot path leading to Logan Rock. In 1824 one Lieutenant Hugh Goldsmith pushed the rock clean off its perch, an exploit that was greeted with local outrage. The Logan Rock Inn in nearby Treen village displays a poster detailing how the cost of replacing the stone finally came to £130 8s 6d, a sum which the mischievious Lieutenant was forced to pay. From Logan Rock, the walk up to Penzer Point (near the village of Mousehole) is superb, though occasionally tough. Tiny Penberth Cove and Porthguarnon are inviting places to pause a while. After Penzer Point we reach Mousehole (pronounced ‘Mowzl'), a picture-postcard fishing village with several pubs, hotels and restaurants. It takes its curious name either from a cave-mouth in the cliff south of the village or from the narrow gap between its harbour walls. Mousehole was once a pilchard-fishing port, and tiny cottages cluster round the edge of the harbour. Like St Ives, it attracts artists, and there are several interesting craft shops. Newlyn, on the southern side of Penzance, was the centre of a community of artists in the late 19th century, among them Dame Laura Knight; some of their handiwork can be inspected in Newlyn Museum and Art Gallery, which we visit. We arrive in the afternoon at Penzance. Penzance harbour spreads along Mount' Bay, with the Scilly Isles ferry terminal to the east, the train and bus stations just to the north, and the main beach to the south. The town itself spread uphill towards the domed Lloyds Bank building with a statue of local man, Humphrey Davy, inventor of the miner's lamp, in front. There are some attractive Georgian and Regency houses in the older part of town around Chapel St where you'll find the exuberant early 19th-century Egyptian House. Further down towards the harbour is the Maritime Museum. The National Lighthouse Centre in Wharf Rd relates the history of the lighthouses that have helped keep ships off this dangerous coast. Overnight in Penzance.

Day 7: Penzance - Porthleven

We leave Penzance and take the footbridge over the railway line, the path then trundles along Mount's By beach to Marazion, opposite picturesque St Michael's Mount. Following the busy main road through Marazion (which has several pubs and numerous shops), we then take the path along the clifftop to Prussia Cove, named after the King of Prussia Inn which was run by John Carter, a notorious 18th-century smuggler. In 1947 the cove was the site of the worst shipwreck recorded in Cornwall when the Warspite Battleship ran aground. The trail follows the lovely beach at Praa Sands and then climbs up onto the spectacular cliffs and past the remains of Wheal Prosper and Wheal Trewavas. We pass a memorial cross set up by a vicar who decided shipwreck victims should be buried in consecrated ground (until then they'd always been buried outside the churchyard). Porthleven is a fishing village with a pleasant dockside, and a long jetty. Overnight in Porthleven.

Day 8: Porthleven - The Lizard

The first part of today's walk is generally easy-going, but the last section can be tiring. Leaving Porthleven we follow Loe Bar Rd and Mounts Rd from the far end of the harbour, passing the old coastguard station. Very soon we pass the Loe Pool, Cornwall's largest natural body of freshwater. Some people believe this was where King Arthur abandoned his sword Excalibur. In winter the Pool is an excellent place to watch migratory wildfowl like widgeon and teal. Loe Bar is extremely dangerous for swimmers. Watch your footing on the cliffs all the way to Poldhu Cove; the rock can be slippery when wet. At low tide we can walk along the beach to Gunwalloe Fishing Cove. The South West coast Path continues round Halzephron Cliff to Dollar Cove, before cutting across the headland and continuing beside the Towans golf course towards Poldhu Cove. We divert onto the headland to examine Gunwalloe church, which has an unusual detached bell tower cut into the cliff-face. In the 11th century when the Domesday Book was compiled, Gunwalloe seems to have had a large population, despite which the church now stands in splendid isolation, with the sea threatening to cut it off from the mainland altogether. South of Poldhu Point, the SWW passes the Marconi memorial, set up to commemorate the first transatlantic telegraphic communication in 1901. Our journey then drops to Polurrian Cove, climbs up again and then drops back to pretty Mullion Cove, just over a mile north of Mullion itself. Look out for nesting sea birds on Mullion Island, a few hundred metres off shore. The walk from here to The Lizard via Kynance Cove is superb, although it can be tough going. Kynance Cove has been attracting tourists since the 18th century. The offshore islands -- Asparagus Island, Sugarloaf Rock, The Bellows and The Bishop -- can be reached on foot at low tide. We later return to the SWW cross a footbridge over a stream and walk past a cafe to reach the top of the cliff. The route then wanders past old serpentine workings to each Lizard Point, Britain's most southerly point and called Lizard Head on old maps. The lighthouse here can usually be visited during the afternoon and the cafes are open year-round. The Lizard is distinguished by its unusual serpentine rock and mild climate. A short detour inland to Landewednack leads to a church with serpentine pillars in its porch. The last Cornish sermon was read here in 1674. Overnight in Lizard Pornt.

Day 9: The Lizard - Coverack

The first part of today's walk via some old serpentine workings is fairly easy, but after Cadgwith it gets tougher. Just before Cadgwith you'll pass the Devil's Frying Pan, a vast crater probably caused by the collapse of a cave. Cadgwith is a particularly attractive Cornish fishing village with pretty thatched cottages. We stop for lunch at the Cadgwith Cove. Past Caerleon Cove and the ruins of old serpentine works, Kennack Sands is popular with families in summer and there are several beach cafes. We then need to climb steeply up to Beagles Point and Pedn Boar, both owned by the National Trust. Overnight in Coverack.

Day 10: Coverack - Helford

This is moderately easy stretch of coast; the route follows the coast to Godrevy Cove, and then heads inland to avoid disused quarries. From Coverack we take the road past the beach and keep straight on past the houses to the fields, keeping to the path closest to the sea; this runs to Lowland Point, a raised beach. From there we pick your way through quarry workings to Godrevy Cove, before turning inland to Porthoustock. Pictures on the wall of the local pub tell the story of the many shipwrecks, which took place on the Manacles, a mile out to sea. The route then continues to Nare Head and Nare Point, with fine views over the Helford River. Pretty Gillian Creek can be crossed (over slippery stones) up to an hour before and after low water. Alternatively, we can walk round the creek through tiny St Anthony or head inland through Flushing and cross over on the road. Overnight in Helford.

Day 11: Helford - Falmouth

Today we travel by ferry from Helford Point to Helford Passage. The walk from Helford Passage round Rosemullion Head and Pennance Point to Falmouth is fairly easy. From the north shore of the Helford River the journey proceeds through tiny Durgan where a half-mile inland detour leads to Glendurgan, a tree-filled NT garden (with teashop) which is open Tuesday to Saturday from March through October, admission £2.90. We then continue through Mawnan Shear and Parson's Beach. After that the route continues via Rosemullion Head, Maen Porth and Pennance Point to reach Falmouth - this section's journey's end. Falmouth, as a port, came to prominence in the 17th century as the terminal for the Post Office packet boats, which took mail to America. The dockyard is still important for ship repairs and building. Overnight in Falmouth.

Day 12: Falmouth - London

Transfer from Falmouth to London. Overnight London.

Day 13: Departure

Departure from London. NOTE: If you would like to extend your stay in London, please advise us ASAP so that we can book hotel and air (if applicable) accordingly.

Tour Highlights

Moderate hikes, picturesque seascapes Cornish 'West Country' life Colourful history, tall tales Meeting fellow walkers

Inclusions

Breakfast and dinner (hotels & local restaurants) daily. All sightseeing and entrance fees for sites noted as 'visited' in the detailed itinerary. Gratuities for driver, restaurant staff, porters (if available) Airport transfers for land & air customers and for early arriving / late departing land & air customers who book their extra hotel nights through us.

Exclusions

Tour Leader gratuities, lunches, drinks, personal items (phone, laundry, etc), international air taxes (if applicable), excursions referenced as 'optional'. Airport transfers for Land Only customers. Optional trip cancellation insurance. Our post-reservation trip notes offer further guidance on optional meal costs and shopping.

Seasonality Weather

This tour is offered only in mid-summer when temperatures are at their warmest though rain, mist, showers can still occur any time. Summer's long daylight hours maximize exploration.

transport & travel conditions

Land transport throughout by private bus, 16-24 seats depending on ultimate group size (see 'group size'). Vehicular support for luggage-you carry only your daypack. This hiking tour is rated 'moderate': Most weekend hikers should have no trouble with our moderate hikes. Although no previous experience is required, being physically fit and active is helpful.

Accommodation

Mid-range, simple hotels and inns throughout. Many are smaller properties (2-3 story). All hotels have en suite toilet and bath, though some will have shower only (no tub). You must be prepared to manage your own luggage to and from your hotel room.

Staff and Support

Tour Leader, driver.

Group Size

10-12 (plus Tour Leader)