Section 5 – Penzance to Falmouth
Section 5 – Penzance to Falmouth
Section 5 – Penzance to Falmouth

6 Nights
Average
62 miles / 99 km
total
10 miles / 16 km
Average
1661m / 5449ft
elevation
Mixed
accomodation
1661m / 5449ft
elevation
Mixed
accomodation
Section 5 – Penzance to Falmouth
Section 5 – Penzance to Falmouth
Section 5 – Penzance to Falmouth
difficulty Grade
difficulty Grade
difficulty Grade


Accomodation Type
Accomodation Type
Accomodation Type
Mixed
Mixed
Mixed
Activity
Activity
Activity
Mixed Activity
Mixed Activity
Mixed Activity
Start/Finish
Start/Finish
Start/Finish
Cornwall/Cornwall
Cornwall/Cornwall
Average Daily cost
COST
COST
Best Months
Best Months
Best Months
May-Sept
costs based on two people sharing
costs based on two people sharing
Overview
Overview
Welcome to The Lizard Peninsula - Cornwall’s wild and imposing outpost. This rocky, battered headland has an untamed, end of the world feel to it. It’s an area that sometimes feels like its largely forgotten and walking the South West Coast Path draws you through an isolated and dramatic landscape that provides some of the best walking and coastline, as well as the rarest flora and geology to be found in Cornwall and indeed the South West. The Cornwall Coast Path route is challenging at times but rewarding - On the Lizards battered west side, you climb lonely windswept uplands that break into breathtaking cliffs, pass ghostly ruins of tin mines, hidden smugglers coves and some of the most captivating cliffs & beaches in the UK. Then, as you reach the more sheltered eastern side of the Lizard everything changes as the coast path enters stunning valleys and rounded coombe's that turn into secretive, wooded and mysterious creeks hiding lush sub tropical, gardens en route to the Helford and Fal river estuaries. You will wander through a rich history of lives always shaped by the churning ocean that stalks you. Of lifeboat men risking all for others, of infamous local smugglers, pirates and the Revenue Men who patrolled the Cornish Coast Path to try and apprehend them. With over 400 ships wrecked in these perilous waters you will encounter the misfortunes of the Shipwrecked Mariners as well as follow in the footsteps of the Victorian painters, poets and romantics. A botanists paradise, on the Lizard itself the trail is often a carpet of wild flowers with some 15 of the Uk’s rarest plants growing here in amongst the Cornish heath, gorse and heather. Lining the South West Coast Path you will discover craggy towers and stacks of the remarkable Serpentine rock so called as its colours resemble a reddish snakeskin when wet, along with beaches of huge “dinosaur egg” pebbles or fine sands made up of nothing more than crushed shells. Keep your eyes out to sea as you climb and descend the trail to look for grey seals basking on the rocks and in the caves, dolphins in the larger bays and at the right time of year huge basking sharks, an incredible 500 visited during May in 1998. The Cornish national bird The Chough which died out here for 30 years reappeared in 2001 at Lizard Point, now the only place you are likely to hear or see them, along with Fulmar, Kittiwake and a host of other coastal birds. The good news for any walkers searching for secluded and unspoilt trail is that tourism is still low key here with the lizard tending to attract visitors who want to get away from it all and explore a unique and spectacular terrain without the crowds. A designated Area of Outstanding Natural beauty and a site of special scientific interest, walk the Lizard Adventure and be immersed into an exhilarating, bracing and drama strewn walking trail that never ceases to surprise and captivate throughout its 61 miles.
Itinerary
Itinerary
Section 1 of the Lizard Coast Path runs 14 miles from Penzance to Porthleven and is graded 3.5 miles easy, 4 miles moderate and 6.5 miles strenuous. It begins gently along Mounts Bay with views of St Michael’s Mount, which you can visit via cobbled causeway or ferry. Beyond Marazion, the path becomes more rugged, revealing coves, cliffs, and legends of smugglers at Prussia Cove and Piskies Cove. Pass long stretches of beach at Praa Sands, then tackle tougher terrain through old mine workings at Rinsey Head and Wheal Prosper. Stunning coastal views and dramatic clifftop ruins guide you into the picturesque harbour of Porthleven—an atmospheric end to a varied and rewarding first day on the trail.



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TRIP TESTIMONIAL
The highlight is the beautiful landscapes
Mixed Activity
62 miles / 99 km
The whole experience was brilliant, helped greatly by perfect weather, when everything worked out so well. The hotels were ideal and very welcoming to a tired walker, the baggage transfers were good and my bag was always delivered before my arrival, but the best experience was the walk itself. The route was stunning and the scenery magnificent. Navigation worked out well, there were a few not-as-map situations that took a few minutes to work out, some missing signage was frustrating and some of the diversions around Nare Head and Nare Point when approaching Gillan Creek proved tricky to navigate, but the notes and map references helped as I had plotted the routes on my OS Map beforehand.I’ve already walked several sections of the South West Coastal Path, but this was the first time I had used an organised trip to walk a longer section and the choice of walking the entire Lizard peninsula proved so worthwhile: it was a life-changing event and my appetite for more long walks is truly whetted! Well done Encounter Walking Holidays for providing such a well considered professional service, delivered with great local knowledge and very friendly support. I would definitely arrange another walk with you. Thank you!

Antonietta

TRIP TESTIMONIAL
The highlight is the beautiful landscapes
Mixed Activity
62 miles / 99 km
The whole experience was brilliant, helped greatly by perfect weather, when everything worked out so well. The hotels were ideal and very welcoming to a tired walker, the baggage transfers were good and my bag was always delivered before my arrival, but the best experience was the walk itself. The route was stunning and the scenery magnificent. Navigation worked out well, there were a few not-as-map situations that took a few minutes to work out, some missing signage was frustrating and some of the diversions around Nare Head and Nare Point when approaching Gillan Creek proved tricky to navigate, but the notes and map references helped as I had plotted the routes on my OS Map beforehand.I’ve already walked several sections of the South West Coastal Path, but this was the first time I had used an organised trip to walk a longer section and the choice of walking the entire Lizard peninsula proved so worthwhile: it was a life-changing event and my appetite for more long walks is truly whetted! Well done Encounter Walking Holidays for providing such a well considered professional service, delivered with great local knowledge and very friendly support. I would definitely arrange another walk with you. Thank you!

Antonietta

TRIP TESTIMONIAL
The highlight is the beautiful landscapes
Mixed Activity
62 miles / 99 km
The whole experience was brilliant, helped greatly by perfect weather, when everything worked out so well. The hotels were ideal and very welcoming to a tired walker, the baggage transfers were good and my bag was always delivered before my arrival, but the best experience was the walk itself. The route was stunning and the scenery magnificent. Navigation worked out well, there were a few not-as-map situations that took a few minutes to work out, some missing signage was frustrating and some of the diversions around Nare Head and Nare Point when approaching Gillan Creek proved tricky to navigate, but the notes and map references helped as I had plotted the routes on my OS Map beforehand.I’ve already walked several sections of the South West Coastal Path, but this was the first time I had used an organised trip to walk a longer section and the choice of walking the entire Lizard peninsula proved so worthwhile: it was a life-changing event and my appetite for more long walks is truly whetted! Well done Encounter Walking Holidays for providing such a well considered professional service, delivered with great local knowledge and very friendly support. I would definitely arrange another walk with you. Thank you!

Antonietta
Travel To And From The Route
Fast direct trains run from London, The Midlands and the North to Exeter station where you change for the scenic branch line journey to Barnstaple on the North Devon Coast. Time from London to Barnstaple is 3.5 to 4 hours.
Everything You Need to Know
Everything You Need to Know
Everything You Need to Know
What is a self guided walking holiday?
What is a self guided walking holiday?
What is a self guided walking holiday?
How do I choose a route
How do I choose a route
How do I choose a route
How hard are the walks?
How hard are the walks?
How hard are the walks?
Can I walk slower or faster than your suggested itineraries
Can I walk slower or faster than your suggested itineraries
Can I walk slower or faster than your suggested itineraries
Can I add in rest days and activity days?
Can I add in rest days and activity days?
Can I add in rest days and activity days?
Start planning your perfect trip — your trail begins here.
Start planning your perfect trip — your trail begins here.
Start planning your perfect trip — your trail begins here.
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