Walking in Cornwall

Discover the beaches, coves and port towns of the Cornish coast

Set out to explore the ancient Celtic kingdom of Cornwall from your charming stays on the medieval harbour of Padstow and Georgian harbour of Charlestown. With ample opportunities to comb the north and south coast, this route begins by crossing the Camel Estuary by ferry and walking towards the spectacular beaches of Polzeath and Daymer Bay, with the opportunity to dine on chef Rick Stein’s celebrated fish and chips. Next, head towards the cliffs at Stepper Point, where peregrine falcons are known to nest, for panoramic ocean views. After visiting the Lanhydrock, the Fowey Estuary and Restormel Castle, we join the South West Coast Path and wander around the Lost Gardens of Heligan. Enjoy lunch in the harbourside village of Mevagissey with a host of wonderful dining options and fish straight from the day’s catch.

Is this trip for you?

This trip is graded Activity Level 3 (Moderate) with six days of walking on rolling terrain. For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

Each day features up to five hours of walking with visits to places of interest. Unsurprisingly for this portion of Cornwall, there will be some ascent each day. You will not need to carry all your luggage with you. Our support vehicle will transfer it on Day 4 from Padstow to Charlestown.

A good level of fitness is required; however, regular walkers will not find this itinerary challenging.

Vaccinations and Health

United Kingdom

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for polio, tetanus and rabies (bat lyssavirus). Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Visa

United Kingdom

Travellers from the US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter the United Kingdom. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/united-kingdom
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/united-kingdom
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/UnitedKingdom.html

Food & Drink

All breakfasts are included. These consist of cooked and continental options each day.

Cornwall has some of the best cuisine in the UK. Fish, naturally, is one of the regional specialities. Your leader will suggest different restaurants for the evening meal to showcase the full range of Cornish cuisine. Lunch follows a similar theme, with variety and quality paramount.

Weather

As we are in a coastal area there will always be a degree of wind. Rain can come at any time of year; however, the temperatures typically rise from around 12C (54F) in April to the high 20Cs (around 80F-85F) or above in early September. Like much of the UK, there have been hotter spells in recent years. Equally, the odd bout of unpredictable weather can occur.