A practical guide to walking the Cornish Coast Path, with suggested legs, distances, estimated walking times, difficulty, parking, access and facilities.
Explore the sectionsmiles of Cornish Coast Path
practical Cornwall stages to Plymouth
typical walking time for a full leg
The Cornish section of the South West Coast Path runs from the Devon/Cornwall boundary around the north, west and south coasts, finishing at Plymouth. Officially, the national trail's charity, the South West Coast Path Association, breaks the whole 630-mile trail into 52 stages; the Cornish section alone runs to around 26 stages of roughly six to fourteen miles each.
The stages below are practical walking legs built around convenient start and end points rather than a rigid, officially numbered itinerary — a handful of legs group together stretches that the Association's own stage breakdown splits slightly differently (for example, around Porthcurno, Penzance and the Lizard). They're intended as a sensible day-by-day plan for most walkers, and many can be shortened further using intermediate villages, beaches or public transport. For the definitive, most current stage-by-stage breakdown and any route diversions, see the South West Coast Path Association directly.
Dramatic cliffs, sandy beaches, fishing villages and some of the most spectacular scenery on the northern coast.
A dramatic opening section with cliff scenery and exposed coastal walking.
One of the classic North Cornwall walks, with Boscastle providing an excellent midway stop.
Markers show the towns and villages used as leg start/end points above, running from Bude in the north-east round to Plymouth.
Markers are approximate town/village locations, not the exact coast path route. Always follow the official waymarked path and check the South West Coast Path Association site for the current official route and any diversions.
| Base | Best sections | Why use it? |
|---|---|---|
| Bude | Bude → Crackington → Tintagel | Good transport, accommodation and facilities |
| Tintagel / Boscastle | Crackington → Tintagel → Port Isaac | Dramatic cliffs and attractive villages |
| Padstow | Port Isaac → Padstow → Porthcothan | Excellent food, accommodation and transport |
| Newquay | Porthcothan → Newquay → Perranporth | Rail, buses and extensive facilities |
| St Ives | Hayle → St Ives → Zennor | Rail access and spectacular scenery |
| Penzance | Sennen → Lamorna → Marazion | Excellent rail and bus connections |
| Porthleven | Marazion → Porthleven → Lizard | Great base for the south-west coast |
| Lizard | Lizard → Cadgwith → Coverack | Excellent for shorter coastal walks |
| Falmouth | Helford → Falmouth → Portloe | Rail, ferries, restaurants and accommodation |
| Mevagissey / St Austell | Portloe → Mevagissey → Par | Good access to central south Cornwall |
| Fowey / Polperro | Par → Fowey → Polperro → Looe | Beautiful villages and excellent walking |
| Looe | Polperro → Looe → Portwrinkle | Railway station and good facilities |
| Plymouth | Portwrinkle → Rame → Plymouth | Excellent transport and facilities |
Ideal for visitors who want the scenery without committing to a full-day stage.
2.2 miles / 3.6 km
Easy and largely level, with good accessibility.
3.6 miles / 5.8 km
Easy coastal walking with cafés, pubs and bus return options.
1.5 miles / 2.4 km
A relatively level walk with excellent views near Padstow.
0.2 miles / 0.4 km
A very short viewpoint walk suitable for many visitors.
3.5 miles / 5.6 km
A manageable introduction to the spectacular Lizard coastline.
6.8 miles / 10.9 km
A shorter alternative to the full Par → Polperro stage.
Coastal car parks can become very busy during the summer. Check restrictions, opening times and charges before travelling.
For linear walks, buses, trains, ferries or taxis can be much easier than leaving a vehicle at one end of the route.
Check ferry operating days and times before setting out. Services can be seasonal and weather-dependent.
Distances, times and difficulty ratings are intended as practical planning estimates based on typical walking paces, not official Coast Path Association figures. Always check current path conditions, diversions, tide-dependent sections and ferry timetables via the South West Coast Path Association before walking, and never rely solely on this guide for route-finding on exposed or unfamiliar cliff sections.
Page last updated: August 2026.