Walking The Western Tip of Cornwall - Twin Centre

The tour starts in St Ives.

A dramatic introduction to the Cornish landscape today; beyond the narrow, sheltered streets of St Ives the path soon leads out into one of the wildest sections of the entire Southwest Coast Path. Rugged granite moors rise inland, while the narrow strip of land between the windswept cliffs and the hills is studded with tiny farming hamlets and stitched with stone walls dating back to prehistoric times.

The views are spectacular from the craggy headlands, with buttresses of weathered stone dropping dramatically to an often restless sea. In sheltered spots flowers find sustenance in the thin soil, while myriad seabirds make their homes on the cliffs, facing the full brunt of the Atlantic Ocean. Transfer back to St Ives at the end of your walkng day (B).

Transfer to Zenoor to start your walk. Todays route passes along rocky paths and moorland fringes, through hard countryside littered with blocks of granite, towards the Pendeen and St Just mining districts. The harsh landscape maintains a beauty in its wildness, one that inspires countless stories of piskies and giants (how else can you explain the lumps of granite thrown across the land?).

Sections of the path take you away from the sea edge and there are grand views of the granite hills (carns) that back the coast. Particularly impressive are the Carn Galvers and Watch Croft. Finally, passing by beautiful Portherras beach, the coastal path winds past Pendeen Watch lighthouse before reaching Pendeen where you are transferred back to St Ives (B).

Transfer to Pendeen. Along this exceptional stretch of coast, the natural beauty competes with human history for your attention. Proud headlands are crowned with Iron Age hill forts, towering cliffs are home to Bronze Age burial chambers and at every turn are reminders are of Cornwall's mining heritage. The end of the north coast is rugged and impressive, with high cliffs cut by steep inlets and moorland hills rolling away in land. This is the St Just mining district, perhaps the birth place of the Cornish tin mining industry and a world leader in tin production in its heyday.

Engine houses perch in the most precarious of positions and the remains of stamping mills and arsenic works are found in sheltered valleys. Moving on to the West coast, the scenery remains grand and impressive. From the treacherous Brisons reef to the golden sands of Sennen beach, the sea scape dominates. With lovely sheltered valleys and a path that constantly rises and falls, one minute you are at sea level and the next way up above, looking down on the gulls as they circle below. From here you are transferred to Penzance where you spend the next 4 nights (B).

Free day to explore the historic harbour town of Penzance. Discover the many wonderful local granite stone buildings centred around the two central town parks. Explore Chapel Street which runs from the town centre to the harbour with an ecletic mix of buildings, many dating back to the 18th century and before; there is even the Egyptian House which has colourful Egyptian styling and sphinx like adornments. Penzance has a thriving artistic community in the town which is reflected in the numbers of galleries to visit (B).

Transfer to Sennen. A short walk packed full of incredible scenery today. From the vaulted cliffs and sea arches of Lands' End to the outstanding pink hued cliffs of Porthcurno Bay. Add to this crystal-clear water and a profusion of wild flowers and the region's popularity is easily understood. The coast path can be busy at either end of this walk but remains relatively quiet in between. With Lands End and the Minack Theatre, it is a region that draws many visitors but it doesn't take long to get away from the commotion. With just over six miles to cover, it is an easy walk with plenty of time to stop off and enjoy the incredible views before your transfer back to Penzance from Porthcurno (B).

A morning transfer to Porthcurno. Leaving behind the beaches and windswept cliffs of the West coast, there is a significant change upon reaching the more sheltered South coast. Numerous deep valleys here are filled with palms, fuscia and gunnerera and even the highest cliff tops proudly display a good selection of wildflowers. The rocky sea line between Lamorna and Mousehole is lovely and the last section of open countryside until after Marazion. Mousehole is a working fishing village every bit as picturesque as the post cards suggest. Narrow streets run down to the tiny harbour where you can enjoy the sea breeze before your transfer back to Penzance (B).

Depart Penzance after breakfast (B).