8-Day St Ives to Falmouth Itinerary — Explorer Pace (SWCP Section 3)

From St Ives' West Pier, the path ascends to Clodgy Point, offering a final glimpse back before winding west along increasingly demanding, spectacular coastline. Beyond Trevalgan Cliff, where the stone circle lies inland, a boardwalk crosses boggy ground before reaching Trevega Cliff and Carn Nuan Point, marked by a trig pillar. Dramatic granite cliffs plunge to turquoise waters, passing rocky coves like River Cove, with the terrain becoming challenging via stone steps up to Zennor Head, revealing breathtaking views of Pendour Cove, Carrack Rocks, and the distant Pendeen Watch lighthouse. A 500m detour leads to Zennor village and The Tinners Arms. The wild, remote route continues, featuring steep ascents and descents, passing Porthglaze Cove, Treen Cove, and the distinctive Gurnard's Head. Refreshment is available at Treen village's The Gurnard's Head pub (500m detour). The landscape then shifts to a mining-scarred vista, with Porthmeor Cove, Bosigran Castle, and approaches to Portheras Cove. The Pendeen Watch lighthouse grows prominent as the path leads into an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, concluding near Pendeen village offering amenities.

The challenging South West Coast Path journey westward from Pendeen offers increasingly wild and remote vistas across the Atlantic. Descending towards Porthglaze Cove and rounding Carnelloe Long Rock, you'll glimpse Treen Cove's twin beaches before the distinctive Gurnard's Head headland appears; a detour to The Gurnard's Head pub in Treen provides refreshment. Beyond, the route navigates a landscape scarred by Cornwall's mining heritage, passing Porthmeor Cove and the Iron Age fort of Bosigran Castle near Porthmoina Cove. Approaching Portheras Cove, where seals are often seen, Pendeen Watch lighthouse becomes a prominent landmark in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. From the lighthouse, the path delves further into industrial history, passing Geevor Tin Mine and Levant Mine with its restored beam engine, before admiring the dramatic cliffs hosting Botallack Mine's iconic engine houses. A detour to St. Just offers comprehensive refreshments at establishments like The Commercial Inn. Reaching Cape Cornwall, England's only true "cape", views extend to the Brisons Rocks, with seasonal refreshments possible at the car park. Passing Priest's Cove, Ballowall Barrow, and the geologically unique "dinosaur egg beach" of Porth Nanven, the path arrives at the magnificent sweep of Whitesand Bay and Gwenver Beach, offering superb views towards Longships lighthouse and the Isles of Scilly. Sennen Cove, a charming fishing village, presents more refreshment options like The Old Success Inn before the final 2km climb east along clifftops to Pedn-mên-du headland, culminating at Britain's most southwestern point, Land's End, with its iconic signpost and facilities including The Land's End Hotel.

Leaving Sennen Cove, the South West Coast Path embarks on a dramatic 2km clifftop traverse to Land's End, passing Pedn-mên-du headland where the Atlantic meets the Channel, with offshore views of the Longships lighthouse and abundant seabirds. From Land's End, the rugged granite cliffs reveal dramatic formations like Enys Dodnan and the Armed Knight as the route descends to Nanjizal beach, famed for its "Song of the Sea" rock arch. Continuing eastward across Carn Les Boel, Carn Barra, and Carn Guthensbras, the path skirts Pendower Coves and Porth Loe before reaching Porthgwarra, a charming hamlet with a cafe. The journey then leads towards Porthcurno valley, home to the Minack Theatre and museum, before ascending to Logan Rock headland and the picturesque fishing village of Penberth Cove. The terrain becomes challenging, navigating jumbled boulders around Boscawen Point and passing Tater Du lighthouse, before the path reveals Lamorna's granite quarries and then ascends to Carn Du and Kemyel Crease Nature Reserve. After a steep climb to Penzer Point, the path descends past Point Spaniard into the historic fishing village of Mousehole, a final welcome haven with amenities.

Leaving Lamorna, the South West Coast Path ascends past granite quarries and Kemyel Crease Nature Reserve, with its Monterey pines and Victorian "quillets," before a steep climb to Penzer Point rewards with panoramic Mount's Bay vistas leading down into historic Mousehole, a village boasting pubs, shops, and a charming harbour. From Mousehole, the route traces the coast towards Penzance, passing through bustling Newlyn with its fish market and artist heritage, and by the Penlee lifeboat memorial, before reaching Penzance via Battery Rocks and the Jubilee Pool. The easy, flat promenade then leads east past Long Rock to Marazion, offering views of St Michael's Mount and its castle, before returning to clifftops towards Perranuthnoe and the refreshment stop at its beach café. Rounding Cudden Point, the path then navigates Prussia Cove's smugglers' past andKenneggy Sands before reaching the surfing haven of Praa Sands, with its cafés including the Sandbar. The final leg climbs past Wheal Prosper and the striking ruins of Wheal Trewavas, testament to Cornwall's mining heritage, before descending and finally approaching Britain's most southerly port, Porthleven, with its harbourfront amenities.

Leaving Porthleven, Britain's most southerly port, the South West Coast Path skirts Porthleven Sands before crossing the natural sand and shingle barrier of Loe Bar, separating the county's largest freshwater lake from the sea. The route then embarks on a section of dramatic cliff walks, passing Halzephron Cove, notorious for its treacherous waters, and reaching Gunwalloe, where the unique Church of St Winwaloe, Cornwall's only beachside church, nestles at Church Cove; refreshments can be found at the clifftop Halzephron Inn. Continuing along exposed edges, the path meanders to Poldhu Cove and then Mullion Cove, with Mullion village offering ample amenities just inland. A steep ascent from Mullion Cove quickly levels onto exposed headland, traversing distinctive serpentine cliffs, passing the narrow inlet of Gew Graze, before traversing Predannack Downs. The breathtaking Kynance Cove, with its serpentine rock formations and sandy beaches, beckons before the path continues to Polpeor Cove and finally attains the southernmost tip of mainland Britain at Lizard Point lighthouse, with refreshments available at Polpeor Cafe and further amenities in Lizard village.

Leaving Mullion Cove, the path ascends steeply to dramatic zigzagging serpentine cliffs, eventually levelling across Predannack Downs, part of the National Nature Reserve, with gentle undulations. Kynance Cove, a highlight with its white sands, rock stacks, and National Trust cafe, is followed by the secluded Pentreath Beach and Polpeor Cove, home to an abandoned lifeboat station. Lizard Point, mainland Britain's southernmost tip and featuring Polpeor Cafe and The Top House Inn, marks the start of the final stretch, passing the historic lifeboat station at Church Cove and the awe-inspiring Devil's Frying Pan before descending into Cadgwith, a picturesque fishing village with the Cadgwith Cove Inn. The route then climbs out of Cadgwith, tracing Poltesco Valley's serpentine factory ruins at Carleon Cove, before reaching expansive Kennack Sands, before the terrain becomes more challenging around Black Head with spectacular clifftop views, finally descending into the fishing village of Coverack, offering multiple facilities including The Bay Hotel and The Lifeboat House Restaurant.

Leaving Coverack harbour, the path initially ascends before traversing the historic Poltesco Valley, once home to a Victorian serpentine factory, passing geological wonders before reaching the expansive National Nature Reserve of Kennack Sands. The route then becomes more challenging, rounding Black Head with dramatic clifftop vistas, before descending back to Coverack, which offers several amenities including The Bay Hotel and The Lifeboat House Restaurant. From Coverack, the trail skirts past the notorious Manacles reef, a graveyard of ships, and the abandoned Dean Quarry, before descending to Godrevy Cove. Passing through Rosenithon and Trenance, the path reaches Porthoustock's working quarries, then continues via lanes to Porthallow, the official halfway point of the South West Coast Path, marked by a granite sculpture and home to the Five Pilchards Inn. Climbing from Porthallow, the route offers views from Nare Point before turning inland to navigate Gillan Creek at St Anthony-in-Meneage, with a potential shortcut across stepping stones at low tide, or a seasonal ferry at high tide. Finally, the trail heads towards Dennis Head, enjoying views across the Helford River before following its wooded southern shore to the picturesque village of Helford, with its Shipwrights Arms pub and local stores, before crossing the river by ferry to Helford Passage.

From Porthallow beach, the path ascends clifftops, passing Nare Cove before reaching Nare Point's National Coastwatch Institution station, and then turns inland to negotiate Gillan Creek at St Anthony-in-Meneage. While a low-tide shortcut via stepping stones is possible with care, otherwise the trail winds around the creek, heading towards Dennis Head and the wooded southern shore leading to Helford village, where the Shipwrights Arms pub, a store, and a cafe offer refreshments. After crossing the Helford River by historic ferry to Helford Passage (seasonal, operational times vary), the path follows the estuary past Trebah Gardens to Durgan, Captain Vancouver's historic home. Continuing past Porth Saxon and over Rosemullion Head's grassy pastures, offering views across Falmouth Bay, the route descends to Maenporth beach, boasting a cafe and toilets. Leaving Maenporth, the path climbs along clifftops, undulating through Swanpool and past Gyllyngvase Beach, both with cafes, before rounding Pendennis Point and its 16th-century castle, ultimately following Falmouth's busy waterfront to Market Street, concluding Stage 3.