7-Day Falmouth to Plymouth Itinerary — Explorer Pace (SWCP Section 4)

Beginning at Falmouth's Prince of Wales Pier, a delightful 20-minute ferry ride across the Carrick Roads delivers you to St Mawes. After an optional exploration of its Tudor castle and a refreshment stop, a brief 10-minute shuttle across Place Creek leads to the coastal path proper. Initially gentle with minor undulations past Cellars Beach, the route soon ascends steeply to St Anthony Head, marked by its 1835 lighthouse and WWII fortifications, offering commanding harbour views. Beyond Towan Beach, the path undulates through conserved grasslands past several small headlands, eventually opening to reveal the charming fishing village of Portscatho, a welcome spot for sustenance. Leaving Portscatho, the path skirts Porthcurnick and Portbean Beaches before becoming more demanding as it climbs towards Nare Head, a prominent viewpoint with wartime history and Bronze Age remains. The terrain turns notably challenging thereafter, with steep ascents and descents, navigating gorse and bramble through dramatic coastal scenery, rounding Kiberick Cove and Parc Caragloose Cove before a final steep, rocky descent into the picturesque fishing village of Portloe.

This stage navigates a varied 14-mile route from Portscatho, starting on cliff tops overlooking Gerrans Bay with descents to Porthcurnick and Portbean beaches before reaching the expansive Carne and Pendower beaches, where refreshment is available at the Nare Hotel. The path then ascends to the significant landmark of Nare Head, standing at 90 metres, offering panoramic views and historical insights from wartime bunkers to Bronze Age barrows. From Nare Head, the terrain becomes more demanding with steep descents and ascents around The Blouth, passing Kiberick Cove and Parc Caragloose Cove, before a steep drop into picturesque Portloe, offering refreshment at The Ship Inn and The Lugger Hotel. Leaving Portloe, the strenuous coastal path continues around Caraglooze Point, before a brief respite at East Portholland and a descent to the magnificent Porthluney Cove, shadowed by Caerhays Castle. The route then enters woodland with challenging steps and ascents before rounding Greeb Point and Gell Point towards Dodman Point, the highest headland at 114 metres, a strenuous climb rewarded with spectacular views and featuring a granite cross, Iron Age earthworks, and grazing Dexter cattle. Finally, the path follows challenging cliff-top terrain above Vault Beach before descending past St Just Church to the charming fishing village of Gorran Haven, where the village cooperative café provides refreshments.

From Gorran Haven's harbour, the path winds upwards beyond Great Perhaver Beach and Pabyer Point, offering easier walking across grassy fields towards Chapel Point and the dramatically named Bodrugan's Leap. Continuing past Colona Beach and striking Arts and Crafts houses at Chapel Point, the route descends to the small fishing village of Portmellon, where the Rising Sun Inn provides refreshment, before a final climb and descent into the historic harbour of Mevagissey. Emerging steeply from Mevagissey, the path traverses open clifftops and undulating pastureland, passing Penare Point and the abandoned settlement of Portgiskey, before crossing the St Austell River to enter the characterful village of Pentewan, a former china clay port, offering a last chance for refreshments before embarking on the arduous, fenced terrain of the Porthowan estate. Descending into the wooded dell of Hallane, with its waterfall and natural arch, the path then climbs via switchback trails through Ropehaven Cliffs Nature Reserve, past Silvermine and Phoebe's Points, to the gently sheltered beach of Porthpean. A final climb around Carricktowel Point leads to the remarkably preserved Georgian harbour of Charlestown, famed for its tall ships and film appearances, where ample refreshments are available, before the route continues past Landrion Point and Carlyon Bay, ultimately crossing the expansive sandy expanse of Par Sands, with its visible china clay works, before reaching Par.

Leaving Charlestown's Georgian harbour, the South West Coast Path winds past Landrion Point and a lookout station towards Carlyon Bay, skirting the front of the Carlyon Bay Hotel. Beyond, the route briefly follows the National Cycle Network around Par Sands, a striking contrast of expansive beach against the industrial china clay works. After crossing the back of Par Sands, with refreshment stops available in Par centre, the terrain becomes more challenging towards Gribbin Head. Easy walking past Polmear leads to the tiny cove village of Polkerris, home to the Rashleigh Inn, before the path ascends towards the unmistakable red and white striped daymark tower on Gribbin Head, a vital navigational aid. From this National Trust-owned headland, offering dramatic promontory walking and far-reaching views, the path launches into a series of aggressive ups and downs along high cliffs, dipping around inlets and the literary-linked coves of Polridmouth. Finally, after passing through Covington Wood and St Catherine's Point with its castle ruins, the path descends into Coombe Haven before emerging at the beautiful historic port town of Fowey, nestled in its deep-water harbour and offering ample facilities.

Leaving Fowey via the Polruan Ferry, the path quickly ascends to challenging clifftop walking with spectacular views, passing Blackbottle Rock before reaching the National Trust's Lantic Bay, a stunning spot with steep but rewarding access to its beaches. Beyond Pencarrow Head, the route continues with the characteristic arduous ups and downs towards the picturesque, narrow inlet of Polperro, famed for its photogenic harbour and refreshment stops. From Polperro, a steep climb leads towards Crumplehorn and demanding coastal terrain, descending eventually to Talland Bay, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with shingle beaches and available refreshments. Rounding Hore Point, the path enters Portnadler Bay with views of Looe Island before approaching the distinctive harbour entrance of Looe, where the twin settlements are divided by the River Looe, offering a variety of facilities.

Leaving the picturesque harbour of Polperro, the challenging path climbs steeply through The Warren and along Fore Street, then via The Combe road towards Crumplehorn, offering fine views back over the village and clifftops. The demanding clifftop terrain continues westward, with ups and downs past the war memorial on Downend Point before descending to sheltered Talland Bay, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with refreshment at the Smugglers Rest. Rounding Hore Point and Portnadler Bay, we view Looe Island before entering the twin settlements of Looe, divided by its river and distinctive banjo pier. Looe provides comprehensive facilities before the route climbs steeply east via Higher Market Street and country lanes towards Millendreath and the sandy beach. Climbing Bodigga Lane to Bay View Farm campsite affords spectacular views, before passing near the Monkey Sanctuary and reaching Cornwall's south coast highest point at Looe Hill's trig pillar. A gradual descent leads to Seaton with its sandy beach and café, an ideal lunch stop, before approximately one mile of road walking towards Downderry, a refined village with refreshment options. The clifftop path then heads east, offering expansive views across Whitsand Bay, passing Battern Cliffs before finally descending into the secluded fishing village of Portwrinkle, with a detour inland to Crafthole for further refreshments at The Finnygook Inn.

Departing Portwrinkle, the path climbs eastward along clifftop paths, offering expansive views of Whitsand Bay. The route traverses undulating grassland and gorse-covered terrain, passing Battern Cliffs before a brief descent into Portwrinkle. While Crafthole's Finnygook Inn is a detour option, the main path soon follows the clifftops above Whitsand Bay Golf Course. A significant challenge is the Tregantle Military Firing Range; walkers must heed red flag warnings, or follow a road diversion via the B3247. Beyond the range, past Tregantle Fort and Freathy's chalets, the trail ascends towards Rame Head, offering dramatic views and passing Polhawn Battery and Fort. Descending through woodland towards Penlee Point, Plymouth Sound comes into view, and the path leads into the twin villages of Cawsand and Kingsand, where pubs like The Rising Sun provide refreshments. Leaving Kingsand, the route skirts Cawsand Bay and Mount Edgcumbe Country Park, offering views towards Drake's Island and the Royal Citadel across Plymouth Sound. After traversing Redding Point and Minadew, a descent to Cremyll precedes a short passenger ferry crossing of the River Tamar to Plymouth, concluding the stage at The Hoe, the iconic viewpoint overlooking the Sound.