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

From Falmouth's Prince of Wales Pier, a scenic 20-minute ferry crossing of the Carrick Roads offers views of Pendennis and St Mawes castles before landing in the picturesque village of St Mawes, where refreshments are available. A short shuttle across to Place Creek is then followed by woodland walking past Place House, eventually reaching the coast path proper. Gentle undulations lead towards Carricknath Point and its sandy beaches, culminating in a steep climb up St Anthony Head, rewarded with commanding views from its lighthouse and WWII fortifications. The terrain then eases past Towan Beach and several small headlands, past conservation grazing, towards the fishing village of Portscatho. Leaving the harbour, clifftop paths lead past Porthcurnick and Portbean Beaches, eventually reaching the expansive Carne Beach with refreshment opportunities at the Nare Hotel. The route then becomes more demanding, climbing towards Nare Head for spectacular panoramic views and historical wartime remnants. Further along, the terrain becomes significantly more challenging with steep ascents and descents around dramatic headlands and coves like Kiberick Cove and Parc Caragloose Cove, before a final steep, rocky descent brings you into the charming fishing village of Portloe.

The challenging South West Coast Path stage from Portloe to Par winds through dramatic Cornish landscapes, beginning with the steep descent into Portloe's picturesque harbour, then venturing across scrubland and inland pastures before arriving at the magnificent sandy expanse of Porthluney Cove, overlooked by Caerhays Castle. Continuing east, the route ascends towards the commanding presence of Dodman Point, Cornwall's highest headland, after which the trail undulates past the shingle shores of Vault Beach and into the charming fishing village of Gorran Haven. Further along, Bodrugan's Leap cliff offers historical intrigue before the path descends to Portmellon and the iconic double-walled harbour of Mevagissey. Beyond, the terrain becomes a succession of steep rises and falls through open pastures towards Pentewan, a village with a notable china clay port history. The demanding Porthowan estate section then leads to Hallane, a wooded dell with a waterfall, and onwards through the Ropehaven Cliffs Nature Reserve. After rounding Silvermine Point and Phoebe's Point with their inaccessible beaches, the path moderates into Porthpean, before a final approach via Duporth and Polmear Island to the historically preserved Georgian harbour of Charlestown. The stage concludes by crossing the expansive sands of Par Sands, with views towards the industrial china clay works contrasting with the natural coastline.

Departing historic Charlestown's Georgian harbour, the path skirts Landrion Point and Carlyon Bay, passing the Carlyon Bay Hotel before traversing Par Sands, a landscape of striking contrast between its expansive beach and the china clay works. After refreshment opportunities in Par, the route begins its challenging ascent towards Gribbin Head, marked by its distinctive red and white daymark tower, a navigational aid built in 1832 offering spectacular views. Following rugged clifftop walking with deep inlets and literary connections at Polridmouth, the path eventually descends towards the beautiful port town of Fowey. After crossing the estuary by ferry to Polruan, the demanding terrain continues with relentless ups and downs as the path navigates dramatic headlands, passing the spectacular bays of Lantic and Pencarrow before the picturesque fishing village of Polperro. Continuing with strenuous clifftop paths, including passing the war memorial near Downend Point, the route descends to Talland Bay before rounding Hore Point and entering Portnadler Bay, offering views of Looe Island. Finally, the path arrives in Looe, a town divided by its river, with restorative facilities and the distinctive banjo pier.

Leaving Polperro, the dramatic terrain immediately ascends, offering striking views before the path navigates demanding clifftop undulations toward Talland Bay, a sheltered inlet with refreshment possibilities. Beyond Hore Point and picturesque Portnadler Bay, the ascent into Looe marks a significant settlement with amenities. The route then climbs steeply again, heading towards Millendreath and the highest point on Cornwall's south coast at Looe Hill, before a gradual descent to Seaton, an ideal lunch stop. A road section leads through Downderry before the path reclaims the clifftops for expansive views across Whitsand Bay. Care must be taken through the Tregantle Military Firing Range, with a mandatory diversion when firing is active, bypassing the historic Tregantle Fort. Beyond the military area, the path winds through Freathy and ascends to Rame Head's iconic chapel before descending to the historic smuggling villages of Cawsand and Kingsand. After skirting Mount Edgcumbe Country Park, offering views of Drake's Island, a ferry from Cremyll crosses the River Tamar to Plymouth, where The Hoe, overlooking Plymouth Sound, signifies the end of this challenging, scenic Cornish stretch.