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Abtot Logo. Encounter Walking Holidays member number 5357

Itinerary

Section 1

Padstow to Porthcothan

​Pass the old fortifications at Gun Point on your path along the Camel Estuary

Section 2

Porthcothan to Newquay

Today your trail hugs the edge of the cliffs high above a procession of rocky coves

Section 3

Newquay to Perranporth

Set out towards Towan Head past the white washed 14 Century Huers hut.

Section 4

Perranporth to Portreath

Today gives your first taste of The Cornwall Mining World Heritage Site.

Section 5

Portreath to Gwithian (or Hayle)

Climb Western hill, with views back to St Agnes Beacon and Kelsey Head.

Section 6

Gwithian (or Hayle) to St. Ives

Today you cross Red River, named after the iron oxide that turned it this colour.

The day beacon on Stepper Point, Cornwall

For me this section is all about the beach - huge golden sands, great accommodation and good facilities. My tips? Get a Hedgehog Ice Cream at Chapel Porth Beach and then climb to Wheal Coates Tin Mine to watch the sunset over the sea

Sophie - Walking Advisor at Encounter

South West Coast Path Section 3,

Padstow to St. Ives.

South West Coast Path Section 3,

Padstow to St. Ives.

Travel along the Cornish Coast Path on a magnificent journey to St Ives wandering white glistening sands lapped by turquoise blue seas and backed by pristine unspoilt dunes, a seemingly endless run of some of the finest, longest and most golden beaches in the West Country.

Sand and surf may be a recurring feature but this route brings you much more,  breaking out of the beaches into dramatic rocky headlands,  tortured cliffs, deep sea caves and fantastic rocky stacks and arches as you travel Cornwall’s Atlantic Coastline...

Overview

Interactive Map

Pricing On This Route

A single walker staying in single or single occupancy en-suite rooms can expect to pay somewhere between £150 and £180 per night, including luggage transfers.

Two people sharing a double or twin en-suite room can expect to pay somewhere between £110 and £150 per person per night inclusive of luggage transfers.

 

Please be aware that these prices depend on accommodation chosen, time of year, etc. and are indicative only, based upon customers walking with us between 2021 and 2023. For accurate pricing please request a quote.

Our prices include -

- Your choices of good quality en-suite B&B, Inn and small hotel accommodation with full breakfast (where available), together with upgrade options.

- Detailed walking route planning and ongoing support from specialist walking advisors from your enquiry through to the end of the walk

- A full booking administration and holiday management service including information on travel to and from your walking routes

- Secure and reliable daily luggage transfers between accommodations

- The best available maps & guidebooks along with your own personal detailed route notes & itinerary posted to you whether you are based in the UK or overseas

Please see below for six factors which affect your quoted price - 

1 - The time of year you are walking -  The low season (outside of May to September) is generally cheaper than the peak months.

2 - How early you book. Cheaper accommodation tends to book out first so to get the best prices and choice of accommodation we recommend you book as early as you can. Bookings open for the season the previous summer.

3 - Which routes and areas you choose - Cornwall, South Devon and Dorset are the more expensive regions while Wales, Somerset, North Devon and Dartmoor tend to offer better prices. We also often run seasonal special offers on certain routes so ask if these would be of interest.

4 - Type of accommodation  -  You can choose to upgrade to luxury hotels or downgrade to basic B&B's and we will try to match your walk to your budget. Quotes will show standard options and the costs for any upgrades so you can pick and choose to suit your plans.

5 - The number of walkers - rates are generally based on 2 walkers -  the more walkers the cheaper prices get as we split the costs of providing the walk between the group.

6 - Luggage Transfers - our quotes include two prices - with and without luggage transfers so if you want to keep the costs down you can choose to carry your own luggage to avoid those charges.

If you want to try to get the lowest prices let us know your budget - we can advise honestly and openly what is possible - we don't want to see anyone unable to walk the routes due to costs.

 

To request a quote costs nothing and there is no commitment to book - so do try us! We usually have quotes emailed back to you within a few days and these documents are very detailed with accommodation choices, website links to the accommodations, route descriptions, daily walking grade and mileage, travel info to the trail and of course a guaranteed price to consider.  All for the specific walk YOU want.

Route Profile And Options

Fast Route
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Padstow to  Mawgan Porth
Mawgan Porth to Perranporth
Perrnaporth to Portreath
Portreath to St. Ives
18 miles
18 miles
12 miles
18 miles
Daily average 16.5 miles
Relaxed Route
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Daily average 9.4 miles
Padstow to Harlyn Bay
Harlyn Bay to Mawgan Porth
Mawgan Porth to Newquay Fistral
Newquay Fistral to St. Agnes
St. Agnes to Portreath
Portreath to Hayle
Hayle to St. Ives
7 miles
11 miles
8.5 miles
13 miles
8 miles
12 miles
6 miles
Standard Route
Day 1
Padstow to Porthcothan
13.5 miles
Day 2
Porthcothan to Newquay
10.5 miles
Day 3
Newquay to Perranporth
11 miles
Day 4
Day 5
Perranporth to Portreath
12.5 miles
Day 6
Portreath to Hayle
12 miles
Hayle to St. Ives
6 miles
Daily average 11 miles

Travel To And From The Route

Arriving from Overseas - Those arriving from overseas will usually arrive in the UK at London Gatwick or London Heathrow airport from where you can catch direct trains to Bodmin Parkway Station for Padstow (see the train information above). Those arriving at London Heathrow will usually take a 1/2 hour underground train / overland train service into London Paddington to catch the fast inter city trains to Devon and Cornwall.

Internal Flights - Newquay airport allows easy access to the starting point at Padstow (1/2 hour bus or transfer) There are also a few buses a day returning from St Ives to Newquay or you can take the train - around 3 hours. Private transfers taking around one hour can also be arranged.

There are also regional airports at Exeter and Bristol that take international flights and connect by train to Bodmin Parkway (for Padstow) and St Ives. These will be quicker than flying via London if you can find international flights arriving at these airports.

Reviews & Feedback

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