South West Coast Path, Cornwall

This walk from Lamorna to Marazion offers a tempting tropical cove, possibly the prettiest fishing village in England and a chance to explore an iconic Cornish heritage site, St Michael’s Mount. This is a particularly varied stretch of the 630-mile South West Coast Path, a route originally walked by coastguards patrolling for smugglers. Since 1978, it’s offered continuous access along the south-west peninsula, from Minehead in Somerset to Poole in Dorset.

The smugglers’ wink

Set off from Lamorna Cove, once a hub for artists who were drawn here by the curious quality of the light. Lamorna’s pub, The Wink, alludes to the cove’s smuggling history. The wink would let people know you were free trading for such things as brandy, lace and salt. Inns like these were known as Kiddlywinks – places where labourers received beer instead of wages, and stronger stuff was often available under the counter in unlabelled bottles.

Walk left around the bay and follow the South West Coast Path signs, marked with an acorn, bearing right past the granite quarry on a steep path. Keep an eye out for seals and basking sharks, which shouldn’t be hard to spot in the clear water.

At all times of year, you’re likely to be surrounded by yellow gorse – as the phrase goes: when gorse is out of flower, kissing is out of season. In late spring, the cliffside will be ablaze with wildflowers: paper white ox-eye daisies, bright yellow cat’s ear and bird’s foot trefoil, clusters of blue-purple sheep’s bit and great swathes of pearly pink thrift.

Home of stargazey pie

Pass by Kemyel Crease Nature Reserve, and after a few steep climbs, you’ll come to Mousehole, an enchanting tangle of narrow streets and cottages that Dylan Thomas described as “the prettiest village in England”.

Mousehole is famous for its stargazey pie – in the 16th century, the villages were starving as winter storms battered the port. A local lad called Tom Bawcock braved the gale and brought back a haul of seven types of fish. His heroic feat is celebrated every 23 December, Tom Bawcock’s Eve, in a pie with fish heads sticking out through the pastry crust.

Leave enough time to seek out driftwood trinket shops, pint-sized houses and quirky gardens among Mousehole’s narrow streets.

The light fantastic

Continue towards Newlyn, picking up a tarmac path. When you reach a post marked ‘Penzance 2m’, bear right on to a concrete path, then climb back up to the road as you enter Newlyn. This port was both the home of the Newlyn School of Art, the Cornish equivalent of the impressionists, and one of the largest fishing fleets in the country.

Apparently, the town had three things going for it – good light, cheap living and cheap models. The artists’ paintings often chronicled life in a working fishing village.

Cross the road opposite the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen, bearing to the left of the building, then right over a stone bridge and right along the road. You now come to a stretch of promenade through the outskirts of Penzance.

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HOW TO GET THERE

Penzance is the last stop on the Great Western Railway built by Isembard Kingdom Brunel. From here you can catch a bus to Lamorna, Mousehole and Marazion. Lamorna Cove car park has a strict pay and display policy.

FIND OUT MORE

The South West Coast Path National Trail
www.southwestcoastpath.com
The stretch from Lamorna to Mousehole is steep and challenging. The section from Newlyn to Penzance is much easier going, and is accessible for wheelchairs.

Visit Cornwall
www.visitcornwall.com

EAT/STAY

The Ship Inn
South Cliff, Mousehole
TR19 6QS
01736 731234
Real ale pub on the harbour. Bakes stargazey pie for the locals every 23 December.

STAY

The Cove
Lamorna TR19 6XH
Beautiful apartments overlooking the cove, with outdoor pool and sauna.
01736 731411
www.thecovecornwall.com

countryfile

South West Coast Path, Cornwall

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