Walks in and around Perranporth

The 630 mile South West Coast Path is the longest stretch of coastal path in England. With its rugged cliffs, tin mines, heritage sites, diverse wildlife, interesting geology and spectacular scenery, it offers a wonderful way to explore the stunning coastline surrounding Perranporth and the local areas.

To Holywell Bay, 4.5 miles
A glorious beach, Holywell Bay boasts impressive sand dunes, a shallow river, the striking Gull Rocks, and an old ship wreck that can be seen at low tide. Just a few minutes’ walk from the beach is the small village of Holywell which offers a couple of cosy pubs with great beer gardens for the summer and warming open fires for winter walkers.

To Crantock, 8.5 miles
A wide spectacular beach with golden sands, towering sand dunes, Atlantic surf and the protected Gannel Estuary. At low tide the sandy river bed of the Gannel is a great place to explore rock pools, wooded inlets and creeks. A further five minutes up the road the picturesque village of Crantock has a small general store, coffee shop and a couple of quaint pubs for food and refreshments.

To Newquay, 12.5 miles
This bustling, lively coastal town offers an abundance of pubs, restaurants, shops, numerous superb beaches, rugged headlands, working harbour and world-renowned surf.

To access the South West Coast Path from Perranporth heading south, walk up Cliff Road behind The Seiners pub. At the top of the hill pause for a moment at the sundial to take in the glorious view of Perranporth beach before continuing up, behind Droskyn Castle, to the Youth Hostel where the Coast Path can be picked up towards St Agnes.

To St Agnes, 3.6 miles
A stunning walk along the cliff top, the coast path then descends down into picturesque and sheltered Trevaunance Cove with its clear water, rock pools to explore and great waves to surf. A pub, restaurant, café and gallery are all near the beachfront. A 15-minute walk up through the valley leads to the vibrant village of St Agnes with numerous pubs, eateries and independent shops.

To Chapel Porth, 6.9 miles
A beautiful walk through St Agnes and up to the top of St Agnes Beacon, which offers outstanding views across coast and countryside. Hike to the striking remains of Wheal Coates engine house, perched on the edge of the cliff, and descend to the lovely little cove of Chapel Porth.

To Porthtowan, 7.6 miles
Set in a narrow winding valley, Porthtowan is surrounded by impressive granite cliffs offering breathtaking views of the Cornish coastline. The award-winning blue flag beach is overlooked by the popular Blue Bar pub and restaurant, a fantastic place from which to watch the sun set.

To Portreath, 12.4 miles
A pretty tourist town with a small harbour and lovely sandy beach, Portreath offers great surf, and a selection of pubs, cafés and shops. It’s also the starting point of the great mineral walk along the old tracks to Devoran on the South Coast.

If you fancy getting away to Cornwall and spending days exploring these beautiful walks, browse our holiday cottages near the coast.