Walks near Penzance by train

Occasional flashes of beautiful farming and coastal wetlands. After a quiet urban exit the route opens into farming country and coastal wetlands, with mostly well-marked footpaths and many distinctive old granite stiles and before a lively urban footpath into Camborne.

Time: 3h–6h30

Warnings: A footpath appears not to exist at Polmeanor Farmhouse; continue and follow the woodland path to switch back and pick up the trail.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Time: 5h30–11h

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Amazing views, lovely, excellent views over Carbis Bay. A coastal walk of two halves: the first along the busy B-road around the Hayle estuary on the flat, with wide estuary views over salt marshes and mudflats, a slightly eroded waterside path; the second a fun, more strenuous footpath sandwiched between the railway and the cliffs, through dunes and a golf club and with many short ups and downs on steps. Part of the South West Coast Path. Follows the South West Coast Path and St Michael's Way; the railway runs close by throughout and the St Ives branch line offers a recommended return. Passes the complex that housed the 2021 G7 Summit. The churchyard at Lelant is a good picnic spot.

Coastal: almost all along the coast.

Time: 2h30–5h

Lunch: No shortage of eating, drinking and snacking opportunities en route, with facilities at Lelant and Carbis Bay.

Warnings: The coastal footpath has steep, tricky sections and many ups and downs on steps, and can be muddy; a waterside path near Hayle may flood at very high tide.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

The views around Lanner were crazy, stretching for miles across Cornwall. A fantastic, surprisingly direct rural route with a nice mix of footpaths, quiet back roads and grassy fields, plus the old Mineral Tramways Mining Trail. Not too hilly, very peaceful and with some heavily overgrown field sections in summer and a few difficult stiles and gates; some rights of way have been adapted by landowners. Uses the Mineral Tramways Mining Trail. Easy buses back from both Redruth and Penryn.

Time: 3h30–6h30

Lunch: A pub at Stithians, roughly half way. Shops at Stithians and Lanner.

Warnings: Several heavily overgrown sections, especially around Tresevean in summer, where field edges may be easier than the path line. A few difficult stiles and gates. Crossing the A39 is tricky, requiring patience for a gap.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Inland to St Austell station.

Walk details: Railwalks.