Walks near St Austell by train

Harbour, dramatic Atlantic cliffs and the surfing sands of Fistral Beach, past a historic clifftop lookout hut.

Fistral Beach: A wide Atlantic-facing surfing beach on the west side of Newquay.

Warnings: Some steps and steep cliff sections.

Walk details: Great Scenic Railways of Devon & Cornwall (PDF).

Beautiful views. Coastal path. Sunday service only runs in summer (bus link in winter); Includes a short ferry crossing.

Coastal: almost all along the coast.

Time: 9h–18h30

Walk details: Railwalks.

Coastal: three quarters along the coast.

Time: 9h30–19h30

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Some beautiful streams and woodlands; great views. A fairly direct but hilly route, mainly on very quiet back roads and traversing small valleys with beautiful streams and woodlands. Includes one stile (avoidable via a short detour). A short stretch beside the busy B3359 and a section without pavement in and out of Lostwithiel. No supply stops along the route, so stock up at Lostwithiel or Liskeard. The section between Scorn Mill and through the Deerpark is a delight.

Time: 6h–11h30

Lunch: No places to stop for supplies along the route, so stock up at either end.

Warnings: A 100-metre stretch beside the busy, fast B3359 (good verge and visibility), and a section of Lanwithan Road with no pavement, especially care heading south on the hill.

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.

Time: 6h30–13h

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Time: 5h30–11h

Walk details: Slow Ways.

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: 5h30–11h30

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Quite delightful. A delightful, longer alternative that uses the Mountbatten Ferry then follows the coast path and the Erme Plym Trail through varied scenery - coast, farmland, riverside paths, quiet lanes and pretty villages. Mostly footpaths and very quiet lanes (or with a pavement), hilly in places and with many steps at Mountbatten Point and some muddy footpaths after heavy rain. Involves the Mountbatten Ferry from Plymouth Barbican (about every 30 minutes). Follows the coast path and the Erme Plym Trail. Good transport links from the rest of Devon.

Time: 6h30–13h

Lunch: Pubs at Brixton and Yealmpton, with a cafe at Yealmpton.

Warnings: Many steep steps at Mountbatten Point. Some footpaths were muddy after days of heavy rain. A long road section between Yelmbridge and Burraton, though quiet or pavemented.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

There are fantastic views of both Mount's Bay and St Ives Bay. A coast-to-coast walk mostly following the well-signed St Michael's Way, on varied paths over pasture fields with many gates and high stiles, a final stretch on the South West Coast Path. Up and down throughout and very muddy in places after rain. Mostly follows St Michael's Way, the approved UK branch of the Camino pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. Few services at the midpoint. Optional detours up Trencrom Hill and to Knill's Monument.

Time: 4h–8h

Lunch: Tremenheere Sculpture Park has a café; little else in the way of services mid-route.

Warnings: Steep slopes, many gates and high stiles, and livestock including cattle in the pasture fields.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A hilly route that climbs out of Bugle through woodland before following generally quiet lanes for a long stretch, then crossing sheep and cattle fields. Field paths are often unmarked on the ground, with stiles in poor repair and the approach into Lostwithiel is steep and gravelly. The unusual round granite boulders in the fields are keystones of the St Austell batholith, a local geological feature. Luxulyan village has toilets and a shop.

Time: 3h30–7h

Warnings: The lanes are only just wide enough for vehicles, including agricultural traffic, especially around Luxulyan, so take care. Cattle are present in many fields. Field navigation west of Lanlivery is tricky and the final stile into Lostwithiel is in poor repair. The B3269 crossing is awkward.

Walk details: Slow Ways.