Hiking in Cornwall

Set on the western edge of Great Britain, Cornwall is a legendary cultural haven surrounded by the sea and filled with tales of mermaids, pixies, and ghostly galleons. We've chosen the most spectacular sections of the Cornish Coastal Path for our adventure, with overnights in three of Cornwall's most atmospheric coastal villages: Padstow, St. Ives, and Fowey. Some of our hikes start right from our hotel's front door! We'll hike along towering cliffs and sandy beaches, explore fascinating sites including Tintagel, mythical home of King Arthur, and soak up local lore. Our adventure also takes full advantage of the flourishing dining scene, including meals at Rick Stein's St. Petroc's Bistro and the famed "Fifteen Cornwall" restaurant—expect delightful cuisine with a Cornish twist.

Itinerary

Days 1-3
Padstow / Boscastle / Port Isaac 
In lovely Padstow, we hike from the medieval harbor town of Boscastle to the ruins of Tintagel Castle, forever linked with tales of King Arthur, and from the sands of Constantine Bay past the lighthouse at Trevose Head. We visit the whitewashed "higgledy-piggledy" cottages of Port Isaac, a fishing village since the 14th century, and dine at St. Petroc's Bistro, the acclaimed seafood restaurant of chef Rick Stein.

Days 4-7
Porthcothan / Land's End / Lamorna Cove / St. Ives 
At the horseshoe-shaped bay of Porthcothan, we walk cliff trails to the sea stacks called the Bedruthan Steps and hike to famed Land's End, where much of BBC's Poldark series was filmed. Following in the footsteps of pirates, we take the trail through Lamorna Cove, tucked beneath the headlands. Our base is St. Ives, a seaside town where we'll enjoy lunch at a renowned restaurant on Watergate Bay.

Days 8-11
Fowey / Polperro / Saints Way 
We explore the Lost Gardens of Heligan, with its collections from the Victorian plant hunters, and hike between the villages of Polperro to Polruan on paths never far from the sea. Another walk circles Menabilly, Daphne du Maurier's estate, reimagined as Manderley in her haunting novel Rebecca. Our farewell hike is along The Saints Way, a long-distance footpath marked with Celtic crosses, a legacy of early Christian travelers. Depart on Day 11 via Bodmin.