(S) From the small, free National Trust car park at Predannack, the route initially follows a fairly easy path along the top of the cliffs, with a section through the Soapy Valley.
(1) Just before the 5 km mark, the route emerges at the top of Kynance Cove, one of Cornwall’s most popular natural sites (be warned: it gets very busy in fine weather). Note that it is impossible to cross the beach at high tide, but there is an alternative coastal path to go round it.
(2) From Kynance Cove, the coastal path continues towards Lizard Point, the southernmost tip of‘mainland’ England, where we were lucky enough to spot a colony of seals.
(3) The route then continues towards the lighthouse and on to Bass Station (the coastal surveillance station). Of note is the memorial dedicated to the seamen who lost their lives in the (originally highly controversial) sinking of the Bugaled Breizh (Guilvinec, Brittany, France) on 15 January 2004 off Lizard Point.
(4) A little further on, the route skirts the Lizard Lifeboat Station (5) and then passes through Church Cove (6) before arriving at Cadgwith (E), a charming little fishing village that seems to exist outside the flow of time. Sandwiches filled with lobster, crab or other seafood are available at the small fishmonger’s. Ice cream is available at the small grocery shop opposite.
Lizard Point
It can sometimes be tricky to complete a circular walk in this region, firstly because there aren’t enough paths or tracks to avoid stretches of tarmac – some longer, some shorter – and traffic on very narrow roads, and secondly because the most attractive scenery is mainly found along the coast rather than inland.
So here is a hike that isn’t circular. As is always the case with such routes, you’ll either need to arrange for two cars or return by taxi. There are no buses serving the starting point, so you’ll either have to walk there and back – in which case you’ll need to cover 28.5 km and set aside a whole day for it – or, of course, you could tackle this route as a stage of a multi-day hike.
Details
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
–
–
-
Activity: Walking -
Distance: 8.79 mi -
Average duration: 5h 05 -
Difficulty: Difficult -
-
Back to start: No -
Ascent: + 1,184 ft -
Descent: - 1,362 ft -
-
Highest point: 236 ft -
Lowest point: 13 ft
-
Country:
United Kingdom
-
City:
Mullion -
Start: N 50.000305° / W 5.25419° -
End: N 49.987471° / W 5.179748° -
Hour-by-hour weather
Photos
Description of the walk
Waypoints
- S : mi 0 - alt. 220 ft - National Trust car park at Predannack
- 1 : mi 1.62 - alt. 108 ft - Soapy Valley
- 2 : mi 2.94 - alt. 26 ft - Kynance Cove
- 3 : mi 5.02 - alt. 26 ft - Lizard Point
- 4 : mi 6.26 - alt. 108 ft - Bass Point
- 5 : mi 6.79 - alt. 135 ft - Lizard Lifeboat Station
- 6 : mi 7.08 - alt. 13 ft - Church Cove
- E : mi 8.79 - alt. 33 ft - Cadgwith
Notes
Please note: this walk is not circular… to walk back, you’ll need to cover 28.5 km and a total ascent of at least 800 m.
Worth a visit
Lizard Point is the northernmost point of the ‘mainland’ United Kingdom. You’ll probably see seals basking on the rocks or poking their snouts out just above the water’s surface.
Other walks in the area
Porth Mellin from Predannack Wollas
Visorando Member
3.60 mi
+436 ft
-433 ft
2h 00
Easy
Departure from Mullion (Cornwall)
This pleasant circular walk explores a beautiful section of the South West Coast path leading to Mullion Cove. You can visit Porth Mellin as well before you go back using paths and tracks inland.
Vellan Head and Kynance Cove from Predannack Wollas
4.93 mi
+364 ft
-384 ft
2h 35
Easy
Departure from Mullion (Cornwall)
This pretty flat circular walk allows discovering impressive cliffs walking along Vellan Head until you reach the lovely Kynance Cove. Then, the return route goes straight across The Predannack Downs.
Mullion, Polurrian Cove, and the Chocolate Factory
2.59 mi
+194 ft
-174 ft
1h 20
Easy
Departure from Mullion (Cornwall)
From the small village of Mullion on the south Cornish coast, the walk leads down through the valley to Polurrian Cove. As the South West Coast path winds its way back along the coastline to Mullion Cove, before heading back past the Chocolate factory, and back through the old village.
Mullion, the Poldhu Marconi Centre, and the Monument
2.49 mi
+151 ft
-151 ft
1h 15
Easy
Departure from Mullion (Cornwall)
Walking from the small Cornish village of Mullion to the coast, and following the South West Coast path, along with the coastal views, passing the historic monument and museum of Marconi, where the first trans-Atlantic radio transmission was made from.
Following the coast path to Gunwalloe, Chyanvounder, and Church Cove
3.13 mi
+387 ft
-374 ft
1h 45
Easy
Departure from Gunwalloe (Cornwall)
A circular walk that could be started at either Church Cove or perhaps Chyanvounder, where there is a country inn offering good pub grub. As this is a circular, there is the option to start at (2). But would suggest the route as plotted.
Pen Olver, Lizard Point and Kynance Cove from Lizard village
5.84 mi
+627 ft
-627 ft
3h 15
Moderate
Departure from Landewednack (Cornwall)
This circular walk mainly using The Lizard Coastal Walk is a good way to explore the most southerly point on mainland Great Britain including beautiful coves, turquoise seas and impressive cliffs
Circular walk around Lizard Point
6.08 mi
+719 ft
-722 ft
3h 25
Easy
Departure from Landewednack (Cornwall)
A gorgeous circular coastal walk to visit the famous Lizard Point.
Penrose to Porthleven
3.41 mi
+230 ft
-207 ft
1h 45
Easy
Departure from Porthleven (Cornwall)
From the National Trust car park at Penrose Hill, and heading around farm fields along Cornish hedges filled with blackberries (well, when in season). Walking high above The Loe, and as the path winds its way south, the views open up to panoramic views of the south Cornish coast and the Loe Bar. Heading towards Porthleven, seeing the clock tower, which, during the winter storms, the seas wash over. After exploring the ancient harbour, the route works it way back up to the start.
For more walks, use our search engine .
The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.
