Walks in Cornwall with a lighthouse or daymark

Walks in Cornwall with a lighthouse or daymark

Enjoy the walks by being guided by the app

Phone showing walk for purchase
Download the app and use it to explore the walks and to purchase a guided route.
Phone showing Google navigation to start of walk
The app will direct you to the start of the walk via satnav.
Hand holding a phone showing the iWalk Cornwall app
The app guides you around the walk using GPS, removing any worries about getting lost.
Phone showing walk directions page in the iWalk Cornwall app
The walk route is described with detailed, regularly-updated, hand-written directions.
Person looking a directions on phone
Each time there is a new direction to follow, the app will beep to remind you, and will warn you if you go off-route.
Phone showing walk map page in the iWalk Cornwall app
A map shows the route, where you are at all times and even which way you are facing.
Phone showing facts section in iWalk Cornwall app
Each walk is packed with information about the history and nature along the route, from over a decade of research than spans more than 3,000 topics.
Person looking at phone with cliff scenery in background
Once a walk is downloaded, the app doesn't need a phone or wifi signal during the walk.
Phone showing walk stats in the iWalk Cornwall app
The app counts down distance to the next direction and estimates time remaining based on your personal walking speed.
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We keep the directions continually updated for changes to the paths/landmarks - the price for a walk includes ongoing free updates.

Walks with a lighthouse or daytime navigation markers (daymarks) which vary from lighthouse-like towers to obelisks, cones and pyramids. Also see the list of walks with shipwrecks.

  • 2 miles/3.2 km - Easy

    Trevose Head (short version)

    Trevose Lighthouse

    Trevose Head (short version)

    2 miles/3.2 km - Easy

    A circular walk around the rugged coastline of Trevose Head via the iconic lighthouse and golden sandy beach at Mother Ivey's Bay, with spectacular wildflowers in spring and summer and thundering waves in winter that sometimes expose the shipwreck at Booby's Bay.

  • 2.5 miles/4 km - Easy-moderate

    Stepper Point and the Doom Bar

    The Pepper Pot

    Stepper Point and the Doom Bar

    2.5 miles/4 km - Easy-moderate

    A circular walk overlooking the infamous Doom Bar - from which the internationally popular beer is named - on which hundreds of vessels were wrecked when attempting to navigate into Padstow harbour and many still lie beneath the sands

  • 3.4 miles/5.4 km - Easy-moderate

    St Anthony Head (short version)

    St Anthony Lighthouse

    St Anthony Head (short version)

    3.4 miles/5.4 km - Easy-moderate

    A walk on the Roseland coast and then into the Fal estuary to St Anthony Church via the fort St Anthony Head and the golden sandy beaches of Molunan.

  • 5.9 miles/9.5 km - Easy-moderate

    St Anthony Head

    St Mawes Castle

    St Anthony Head

    5.9 miles/9.5 km - Easy-moderate

    A walk along the Roseland coast and creeks opposite St Mawes, passing the preserved fort and Fraggle Rock lighthouse on St Anthony Head and the golden sandy beaches of Molunan.

  • 6.1 miles/9.7 km - Easy-moderate

    Trevose Head

    Trevose Lighthouse

    Trevose Head

    6.1 miles/9.7 km - Easy-moderate

    A circular walk around the rugged coastline of Trevose Head via the iconic lighthouse and golden sandy bays of Constantine, Booby's, Mother Ivey's and Harlyn, with spectacular wildflowers in spring and summer.

  • 6.8 miles/10.9 km - Easy-moderate

    Seven Bays (via bus)

    Onjohn Cove

    Seven Bays (via bus)

    6.8 miles/10.9 km - Easy-moderate

    A one-way coastal walk, made circular via an initial bus journey, along the Seven Bays coast and around Trevose Head past the lighthouse.

  • 2.9 miles/4.7 km - Moderate

    Polperro harbour and headlands

    Polperro Net Loft

    Polperro harbour and headlands

    2.9 miles/4.7 km - Moderate

    A figure-of-eight walk around the fishing village and headlands surrounding Polperro, passing the net loft perched above the harbour, the Victorian sea pool, the site of the mediaeval chapel and the harbourmaster's route to the lighthouse.

  • 3 miles/4.9 km - Moderate

    Porthcurno to Penberth Cove

    Penberth Cove

    Porthcurno to Penberth Cove

    3 miles/4.9 km - Moderate

    A circular walk with spectacular coastal scenery from Porthcurno to Penberth Cove, passing the famous wobbling boulder of Logan Rock and returning via the escape route from the wartime tunnels which housed one of the world's largest telegraph stations. The clifftop hut where the cable from France came ashore became so important for navigation that it has been replaced by a large white pyramid.

  • 3.1 miles/5 km - Moderate

    Porthgwarra to Minack

    Porthchapel

    Porthgwarra to Minack

    3.1 miles/5 km - Moderate

    A circular walk to the Minack Theatre, via St Levan's church, St Leven's Holy Well and Porthchapel beach, from Porthgwarra where the beach is accessed via a rock tunnel created by local miners.

  • 3.4 miles/5.4 km - Moderate

    Mevagissey to Portmellon

    Mevagissey

    Mevagissey to Portmellon

    3.4 miles/5.4 km - Moderate

    A circular walk from the busy fishing port of Mevagissey into the Portmellon Valley and through the West Bodrugan Woods nature reserve to the beachside village of Portmellon where boats have been built for hundreds of years, and still are. The lighthouse on the end of the quay was once powered by burning pilchard oil.

  • 3.6 miles/5.8 km - Moderate

    Gribbin Head

    Polridmouth

    Gribbin Head

    3.6 miles/5.8 km - Moderate

    A circular walk on the headland near Fowey where Daphne du Maurier lived and formed the basis for scenes in her books.

  • 3.8 miles/6.1 km - Moderate

    Church Cove and Lizard Point

    Polpeor Cove

    Church Cove and Lizard Point

    3.8 miles/6.1 km - Moderate

    A circular walk on The Lizard to the most southerly point from Church Cove, where the Lizard lifeboat is now launched to the old lifeboat station at Polpeor Cove.

  • 4.0 miles/6.5 km - Moderate

    Pendeen to Portheras Cove

    Portheras Cove

    Pendeen to Portheras Cove

    4.0 miles/6.5 km - Moderate

    A circular walk from Pendeen via the Geevor and Levant mines to the lighthouse at Pendeen Watch, returning via the white, sandy beach at Portheras Cove.

  • 4.3 miles/7 km - Moderate

    St Ives

    St Ives Harbour

    St Ives

    4.3 miles/7 km - Moderate

    A circular walk at St Ives along the granite coastline and white sandy beaches which have inspired so many artists, through some of the most famous parts of the town including the harbour, The Island and The Tate, and via the church and holy well of the Celtic girl Ia who, according to legend, was the first to settle here. The walk passes Smeaton's Pier which has two small lighthouses; the second was added when the pier was extended in 1890.

  • 4.4 miles/7.1 km - Moderate

    The Lizard and Kynance Cove

    Kynance Cove

    The Lizard and Kynance Cove

    4.4 miles/7.1 km - Moderate

    A circular walk along the Victorian Excursion route from Lizard village to the most southerly point and along the coast path to Kynance Cove with spectacular views, wildflowers, and wildlife including the Cornish Chough. The walk ends at the lighthouse heritage centre where tours of Britain's most powerful lighthouse are available.

  • 4.9 miles/7.9 km - Moderate

    Gorran Haven to Dodman Point

    Hemmick Beach

    Gorran Haven to Dodman Point

    4.9 miles/7.9 km - Moderate

    A circular walk in the bays of Mevagissey and Veryan from the fishing village of Gorran Haven to the remote, sandy Hemmick Beach via The Deadman's Point of old nautical maps, still marked with a huge cross to warn sailors of the perilous lee shores, and Vault Beach where the wreckage washed ashore.

  • 5.0 miles/8.1 km - Moderate

    Hell's Mouth to Godrevy

    Stones Reef and Godrevy Lighthouse

    Hell's Mouth to Godrevy

    5.0 miles/8.1 km - Moderate

    A circular walk following the coast from Hell's Mouth past Godrevy lighthouse to the sandy beaches of St Ives Bay, returning via a pilgrimage route along the Red River Valley.

  • 6.7 miles/10.7 km - Moderate

    Harlyn Bay to Padstow (via bus)

    Stepper Point

    Harlyn Bay to Padstow (via bus)

    6.7 miles/10.7 km - Moderate

    A one-way coastal walk, made circular via an initial bus journey, from Harlyn Bay to Padstow via Trevone, Stepper Point - where a huge stone tower stands as a daymark, the Doom Bar and the sandy coves of Hawker's, Harbour and St George's which join into a single huge beach at low tide.

  • 6.8 miles/11 km - Moderate

    St Ives to Carn Naun

    Coastline at St Ives

    St Ives to Carn Naun

    6.8 miles/11 km - Moderate

    A circular walk from St Ives on the ancient churchway towards Zennor and returning along the rugged coast to Porthmeor, where a Victorian cargo ship and the St Ives lifeboat were both wrecked and the ship's boilers are still visible at low tide. The walk passes Smeaton's Pier which has two small lighthouses; the second was added when the pier was extended in 1890.

  • 7 miles/11.3 km - Moderate

    Cadgwith Cove to The Lizard

    Housel Bay

    Cadgwith Cove to The Lizard

    7 miles/11.3 km - Moderate

    A circular walk on The Lizard from the pretty fishing hamlet of Cadgwith Cove, past the Devil's Frying Pan, lifeboat station, restored Marconi wireless hut and the infamous lighthouse, to the most southerly point, returning via two ancient churches and the holy well dedicated to the Celtic Saint accused of being a werewolf.

  • 7.4 miles/12.1 km - Moderate

    Trevone to Padstow

    The Pepper Pot on Stepper Point

    Trevone to Padstow

    7.4 miles/12.1 km - Moderate

    A circular walk to Padstow from Trevone beach, which tracks the route taken by sailing ships along the rugged Atlantic coast to the daymark at Stepper Point, past the infamous Doom Bar and the sandbanks of Hawker's, Harbour and St George's coves before finally reaching safe harbour in Padstow.

  • 2.5 miles/3.9 km - Moderate-strenuous

    Talland Bay to Polperro

    Reuben's Walk at Polperro

    Talland Bay to Polperro

    2.5 miles/3.9 km - Moderate-strenuous

    A circular walk between Talland Bay and Polperro along an area of coastline so famous for smuggling that there is even a museum on the subject.

  • 5.1 miles/8.2 km - Moderate-strenuous

    Lamorna and St Loy

    Lamorna Cross

    Lamorna and St Loy

    5.1 miles/8.2 km - Moderate-strenuous

    A circular walk visiting prehistoric stone circles, crosses and tombs and along the granite cliffs from Lamorna Cove to the sea-polished boulders of St Loy's Cove where sailors of a sinking vessel were able to climb to safety onto a large ship which had been wrecked there seven months before. The walk passes Cornwall's most recent lighthouse at Tater Du, built in the 1960s after a Spanish coaster capsized with the loss of 11 lives.

  • 5.4 miles/8.7 km - Moderate-strenuous

    Porthcurno, Porthgwarra and Gwennap Head

    Porthcurno

    Porthcurno, Porthgwarra and Gwennap Head

    5.4 miles/8.7 km - Moderate-strenuous

    A circular walk from Porthcurno, passing the Minack Theatre, St Leven's Holy Well, Porthchapel and Porthgwarra beaches, to Gwennap Head where the English Channel meets the Atlantic and the Runnelstone Reef has claimed so many ships that divers are unsure where the wreckage is from. The walk passes the very large, and somewhat surreal, conical navigation markers indicating the position of the Runnelstone reef.

  • 6.7 miles/10.8 km - Moderate-strenuous

    Polkerris, Gribbin Head and Readymoney Cove

    Polkerris

    Polkerris, Gribbin Head and Readymoney Cove

    6.7 miles/10.8 km - Moderate-strenuous

    A circular walk near Fowey, from the tiny harbour of Polkerris, past the daymark tower on Gribbin Head and along the coast where Daphne du Maurier lived and based many of her books on, to the sandy beach at Readymoney Cove, returning on the Saint's Way. The National Trust open the tower to the public at weekends in the summer holidays.

  • 7.3 miles/11.7 km - Strenuous

    Portreath to Tobban Horse

    Coastline at Portreath

    Portreath to Tobban Horse

    7.3 miles/11.7 km - Strenuous

    A circular walk along the rugged coast from Portreath towards Porthtowan passing small coves and remnants of the clifftop mines beside the old RAF base, and returning via the horse-drawn tramway that brought fortune to Portreath harbour, where its "lighthouse" and "monkey house" remain from the shipping activity.

Download the iWalk Cornwall app and use the QR scanner within the app to find out more about any of the walks above.