Pure Cornwall’s South west Coastal walks from Sterling House

MARAZION TO PORTHLEVEN

Length: 11 miles (17km)

Grading: Moderate to strenuous

Much of this walk through an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty offers fantastic views of Mounts Bay and the magical island and castle of St Michael’s Mount. Fairly easy, level walking allows time to enjoy the views, until the Path begins to narrow and rollercoaster over the cliffs up to and beyond Praa Sands. The stretch on the approach to the pretty fishing village of Porthleven is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Highlights along the path:

  • The ancient market town of Marazion, with its very active community of painters and potters. There has been a settlement here since 308BC and the town claims to be the oldest in Britain, and could be the settlement known to the Romans as Ictis.
  • Views of St Michael’s Mount. Once a Benedictine Priory, a fortress and tin mining port, it can be accessed by a causeway at low tide or a ferry.
  • Perranuthnoe: this fairly undeveloped village, which may actually date back to Roman times, has an interesting church dedicated to St. Piran, the patron saint of Cornwall. Look out for the Norman font and Norman stone heads surrounding the doorway. After a rest on the sandy beach, you may also want to pay a visit to the Victoria Inn which is reputed to be the oldest recorded inn in Cornwall, dating back to the 12th century.
  • Prussia Cove: the headquarters of the famous smuggler John Carter and now the base for the masterclasses of the International Musician’s Seminar. John Carter was one of Cornwall’s most successful smugglers and he named himself the King of Prussia. One story tells of how he broke into the Penzance Custom House and took nothing but the goods that had been seized from his house in his absence.
  • The Glacial Erratic known as The Giant's Rock, Porthleven, seen at low tide. Also known as the Moonstone, this rock is garnetiferous gneiss and of a type that cannot be found anywhere else in the United Kingdom. One theory of how it got here is that it floated on an iceberg from Northern Europe during the last Ice Age.

Public transport info:

From Penzance, which has a mainline train station, you can take one of the very regular First Cornwall number 2 and 2A bus services to Marazion. These services also continue on to Porthleven, stopping at Perranuthnoe, Rosudgeon and Kennegy. For details visit Traveline or phone 0870 6082608.

Refreshments:

There are cafes and shops in Marazion and a good pub with restaurant in Perranuthnoe, which serves quality, local produce. Porthlevan has a selection of shops and restaurants.

Nearest Car park:

Marazion (Postcode for Sat Navs: TR17 0AR), Perranuthnoe, above Prussia Cove, Praa Sands, above Rinsey Head and Porthleven.

Toilets:

Marazion, Perranuthnoe, Praa Sands and Porthleven.