Walking in Cornwall
Experience Overview
Set out to explore the ancient Celtic kingdom of Cornwall from your charming stays on the medieval harbour of Padstow and Georgian harbour of Charlestown. With ample opportunities to comb the north and south coast, this route begins by crossing the Camel Estuary by ferry and walking towards the spectacular beaches of Polzeath and Daymer Bay, with the opportunity to dine on chef Rick Stein’s celebrated fish and chips. Next, head towards the cliffs at Stepper Point, where peregrine falcons are known to nest, for panoramic ocean views. After visiting the Lanhydrock, the Fowey Estuary and Restormel Castle, we join the South West Coast Path and wander around the Lost Gardens of Heligan. Enjoy lunch in the harbourside village of Mevagissey with a host of wonderful dining options and fish straight from the day's catch.
Profile
— Accommodation: 6 Classic nights (hotels) — Five days guided walking — Group normally 6 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16 — Moderate walks, leisurely pace; good level of fitness recommended — Option to travel by train to your adventure
At a Glance
— Accommodation: 6 Classic nights (hotels) — Five days guided walking — Group normally 6 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16 — Moderate walks, leisurely pace; good level of fitness recommended — Option to travel by train to your adventure
Trip For You
This trip is graded Activity Level 3 (Moderate) with six days of walking on rolling terrain. For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.
Each day features up to five hours of walking with visits to places of interest. Unsurprisingly for this portion of Cornwall, there will be some ascent each day. You will not need to carry all your luggage with you. Our support vehicle will transfer it on Day 4 from Padstow to Charlestown.
A good level of fitness is required; however, regular walkers will not find this itinerary challenging.
Eating Drinking
All breakfasts are included. These consist of cooked and continental options each day.
Cornwall has some of the best cuisine in the UK. Fish, naturally, is one of the regional specialities. Your leader will suggest different restaurants for the evening meal to showcase the full range of Cornish cuisine. Lunch follows a similar theme, with variety and quality paramount.
Transportation
Throughout the week, we have little need for transfers; however, when required, we use a private minibus or make use of local buses, a practical and cost-effective way of reaching start points or returning from the end of our walks.
Joining Instructions
Your trip normally starts at our accommodation in Padstow in the afternoon of Day 1 of the itinerary. Guests can arrive by car directly to the hotel or by train into Bodmin Parkway Rail Station, which is approximately four to five hours from London Paddington. If arriving by car, there is a long-stay car park a short walk from the Custom House hotel. Please ask for further details.
If arriving at Bodmin Parkway, the simplest option is a taxi to the hotel, approximately a 35-minute journey. Public buses are available, taking around an hour to Padstow from the train station.
The group will be transferred between hotels on Day 4 and returned to pick up cars as required at the end of the trip.
Weather Information
As we are in a coastal area there will always be a degree of wind. Rain can come at any time of year; however, the temperatures typically rise from around 12C (54F) in April to the high 20Cs (around 80F-85F) or above in early September. Like much of the UK, there have been hotter spells in recent years. Equally, the odd bout of unpredictable weather can occur.
Spending Money
— A typical lunch costs £15, dinner £25, a pint of beer £5, and a glass of wine £4 — Lanhydrock Gardens: £10 (National Trust) — Restormel Castle: £6.50 (English Heritage) — The Lost Gardens of Heligan: £16
Tipping
Although optional, a tip for the leader at the end of the trip is greatly appreciated. As a guideline we recommend a starting point of £50 per person for the guides.
Highlights
— Fantastic combination of scenic walking and visits — Beaches, estuaries, picturesque seaside towns and villages, castles, gardens and points of interest — Padstow, Charlestown, Lanhydrock, Fowey, Mevagissey, The Lost Gardens of Heligan
Trip Details
Product Code: 4156
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: ur walks.
Guide Language: English
Tour Operator:
Exodus Travel
Supplier Code: TDK
Starts: Padstow, Cornwall
Finishes: Padstow, Cornwall
Duration: 7 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Average
Includes
— All breakfasts — All accommodation — All transport and listed activitiesAccommodation
Old Custom House, Padstow, and The Rashleigh Arms, CharlestownOn this walking adventure in Cornwall, our time is split between two traditional seaside towns: Padstow and Charlestown. Padstow: Old Custom House (nights 1-3) Enjoy a quayside spot in the bustling fishing port of Padstow. The town itself is a foodie hotspot, largely thanks to the success of local TV chef Rick Stein, though there are also traditional tearooms, cafes and pubs to try. Our 23-room boutique hotel overlooks the working harbour, ideally placed for exploring. It's also a gastro pub, serving contemporary pub classics and award-winning beers. Charlestown: The Rashleigh Arms (nights 4-6) The Rashleigh offers 18 nautically themed rooms by Charlestown harbour, the last 18th-century Georgian harbour and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The accommodation and in-house pub-restaurant are both award winners, the latter offering drinks from the nearby St Austell Brewery and classic-contemporary pub food.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $3,135 ($448 /day)
Itinerary
Our adventure begins in Padstow, a working harbour town in north Cornwall that's seen a popularity surge among walkers and foodies in recent years. Settle into the hotel and join the welcome briefing, in which your leader will go over the adventures ahead and answer any questions you might have. Accommodation: Old Custom House (or similar)
We set out from Padstow by catching the foot ferry across the Camel Estuary to the small seaside village of Rock. Our route takes us slightly inland to the idyllic beaches of Polzeath and Daymer Bay and then up to Pentire Head. After lunch, we walk past St Enodoc Church and along the dunes, returning to Padstow by foot ferry in the late afternoon. Dinner offers a chance to try chef Rick Stein’s much-acclaimed fish and chips – though you may want to visit one of the many other restaurants here – before returning to our townhouse hotel for the evening. Accommodation: Old Custom House (or similar)
Heading out of town from the hotel and along the coastal path, our route follows the cliffs at Stepper Point, past the observatory with panoramic views of ocean, town and estuary. Keep an eye out for peregrine falcons, the fastest birds in the world, known to fly and nest in this area, as you traverse the coast and beaches towards lunch in Trevone or Harlyn Bay or even Constantine Bay depending on our progress. Catching the bus back across the headland in the afternoon provides a leisurely end to the day.
We transfer to Lanhydrock Gardens to start walking down the Fowey Estuary. From the gardens, which are well worth an explore, we walk towards the coast passing the picture-perfect Restormel Castle and onto the lovely town of Lostwithiel for lunch. In the afternoon, we join the Saint’s Way through the lovely village of Golant and onto Fowey and the south Cornish coast. At the end of the walk, we transfer to our new hotel in Charlestown.
In the morning, we walk directly from our hotel southwards along the South West Coast Path towards the wonderful town of Mevagissey. On the way, we veer from the path to visit the Lost Gardens of Heligan (revived in 1991 after 70 years of neglect and restored to former glory - see 'Money' section for entrance fee) and then into Mevagissey for a lunch of seafood caught that morning.
After breakfast, we jump on a public bus, which will drop us just above the village and beach at Polkerris. We begin walking along the coast towards Gribben Head, before dropping down to Polridmouth Cove, where Daphne Du Maurier based her 1938 gothic novel, Rebecca. Arriving in Fowey, we stop for lunch and in the afternoon there is the opportunity to cross the harbour by ferry into Polruan and walk the other side of the estuary. Afterwards, we catch another ferry back into Fowey and enjoy our last night together.
Our exploration of Cornwall ends in Charlestown. You can make your way home, but if you'd like to explore Cornwall a little more, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.
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Tour Operator
Exodus Travel
It’s all about adventure That is what Exodus was founded upon 50 years ago, and what the company is still all about. Discovering countries, cultures, environments, cities, mountain ranges, deserts, coasts and jungles; exploring this amazing planet we all live on. At Exodus, we know what makes you tick when it comes to holidays. It’s a desire shared by so many others. A yearning to visit new places and come home with a real sense of what they’re all about. This means delving into local traditions, cultures, cuisine, lifestyles – anything that contributes to its unique identity. At the same time, we always remember that we are only guests. So we travel courteously and respectfully, in smaller groups to minimise our impact, to ensure that every Exodus holiday is a beneficial experience for everyone involved. This is a philosophy we take with us around the world, helping you reach some incredible destinations on 500 itineraries across over 90 separate countries. We also strive to provide as much flexibility and choice as we possibly can, making it simple for you to experience a very different holiday. Exodus started life on 4 February 1974 when two friends got together to provide an overland truck to travel to the Minaret of Jam, deep in the heart of the Hindu Kush, the most inaccessible of the world’s great monuments. See our history page for more details about how we began and how we have grown over the past 50 years. Never travelled with Exodus before? Visit our New to Exodus page for some useful, first-timer information.
In Business Since 1974
Reviews
Julia Larsson - Traveled, September 2021
Wonderful Cornwall A very enjoyable 6 days walking. I’ve only marked it as very good as I had rooms that looked over roof tops and air conditioning units in both hotels. Some others in the group had harbour views and very big rooms. Be aware that the Old Custom House in Padstow has stairs up and down all over the place. Quite an adventure finding your room! Most Inspirational Moment The north coast is stunning and the visit to The Lost Gardens of Heligan. Thoughts on Group Leader We had Gaby and Tatty as our guides. They are exceptional young women, multi-talented, organised, caring and fun. They always had a supply of snacks and wine gums ready when required! They made this trip very special. Advice for Potential Travellers Make sure you pre-book a taxi if you are going by train to Bodmin Parkway. There were only a couple of taxis there and they were both pre-booked. One cabby tried phoning for me but couldn't get anyone. The bus was supposed to arrive in 3 minutes and 35 minutes later we were still waiting for it. Luckily then a taxi did arrive that took me and two others to Padstow.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/30/2021
Paul Robinson - Traveled, July 2021
Wonderous Cornwall I’d forgotten just how beautiful Cornwall is. Turqouise seas, dramatic cliffs and wonderful beaches. The prefect tonic for a tough year for us all. The usual mix of interesting and friendly fellow walkers. A wonderous week, well orchestrated by two great guides. They even secured a week of sunshine. You couldn’t ask for more. Thoroughly recommended to anyone who wants to rediscover the charms and beauty of the Cornish coast in the company of a great bunch of like-minded individuals. Most Inspirational Moment Walking along the coast line on days one and two.. Thoughts on Group Leader We had 2 and they were both excellent. Advice for Potential Travellers Rediscover Cornwall on an Exodus tour as quick as you can ! Suggestions I think the walks worked well from a practical perspective with 2 guides so they could manage the fit fast walkers up front and the slower walkers savouring the views from a little way back..so everybody got out of it what they were looking for. Might have been more diffcult to achieve this with one guide. Heligan is a beautiful place but popular and maybe this part could start earlier in the day and would benefit for most of group if there was a guide to get the most out of the sprawling gardens. Small gripe otherwise four glorious coast walks and some wonderful memories. Made me want to book up the Gower walks next!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/30/2021
Valerie Thompson - Traveled, July 2021
A great week walking in stunning Cornwall Based in two centres, starting in Padstow then spending the second half of the week in Charlestown on the South coast. Our tour leader, Will, and his colleague Gaby, were prepared to go to any lengths to make sure we were fully supported. The walking required a decent level of fitness, the rating of 3 (moderate) is an accurate assessment, and my phone recorded 51 miles during the five days of walks (and 137,700 steps!). The hotels were both good, although don’t expect a sea view, and Will was always able to find us somewhere to eat despite COVID meaning there were a lot more tourists there than usual, and staffing was challenging for many of the restaurants. The scenery is really lovely, both on the coast and inland, and lots of photos were taken and shared. Most Inspirational Moment The first two days were along the most beautiful coastline with secret beaches and spectacular rock formations. I also loved visiting the Lost Gardens of Heligan, something I've wanted to do for a long time. Thoughts on Group Leader He worked extremely hard, could take a joke even at the end of a long day, and kept us all informed and safe. Can't fault him. Advice for Potential Travellers Get fit. If you can't manage 10 miles a day, with at least 25% being uphill, you are on the wrong trip and will always be a long way behind the rest of the group. Come properly equipped with waterproof trousers, well walked in boots/shoes, a good rucksack, etc. Don't expect a sea view from your room. My first room I looked out to an a/c unit, and the second room I was below ground level so could only see the tyres of parked cars. Suggestions I would have liked an opportunity to take a swim/paddle at the end of one of the walks but it didn't work out that way.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/26/2021
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