- Difficulty
- Challenging
Strenuous to easy
- Start
- Port Isaac
- Finish
- Padstow
- Length
- 11.7 miles (18.8 km)
- Summary
The Coast Path follows some truly beautiful, unspoiled sections of coast, including the remote inlet of Pine Haven and the historic promontory known as The Rumps. Views from here are spectacular. A strenuous first half to Polzeath, crossing small valleys and winding round exposed headlands, is followed by an easy walk and ferry crossing into Padstow.
Once home to the composer Malcolm Arnold, Padstow is an idyllic, Cornish fishing town with beautiful surroundings and has been used as a backdrop for many films and television programmes, including the 70’s film The Eagle Has Landed, which was filmed in the sand dunes at Rock. Padstow is also home to a fine selection of cafes and restaurants such as Rick Stein’s famous seafood restaurant, making it the perfect place to end a day of walking the South West Coast Path.
- Public Transport
The nearest train station is Bodmin, from where you can get a bus to Pastow or Port Isaac via Wadebridge. For timetable information, zoom in on the interactive map and click on the train station and bus stop symbols, visit Traveline or phone 0871 200 22 33.
The ferry from Rock to Padstow runs on demand almost every day of the year, except Sundays in the winter. See our estuaries and ferries page for details.
- Nearest car park
Port Isaac (Postcode for Sat Navs: PL29 3RT), Port Quin, inland from Lundy Hole, Pentireglaze, Hayle Bay, Polzeath, Daymer Bay, Rock and Padstow.
- Nearest toilets
Port Isaac, Hayle Bay, Daymer Bay, Rock and Padstow.
- Nearest refreshments
Port Isaac and Padstow have a good selection of pubs, restaurants, shops and cafes. Establishments that serve local produce include Taste of the West members The Chough Bakery on Padstow’s quayside, with its award winning pasties, and The Metropole Hotel on Station Road, Padstow, with restaurant and café/bar serving cream teas. There is a tearoom at the Porteath Bee Centre (see above) and refreshments can be found in Polzeath and Rock and also in high season in Port Quin.
