South West Coast Path · Tuesday 25 June 2024

Porthleven to Penzance

Mining history, changing coastal scenery and St Michael’s Mount across the bay.

DistanceAround 14 miles
StartPorthleven, around 10am
FinishPenzance, around 4:30pm
Time on routeApproximately 6½ hours

Hike at a glance

Distance
Around 14 miles
Time
Approximately 6½ hours
Parking
Not recorded
Difficulty
Hard — Around 14 miles with uneven coastal paths and climbs before the flatter approach beside Mount’s Bay.
Tea/Pub stop
Not recorded
Map planning
Open OS Maps

John’s recommendations to follow.

Estimated grades based on the full route in clear, dry conditions: Easy — mostly level, straightforward paths; Moderate — some climbs or uneven ground; Hard — sustained effort, steep or rough ground, or remote navigation; Very hard — exceptional distance or repeated steep climbs. Weather, mud, tides and visibility can make a walk much harder.

Details from this walk’s report. Times reflect this outing; check parking and access before travelling.

West Cornwall25 June 2024Point-to-point walk

Along the coast to Penzance

I set off from Porthleven at around 10am for a walk along the South West Coast Path to Penzance. This stretch of Cornwall offers plenty of variety: open cliff paths, traces of the area’s mining past and, towards the end, wide views across Mount’s Bay.

The photographs capture old engine houses overlooking the sea, a striking rocky outcrop and a path winding through low coastal vegetation. The sky looked grey in the earlier pictures, then gave way to blue as the walk continued. Cornwall had clearly decided to improve the lighting for the second half.

St Michael’s Mount came into view across the water before the route carried on towards Penzance. The final photographs show the Mount, the shoreline and the approach along the bay—an impressive reward after a day on foot.

I finished in Penzance at around 4:30pm, approximately six and a half hours after leaving Porthleven. At around 14 miles, the photographs tell the story of a memorable journey through mining country to one of Cornwall’s best-known coastal views.

Walk details

Practical information

Route

One-way from Porthleven towards Penzance, following the South West Coast Path along the coast and Mount’s Bay.

Timing

Started around 10am and finished around 4:30pm. The distance was around 14 miles; individual stopping times were not recorded.

Terrain

Coastal paths with uneven stretches, exposed sections and a flatter approach beside Mount’s Bay. Check current path conditions before setting out.

Planning

This is a one-way walk: arrange return transport and check tides and any path diversions before travelling.

Photographs from the walk

Old mine chimney standing beside a coast path
Mining history beside the coast path.
Distinctive rock formation above the sea
Rock formations above the sea.
Historic engine house with chimney overlooking the coast
An old engine house with a sea view.
Narrow path through coastal vegetation overlooking a bay
The path following the sweep of the coast.
John on a sunny stretch of the Cornish coast
A photograph along the route.
Footpath climbing a grassy coastal slope
One of the coastal climbs.
St Michael's Mount seen across Mount's Bay
St Michael’s Mount across the water.
St Michael's Mount and beach at Mount's Bay
A fine view of the Mount.
John near the beach with St Michael's Mount in the background
Near Mount’s Bay.
Shoreline and promenade on the approach to Penzance
Following the shoreline towards Penzance.
More 2024 coast path hikes

Location & getting there

Porthleven to Penzance, Cornwall

Find Porthleven on a map

This map locates the place named above; use the report’s route links to follow the walk.