Section: Marazion to Porthleven

Length: 11 miles (17km)

Distance from Minehead to Marazion: 277.8

Distance from Porthleven to Poole: 344.5

Grading: Moderate to strenuous

Height gained (and also lost): 1749ft (533m)

Summary:

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. Traveling through a landscape with clear evidence of a mining history, especially around Perranuthnoe, the Path passes tempting sandy beaches, followed by rugged scenery beyond Rinsey Head where there are some tiring climbs. The granite then turns to slate resulting in dramatic vertical cliffs. 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.
• The fantastic names of offshore rocks, including The Frenchman, The Bears and Little London.
• 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.
• Cudden Point: An isolated and narrow headland with sweeping views of Mounts Bay.
• The memorial to HMS Warspite on Little Cudden. The Royal Navy battleship was known as ‘the ship that refused to die’ and on her way to the breakers yard at the end of an extraordinary career, having served in both World Wars, she broke free of her tugs and ran aground at Prussia Cove.
• 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.
• Wildflowers: especially in June when there are swathes of purple heather and banks of foxgloves edging the cliffs.
• The ruins of Wheal Prosper tin mining engine house and chimney above Porthcew: sited here due to the change from granite to slate, the mine was never particularly prosperous. It is now owned by the National Trust.
• The rock formation known as the Camel at Rinsey.
• Wonderful views from Rinsey Head and Trewavas Head towards The Lizard and Mounts Bay behind.
• The monument just beyond Tregear Point. This monument is to the many seamen who died in wrecks along this stretch of coast. They were buried on the cliffs until the passing of the Grylls Act in 1808, which meant that burials took place in nearby consecrated ground.
• 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.

Worth a look (interesting places close to the path):

• St Michael’s Mount: The island and castle are open daily all year round and can be accessed by a causeway at low tide or by ferry. Tel: 01736 710507 for admission details.

Shorter option:

Perranuthnoe (2.3 miles, 3.8 km) or Praa Sands (6.3 miles, 10.2 km).

Longer option:

Mullion Cove (an additional 7.1 miles, 11.5 km)

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. Another establishment specializing in serving local produce is Chris Olds Restaurant, Westcliff, Praa Sands, Tel: 01736 763751. Porthlevan has a selection of shops and restaurants, including Taste of the West member The Blue Haze Restaurant on Mount Pleasant Road, Porthleven, tel: 01326 564424.

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.

More information:

Penzance Tourist Information Centre tel: 01736 362207 E-mail: pztic@penwith.gov.uk A new baggage carrying service has been launched that covers this section - see latest news for details.

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