This walk is from the picturesque Mullion Cove, along the wild and exposed cliffs of the West Coast of the Lizard Peninsula, past some beautiful sheltered coves, to Lizard Point, the Southernmost point of mainland Britain.

An hourly bus service from Helston serves both ends of the route, so why not leave the car behind for the day? The Coast Path here passes through some of the most important sites in the UK for rare and beautiful plants and animals.

During springtime, the cliffs are swathed in thrift, spring squill, campions and orchids. Keener botanists may wish to search for the peculiarly named Lizard specialities; Fringed Rupturewort, Hairy Greenweed or Land Quillwort. Late summer brings the heathland into colour, with the Lizard endemic, Cornish Heath with its beautiful pale pink flowers growing only where Serpentine rock occurs.

At Soapy Cove (or Gew-graze), you will pass the remains of a disused soapstone quarry dating back to the 1700s. This soft rock was used in the porcelain industry until 1819 - by this time china clay was being extracted around St Austell.

You are likely to encounter some of the grazing animals being used to improve the important clifftop habitats. The National Trust and Natural England are using traditional breeds of pony, sheep and cattle to control the spread of scrub and coarse grasses. Breeds used include the spectacular Highland Cattle, now almost a tourist attraction in their own right. This grazing has also recently encouraged the return of the Chough to the Lizard cliffs. With its distinctive high-pitched ‘chi-ow’ call and its acrobatic tumbling flight displays, the chough is an unmistakable sight, particularly between Kynance Cove and Lizard Point.

From Lizard Point a link path will take you to Lizard village for refreshments or the bus service. Welcome refreshments can be had at the spectacularly beautiful Kynance Cove, and its charming café, and at Lizard Point and Village.