Cornwall has a lot to offer with its huge variety of landscapes: from white sandy beaches, breathtaking and windy cliffs and wild moorlands, to cute little towns and small harbours.
I lived in Cornwall for about a year, and got the chance to explore this stunning region many times, especially when friends and family came to visit. So, for this itinerary, I compiled all of my personal favourites and the spots that I would take everyone that came to visit to.
Since Cornwall is quite a big county, it is difficult to see it all in just one day, that’s why this itinerary focuses on the westernmost part of the county. It is especially perfect if you are staying in St Ives, a beautiful little town that you absolutely must see.
This itinerary can be done in a day, but you can also stretch it over a weekend or more, depending on what you want to see and how long you want to stay in each place.
Starting point: St Ives
St Ives is the starting point of this itinerary, and you can either walk around its quaint cobblestoned streets in an hour or two, or stay longer to really make the most of everything it has to offer. I highly suggest getting a cream tea and visiting at least one museum, so I would recommend visiting St Ives separately.
St Michael’s Mount and Marazion
From St Ives you can easily go to the town of Marazion taking the road to Penzance then heading East. This town is famous because it is right in front of one of the most famous landmarks in Cornwall: St Michael’s Mount.
It is a small tidal island with a town and a castle on top of it. It is linked to the town of Marazion by a causeway, that can only be walked on at low tide. As a consequence, you can either reach the castle by foot or by boat, paying attention to the tides if you want to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Depending on the time you have, you can either go to the island and visit it, or just walk around Marazion. If you don’t have a lot of time, you can just skip the island. You still get a super nice view of it from the town! In Marazion, I highly suggesting stopping at The Copper Spoon café to have a cream tea and homemade salted caramel spread on scones!
Penzance
Penzance is located just a few miles away from Marazion and it is easily reachable by public transport. I won’t say it is a must-do, but it is the main hub for buses that will take you to different parts of West Cornwall, so you will probably pass by it.
You can stroll up and down the main street to check the shops and bakeries, explore the Morrab gardens or the beautiful Trewidden gardens, and admire the harbour and the view over St Michael’s Bay.
Mousehole
After Penzance, you will reach this cute village and fishing port called Mousehole, but pronounced “mowzel”. It is so small that walking around takes less than an hour, but you’ll find plenty of very cute cottages, and the harbour is really charming.
If you are there in December, the Christmas lights in Mousehole draw thousands of visitors each year as they are particularly beautiful and unique, with floating displays of lights that are all sea-themed.
Minack Theatre in Porthcurno
The beach in Porthcurno is very pretty, but this very small town is more famous for the Minack Theatre, an absolute must-see in West Cornwall and on any trip around St Ives. A bit further away from the centre of Porthcurno, the Minack Theatre is an open-air theatre built in the early 1900s on a cliff with a stunning view over the sea. It hosts a variety of performances from Easter to the end of October, but you can visit it all year round.
From every seat you get an extraordinary view of the stage, the nearby beach, the cliffs and obviously the turquoise water. I was absolutely amazed by the wonderful colours that surround this scenery, especially on sunny days: from the white and golden sand to the brown and almost pink rocks of the cliffs, the green plants and the bright blue ocean.
Land’s End
This is the westernmost point of mainland England. It is probably one of the most visited places in Cornwall, as it has been a touristic attraction for many years now. It even hosts a modern touristic centre with a variety of possible activities and attractions for families and tourists. Instead of stopping by the attractions, I would just highly suggest walking along the cliffs and taking in the stunning scenery, especially at sunset.
As always in Cornwall, the view of the coast and the ocean is breathtaking and 100% worth the visit. You can also wander a bit around, and explore the less-packed-with-tourists pathways along the Cornish cliffs and moorlands.
Back to St Ives along the coast
To go back to St Ives, I highly recommend taking the coastal road. This scenic drive follows the coastline, so you can admire the ocean on one side and the land on the other. If you are a bit tired from all the walking it is really a great way to explore the Cornish countryside, and you can stop wherever you want if you have your own car: abandoned mines, cute towns and wonderful fields are all scattered along the road. If you are on the double-decker bus, this is the time to go upstairs and take in the magnificent view!