North Cornwall Walks

Heading to North Cornwall? Check out our favourite North Cornwall walks to see an abundance of natural beauty and coastline along the South West Coast Path.

The selection of properties we have at John Bray offer easy access to the South West Coast Path.

This long coastal route passes through Port Isaac, continues through Polzeath, Daymer Bay and across the water to Padstow via Rock.

There’s miles and miles of coastline to explore, with many properties offering direct access onto the footpaths!

We partnered with South West Coast Path to provide these handy PDF walking guides for our four favourite North Cornwall coastal walks.

Read on to find out our top North Cornwall walks…

The Sir John Betjeman Walk

Distance: 3¾ Miles (6KM)

Start & Finish: Rock Quarry Car Park

Start Postcode / Grid ref: PL27 6LD / SW 927 757

Terrain: Mostly flat, sandy grassland

Difficulty level: Easy

Download full walking guide as a PDF

This North Cornwall walk takes you through the dunes beside the golden beaches on the Eastern bank of the River Camel.

Take in the Poet Laureate, Sir John Betjeman’s grave in the churchyard of the tiny St Enodoc Church. The route continues past Brea Hill, site of Bronze Age burial mounds, and later a Roman encampment.

Why not take the optional detour to the holy well used by the Welsh hermit Enodoc to baptise his converts?

The walk is mostly flat and travels through sandy grassland.

Find holiday cottages in Daymer Bay

Polzeath to Porteath Walk

Distance: 2½ Miles (4.2KM)

Start & Finish: Polzeath Beach Car Park

Start Postcode / Grid ref: PL27 6TB / SW 935 789

Terrain: Narrow stony paths, windy weather

Difficulty level: Easy

Download full walk route guide as PDF

An Iron Age promontory fort and some Bronze Age burial mounds, a famous wartime poem and a breathtaking sandy cove surrounded by gorse and woodland, with a rocky archway to a collapsed sea cave.

This North Cornwall coastal walk includes spectacular views out over Padstow Bay and beyond, as well as a puffin island and volcanic pillow lavas.

Check out our blog about restaurants in Polzeath for ideas on where to refuel post-walk!

Find Polzeath holiday cottages here

Port Isaac to Porteath Walk

Distance: 4½Miles (7¼KM)

Start & Finish: Cliff Top Car Park, Port Isaac

Start Postcode / Grid ref: PL293AB / SW 998 810

Terrain: Steep ascent and decent, much of which on steps

Difficulty level: Moderate

Download full walk route guide as a PDF

This Port Isaac to Portreath walk is an invigorating ramble around rocky headlands.

Discover secluded coves along the way, and take in amazing views across Port Quin Bay to the Mouls, an island where puffins, gannets and kittiwakes nest.

The walk also features a nineteenth century crenellated folly, an abandoned fishing village and the remains of a once thriving antimony mine at Gilson’s Cove.

Find holiday cottages in Port Isaac here

Padstow and Stepper Point Walk

Distance: 6 Miles (10KM)

Start & Finish: Padstow Harbour

Terrain: PL288AF / SW 920 755

Difficulty level: Tracks and footpaths, mostly flat

Difficulty level Moderate

Download full walking guide as PDF

This North Cornwall walk offers far-reaching views over the mouth of the River Camel and the infamous Doom Bar. Legend has it that mermaids wait to lure sailors to disaster!

Find sandy beaches, secluded coves, holy wells, a Daymark tower and some stunning rock formations.

There’s something here for everyone, including a shorter route option for those looking for a gentler stroll.

Find holiday cottages in Rock here

Enjoy these beautiful walks in all months of the year. Visit in the off-season with plenty of things to do in North Cornwall in October, along with a busy schedule of summer events to discover.

Plan your ideal North Cornwall staycation with John Bray Cornish Holidays.