The best family-friendly coast path walks

By Pentewan Sands on the June 15th, 2018 in Camping, Holidays, Family, Cornwall

The best family-friendly coast path walks

Looking for a family activity where the kids can burn off steam and the grown-ups can fill up on scenic eye candy? Hit the South West Coast Path.

Stretching for over 300 beautiful miles around the edge of Cornwall, the coast path isn’t all sheer cliffs and narrow paths. There’s a pick of routes that are perfect for little legs, scooters and even pushchairs. And you don’t even need proper walking boots; flip flops and trainers will do just fine in these family-friendly coast path walks.

Best for convenience: Pentewan to Mevagissey

For a short walk with plenty of interest and the promise of pasties and ice creams at the end head for Mevagissey. The path from Pentewan is rather up and down and it’s not best suited to pushchairs but at just 2.3 miles, it’s a quick and convenient option that starts at our front door. Stop at Polstreath Beach enroute and don’t forget to steal a glance over your shoulder back towards Pentewan - the birds eye view of our golden sand and clear blue water is simply stunning. After a wander in Mevagissey jump on the First Kernow 24 bus to be returned to Pentewan or older kids may be happy to retrace their footsteps. 

Best for marine wildlife: Godrevy Head

Super short but oozing wow factor, this 0.6 mile walk around Godrevy Head near St Ives is in a class of its own. There’s a stunning beach for starters with views across St Ives Bay and Godrevy lighthouse, tales of shipwrecks and an incredible array of seabirds. But it’s Mutton Cove that steals the limelight. Completely inaccessible, it is viewed from the coast path above and what a spectacular view it is for this is where you’ll find a colony of Grey Seals basking in the sunshine. Take a pair of binoculars and get the kids to count them – in the winter numbers can reach up to 100 -  and make sure you visit at low tide or you’ll be bitterly disappointed.

Best for lighthouse views: St Anthony Head

Grown-ups of a certain age love this walk around St Anthony Head on the Roseland Peninsula for its up-close encounter with St Anthony Lighthouse, otherwise known as Fraggle Rock (a children’s TV show from the 80s). Meanwhile kids give it a thumbs up for its secret beaches and wartime features. It covers 4.5 miles in total but can be shortened with the section around the lighthouse branded ‘easy access’ so perfect for those on wheels.

Best for easy access: Falmouth

Walking families can’t go wrong in Falmouth. However far you fancy trekking, there’s route for you and we can guarantee that it will be lovely and level access so ideal for bikes, scooters, pushchairs, push-alongs and well, anything the kids can get their hands on. Loop around Pendennis Point and call into Pendennis Castle to fill young minds with history and heritage, amble along the seafront for beach after beach and a pick of places to grab a coffee, or take the coast path from Gyllygnvase beach to Swanpool - better still, do all three and enjoy a full 5 mile twirl of Falmouth.

Best for fantasy adventures: Marazion to Penzance

Walk this way wannabe princes, princesses, knights and giant slayers, the 2.2 mile stretch from Marazion to Penzance is bursting with legends, myths and Cornish forklore. Imagine you’re keeping watch for Cormoran the Giant who is said to have once waded from St Michael’s Mount, which rises majestically from the bay on its own island, to terrorise the people of Marazion and step back in time to Penzance’s days of piracy and smuggling. The beautifully level walk along the sea wall is as buggy friendly as it gets and the views couldn’t be more iconic.

To find out more about our family-friendly campsite, visit our ways to stay pages.