5 Great Walking Trails You Should Try In St Ives
In this blog post, we will share 5 of our favourite walking trails in and around St Ives. If you’re planning a walking holiday in St Ives there is a great range of holiday cottages available in St Ives. Escape the stresses of town or city life and come to Cornwall to breathe in the purest of sea air and be struck by Cornwall’s spectacular coastal and rural walks that will leave you feeling refreshed and revived.
Lelant to St Ives Hike
The hike from Lelant to St Ives is about 4.5 miles long and takes about two hours to finish if you're walking at a moderate pace.It’s a great walk for those who want a little bit of a challenge, as it’s considered moderate in terms of difficulty level. It’s one of the most beautiful areas of Cornwall. You’ll get to see all three of its white-sand beaches all in a row. This route goes through the dog-friendly Porthkidney Beach, which is backed by sand dunes, then heads through the breath-taking Carbis Bay, where you can stop for afternoon drinks at the hotel. You’ll finish off by hiking Porthminister Beach, passing a nice little café along the way, and eventually end up in St Ives. This isn’t a loop route, so you may have to take the train back to where you started in Lelant, but it’s worth the journey.
Gwithian to Hayle Hike
This hike is a little bit shorter and also a little less challenging for those wanting a gentle stroll and afternoon away from their holiday cottage.It’s about an hour and a half, depending on your pace. It’s moderate in difficulty and mostly flat, so you don’t have to worry about losing time on any steep climbs. This hike follows the Coast Path all the way through the dunes to Hayle, returning along the beach. The hike takes you through the sand dunes (Towans in Cornish), which is a designated Site of Scientific Special Interest (SSSI), as a fifth of all of Cornwall’s plant species can be found there. So, if you’re interested in flora, this hike is the perfect way to witness a wide variety.
Upton Towans and Gwithian Towans Loop Hike
This hike is much shorter than the previous ones, coming in at around two miles. So if a nice and easy afternoon stroll is what you are looking for, this hike is for you.It will help familiarise you with the dunes and landscape surrounding Three Mile Beach. You’ll have the chance to see some local favourites like the Jam Pot café and the church found in the town of Gwithian—not to mention the St Gothians Sands Nature Reserve, which attracts massive flocks of migratory waterfowl.
Reskajeage and Tehidy Hike
Of all the hikes on this list, this one is the most challenging, but it’s still accessible to many.Just come prepared with enough food and water and expect to walk for at least two hours—longer if you take a leisurely pace. The hike begins at Hell’s Mouth car park, which is about a 15-minute drive from St Ives. From there, you head north along a craggy Cornish cove to Three Mile Beach and turn inland through the Red River Valley and Tehidy estate, finally re-joining the coast path at North Cliffs and Reskjeage. This part of the hike has cliffs where you can hear seabird colonies.
Hike to Godrevy Head
This hike is the easiest on this list but does not disappoint in terms of natural beauty!So, if you’re looking for a way to spend an hour outdoors, you need to give this one a try. You will start at Three Mile Beach and head towards Mutton Cove, ending at the lighthouse on Godrevy Island. Be on the lookout for seals and dolphin pods along the way!
Walking made easy!
Whether you’re looking for an easy walk or a more challenging hike, St Ives and West Cornwall has something for everyone. These 5 hiking trails are a great way to spend time outdoors and take in all of St Ives’ natural beauty. For more great walks in St Ives check out the Visorando St Ives walk planner