Cornish Coastal Challenge Weekend – Walk to Britain’s most southerly point MARCH I APRIL I MAY I JUNE I OCTOBER I NOVEMBER

This stretch of the South West Coast Path is, without a doubt, unique and exceptionally beautiful. The path is fairly level and easy beyond Porthleven, but then becomes narrow in places with some steep ascents and descents.

There is a special sense of wildness and isolation on the Peninsula, notably along Mullion and Predannack Cliffs which are part of the Lizard National Nature Reserve. Here rare heathers and wildflowers grow, adding to the colour and drama of the spectacular views. It is no surprise that the white sand and turquoise sea of Kynance Cove has been recognised as being part of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the seas are particularly dramatic at high tide, and even more so on a windy day.

The Lizard Peninsula is also known for its banks of pink and yellow flowered Hottentot Fig and its serpentine granite, which is a dark green rock veined with red and white, and, of course, the symbol of Cornwall: the chough. We spend the night in Mullion.

Marazion to Porthleven 18.6km, (+522m), 5 hrs (early start needed) Lunch at 1.30pm.

Porthleven – Mullion 11.9km, (+283m) 3-4 hrs Total: 29.3km 8-9hrs tough

or

Praa Sands to Porthleven 7.28km (+237m) 2.5hrs LUNCH

Porthleven – Mullion 11.9km (+283m)  3-4hrs Total: 19.18km,  challenging

(B,L,D)

A walk through an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty awaits as you set off from the most southerly point of Great Britain after having spent a night on the town. There are a few relatively short steep ascents and descents as you leave Lizard Point, followed by some more strenuous climbs, until you pass the stunning fishing village of Cadgwith and begin the approach to Coverack, which is a lot easier. You will see some extraordinary geology along this stretch as the Path crosses serpentine, granite and schist. Serpentine is a dark green rock veined with red and white which is easily carved and can be polished to a really beautiful sheen. We pass Poltesco and a serpentine factory was established at Carleon Cove in the 1850’s. Its fish were once the order of the day. Pilchards by the thousand, which were caught as they shoaled close to shore in the late summer. Some of the stiles along this stretch have been built of serpentine: beautiful but slippery when wet. We then move on to Kennack Sands, once famous for shipwrecks, it is a National Nature Reserve with beautiful cliffs of layered rock, with veins of talc,

and lovely displays of wildflowers. The history of Kennack Sands goes back a long way. Kennack is itself a mediaeval Cornish placename. The hill behind the Towans was recorded in 1510 as Carn Cunek, and the beach is recorded in 1538 as Porthkunyk. Pill boxes and an anti-tank wall were built on the back of the beach in case of invasion during the Second World War. A steep climb up to join the seabirds around Beagles Point marks the beginning of a stretch with particularly far-reaching views of the Coast Path ahead. Coverack is a picturesque fishing village with an active small port and has excellent café’s on the sea front. We can offer an add on extra night here in Coverack it you don’t need to rush back for monday morning!

Mid-afternoon departures. We will transport you back to St Ives, Marazion or Praah sands depending on the group.

Mullion – Coverack 28km 7-8hrs walking to finish at Coverack. Mullion to finish at the National Trust Lizard point is 16km, +437m, ~5hrs (B,L)

(B,L)