Lizard Point to Kynance Cove

Places to eat/ drink on the way: Kynance cafe, Wavecrest cafe, Polpeor Cafe.

Places to eat / drink short walk away in The Lizard Village: Annes Pasties, Coast Coffee Bar, Chimichangas, Top House Inn, Witchball Pub, Smugglers fish & Chips, Lizard Shellfish, The Hut.

Steepness grade: Moderate

Duration: 1 hour - 1 hour 30 mins depending on pace. 2.2 Miles one way.

Advice: The coast path can be uneven at times so ensure to wear good footwear appropriate for walking.

Things to look out for on your travels:

A Local thriving population of Atlantic Grey seals. There are over 30+ seals having been recorded in the area of the lizard point so it is very likely you will see one! At high tide you can see them bobbing around in the surf, and at low tide they like to snooze on the rocks. It is important however to observe them at a distance and be respectful.
If you are an avid bird watcher you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the Cornish Chough. These birds can be identified by their red legs and red beak.
The Lizard points was one of the first places to catch a sighting of the Spanish Armada on mainland Britain in 1588. It was one of the greatest invasion fleets which comprised of 120 ships and 29,000 men. It is also the most southerly point of mainland Britain.
Lizard lighthouse is one of the iconic landmarks in the Lizard. Its main purpose was to warn ships of the tretcherous waters surrounding the Lizard Point. Many shipwrecks have been recorded along the shores. This is why you can see the remains of the old lifeboat station at Polpeor Cove. This was opened in 1914 but was later closed due it being extremely hazardous to launch in rough conditions. During their time at the Lizard Point they launched 136 times and saved 500 people.
Kynance Cove is most famous for its turquoise waters, white sand and rugged landscape. At low tide there are a few caves you can explore. Kynance cove is also famous for its serpentine rock formations and is popular with geologists alike.

2. Lizard Point to Cadgwith

Places to eat / drink on the way: Polpeor Cafe, Wavecrest Cafe, The Old Cellars, Cadgwith Cove Inn, Cadgwith Crab, Housel Bay Hotel.

Steepness Grade: Moderate.

Duration: 3.6 miles - 1 hour 40 mins to 2 hours depending on pace.

Advice: The coast path can be uneven at times so ensure to wear good footwear appropriate for walking.

How to get back to the Lizard Village: There is a short inland route you can take to walk back to the village or you can catch the bus from Ruan Minor to the Lizard.

Things to look out for on your travels:

Lizard Wireless station. This little black hut found on the coast path just after Housel Bay is an important part of the Lizards history. In 1900 Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi stayed at the Housel Bay Hotel and decided to set up a wireless telegraph station. It was in these modest huts that he received a transmission from the Isle of Wight 180 miles away. Many thought this was impossible. It was also the first station to receive an SOS call from the Minnehaha in 1910 when it ran aground off the coast of the Isles of Scilly.
Kilcobben Cove is the home for our most recent lifeboat station. The first was built in 1961 but was demolished in 2010 so it could accommodate for the new Tamar-class lifeboats. The new station reopened in 2012 and houses the Tamar Class lifeboat ON1300 Rose.
Church cove is a small but quaint little cove nestled between the cliffs. Previously some of these buildings were used as pilchards cellars and you can still see the old lifeboat house which was built in 1885. This closed a few years later in 1899 and moved around the corner to Polpeor Cove. If you walk a little ways up the road you will find the beautiful St Wynwallow Church. This is well worth a visit as it is said that in 1678 a sermon was preached there by Rev. Robinson and this was supposedly the last sermon to be preached in the Cornish language. The oldest part of the church is its 12th century Norman archway.
Cadgwith cove is a beautiful Cornish fishing village. On one of the beaches you can see the colourful winched fishing boats which are still in use. Fisherman still launch their boats to go out and catch an array of fish and shellfish weather permitting. Between 1867 and 1963 the RNLI stationed a lifeboat at Cadgwith. Eventually this was merged with the Lizard lifeboat at the Kilcobben station.
In Cadgwith you can see the “Devil’s frying pan” this is a 200ft hole where the cliffs have collapsed and is now a natural blowhole!
You can also visit St Marys church in Cadgwith a modest Grade 2 listed building which has been linked to the rescue of 456 passengers and crew from the Suevic in 1907. The ocean liner ran aground on rocks off nearby Lizard Point.

Refuelling after a long walk at the Cadgwith Cove Inn

3. Mullion Cove to Kynance Cove

Places to eat / drink on the way: Mullion Cove Hotel, Kynance Cove Cafe.

Steepness Grade: Moderate.

Duration: 4.4 miles - 2 hours to 2 hours 30 mins depending on pace.

Advice: The coast path can be uneven at times so ensure to wear good footwear appropriate for walking.

How to get back to Mullion: There is a bus that runs from the Lizard Village to Mullion Village.

Things to look out for on your travels:

Mullion Cove harbour was constructed in the early 1980s, later in 1945 it was given to the National Trust. The harbour along with some other surrounding buildings were granted Grade II listings in 1984. Mullion was very much a fishing community and they primarily would have caught Pilchards. During Elizabethan times these fish were very important for the Cornish economy. Mullion Cove had its own lifeboat from 1867 - 1909 this was seen as an essential addition due to the fact that there had been so many shipwrecks in the surrounding area. It is said that between 1803 and 1874 there were 29 wrecks close to Mullion.
Predannack Wollas is an expanse of wild clifftops and drama, it is a great quiet spot to sit and observe nature. For all of the Poldark fans out there this area is often featured on the TV show when Ross is galloping along the cliffs. The Lizard Peninsula is among one of the top locations for rare plants with some that are found nowhere else in the world. You may also see grazing cattle and ponies in this area. This is done to control the scrub and brambles which if left unmanaged would overrun the area and smother the more rare and delicate plant life.
Soapy Cove or “Gew Graze” is a beach which you can find between Kynance Cove and Mullion Cove. It stands in an area of stunning coastal scenery and after heavy rainfall a stream cascades onto the beach creating a small waterfall. The name “Soapy Cove” originated from its proximity to a former soap stone quarry dating from the 1700s. Steatite (soap stone) is commonly used in the manufacturing of porcelain.
Whist walking along the coastline you may see on your left Predannack airfield. It was opened during the Second World War in May 1941 as a satellite for RAF Portreath. The first squadron to arrive was the 247 Squadron with Hawker Hurricanes which specialised in night defence of the South Wests towns and ports. The Royal Navy took over the base in December 1958 and it is still used for various operations.
West of Kynance Cove is an interesting stretch of coastline called “Rill Cove”. In 1969 a Spanish 16th-century cargo ship was discovered. This site was put under the Protection of Wrecks Act in February 1976 and is now a protected wreck which is managed by Historic England. There have been many findings from this wreck including a number of silver coins dated back to the 16th Century.