Staycations: the best walks Cornwall and where to stay, including St Ives, Land’s End, St Michael’s Mount and Port Isaac

One of the most popular places in the UK, Cornwall has long been a British favourite for summer holidays and weekend trips.

With staycations on the rise, many are visiting the southern county for its long stretches of coastline, idyllic towns and villages and opportunities for adventure holidays. Many choose to walk one of the region’s routes in order to combine each of these.

Towns and villages such as St Ives or Padstow are picturesque starting points, while famous beaches and natural areas – such as Kynance Cove or Land’s End – provide excellent views during your on-foot journeys across the county.

While the UK is generally blessed with hundreds of excellent walking routes – from the Lake District to the Yorkshire Dales – Cornwall has the scenic routes to rival any area in the country.

Below, we’ve rounded up a list of the best of these routes, taking you through some of the best views in the UK.

Lizard Coastal Walk

This route starts in Kynance Cove, one of the most beautiful beaches in the country, and takes you towards Lizard Point, the most southern part of the UK mainland. The seven-mile loop takes you along the cliffs of the Lizard Peninsula until you reach the Bass Point Old Signal Station, at which point you head inland to Lizard village.

From here, you can choose to finish or continue the last leg of the loop back to Kynance Cove, where you can reward yourself with a dip in the water or simply lie back on the beach. With a time of roughly three hours, this is the perfect morning or early afternoon walk if you still want to do something with the rest of your day.

Where to stay

For a convenient stay near Lizard Point, Housel Bay Hotel is a great option. Many of the rooms in this Victorian building – as well as the restaurant – have calming views over the Atlantic, and the Cornish Coast Path runs through the grounds, providing easy access to some of the county’s most stunning locations.