Walking

The Cornish Riviera offers some splendid walks both inland and coastal with a variety of routes with walks rated between 'Easy' and 'Moderate to Strenuous'.  Whilst some walks are well signposted and simple to follow, an Explorer Ordnance Survey map is extremely helpful and, in some cases, an essential item to keep with you.

The Cornish Way has some off-road stretches around St Austell: 

• The Pentewan Valley from St Austell down to the coast at Pentewan village and beach with option of continuing along the coast path to Mevagissey or taking the route up to Heligan and then down to Mevagissey.
• The Clay Trails leading north-west up the valley from St Austell towards the China Clay Country Park at Wheal Martyn, continuing over the China Clay area, with view points on the way, to Trethurgy and the Eden Project

The Coast Path is a continuous path around the South West of Britain, from Minehead, Somerset to Poole, Dorset.  In one or two places on the Cornish Riviera, the path has to be diverted inland for a short distance but is always well signed.  Two websites in the Links section below, give you masses of information about walking the Coast Path - eg. the Path Association's website includes walk calculator giving time, distance and height climbed etc for any section of the path.

The Saints'  Way Trail crosses mid-Cornwall from Padstow to Fowey in total a distance of approximately 30 miles / 48 Km.  The trail follows a wonderfully varied course through valleys, woodlands, pastures, moors and villages. You'll see some of the most varied and beautiful scenery Cornwall, inhabited by countless species of flora & fauna.  The surrounding countryside is dotted with rolling pastures of ancient farmland, pre-historic remains, ancient bridges, old tracks, quaint churches and pretty riverside villages.

On the southern section, the Trail divides to take a route through the Fowey valley or Tywardreath.  Around the Luxulyan and Fowey area, there are also several circular walk routes that can be devised by using the Trail and associated footpaths. See the Ordnance Survey map No.XX

Links :
South West Coast Path Association  - a registered charity that exists to promote the interests of you, the user of the South West Coast Path. Amongst other things, we do this by lobbying the numerous bodies which are responsible for the path in order to see it is maintained to a high standard.

Official Guide to the South West Coast Path  The South West Coast Path is a National Trail created and mainly funded by Natural England and managed by highway authorities and the National Trust.  The website has been developed by the South West Coast Path Team in partnership with Natural England and South West Tourism.

The Cornish Way - The Coast & Clay Trail (Cornish Riviera) - Set up in 2000 as part of the Sustrans National Cycle Network, the Cornish Way continues to be expanded in several areas - The Mineral Tramways Trail by Camborne & Redruth, The Clay Trails and plans for a southern route towards Plymouth

The Saints' Way - some information available via the Cornwall Council website

The China Clay Trails- a local website.  Leaflets available at TICs