Mousehole to Lamorna Walk
Mousehole is located on the South Coast near Penzance and no more than a 30 minute drive from our luxury apartments in St Ives.
Along the main road into Mousehole you will find free parking spaces at the side of the road, but these often get snapped up quickly so there is also a pay and display car park at the entrance to the village.
Once you’re suitably parked the route is pretty straight-forward and will take you through the idyllic streets of Mousehole which are lined with charming cottages some dating back to the late 1500s. Towards the end of the historical harbour proceed up Raginnis Hill where you will pick up the well sign-posted footpath. This is where the walk can get quite muddy and rocky so walking boots or wellies are a must.
The footpath meanders up and down the cliffs crossing streams and then through an unexpected wooded area known as Kemyel Crease Nature Reserve; the area is managed by Cornwall Wildlife Trust and consists predominantly of coniferous trees, which create a unique ecosystem where a diverse range of ferns and flowers thrive. This small section of woodland is extremely atmospheric and beautiful to walk through with the dappled light and lush surroundings.
After Kemyel Crease, the coastal path flattens out a little and is very close to the oceans edge providing a great spot for sea-life watching; we’ve often seen gannets, porpoises and the odd lazy seal chilling on the rocks.
On the approach to Lamorna there are some dramatic rock formations which tower over the path leading to the cove and shortly after you will come across the remains of Lamorna’s quarries; these were in operation from 1849 and 1911, famous for producing granite for the Thames Embankment in London, Admirality Pier at Dover and the Bishops Rock Lighthouse.
Once you reach Lamorna it’s a perfect point to take a break and enjoy the beautiful surroundings and if you’re in need of refreshments the Lamorna Cove Café is at hand for a quick snack or leisurely lunch. If you’re planning on walking this route in the winter it’s best to check the café opening times before you set off as they’re relatively seasonal and you may need to pack yourself a little picnic rather than risk going hungry!
We think the best walks are circular so we recommend taking the inland route back from Lamorna to Mousehole which is slightly easier terrain than the coastal path. The footpath crosses farmland and at one point even goes straight through the heart of a working farm where you can see the dairy cows.
On return to Mousehole, before you head back to your luxury self catering apartment in St Ives why not stop in one of the lovely restaurants or pubs for a well deserved drink or even a meal; there’s ‘The Ship Inn’ if you fancy a good pint and some tasty traditional pub grub, ‘The Old Coastguard’ for some subtle sophistication or ‘2 Fore Street’ for a bistro style dining experience. If you’ve bought your four legged friend along with you ‘The Ship Inn’ and ‘Old Coastguard‘ both welcome dogs.
This is one of a countless number of incredible walks close to our luxury accommodation in Cornwall so if you’d like to explore this stunning area and are looking for a luxurious bolt hole to base yourself why not speak to the team at Sail Lofts who are here to help create your perfect escape.
