Walks Around Padstow

Padstow is a well-known harbour town on the north Cornish coast. Today it’s popular for its seafood, scenery and seaside charm, but in earlier times it was a major departure point for families emigrating to America and beyond.

The surrounding area offers a wide mix of walking routes, including cliff-top paths, country lanes, and riverside views. You’ll pass beaches, sea caves, ancient churches, and even Bronze Age remains. Whether you’re after a short loop or a day-long hike, Padstow has plenty to offer.

Padstow and Prideaux Place

Distance: 3.0 miles (4.8 km)
Difficulty: Easy

A pleasant short walk inland from Harbour Cove, with views across the River Camel. The path takes you past Prideaux Place, a Tudor mansion on the edge of town. In autumn, this route is great for birdwatching — you might spot wheatears, pipits, and even peregrines in action above the fields.

Padstow and Stepper Point Walk

Distance: 5.8 miles (9.4 km)
Difficulty: Moderate

This route offers impressive views over the Camel Estuary and the legendary Doom Bar. It features sandy coves, holy wells, and unusual rock formations. There’s even a daymark tower for ships. Spring is a great time for this walk, with wildflowers in bloom and birds following the estuary north.

Padstow to Harlyn Bay

Distance: 6.9 miles (11.1 km)
Difficulty: Challenging

A longer walk with mostly flat sections until it becomes rougher after Gun Point. You’ll pass the vast Roundhole Point — a collapsed sea cave — as well as several beaches and old smuggling spots. Good for older children and an ideal choice on breezy autumn days when seabirds gather offshore.

Pentire Point and The Rumps

Distance: 5.1 miles (8.2 km)
Difficulty: Moderate

This scenic walk includes an Iron Age fort, Bronze Age burial sites, and dramatic headland views. Along the way, you’ll see wildlife habitats, sea cliffs, and a rocky archway formed by a collapsed cave. The walk also passes the site of a famous wartime poem and offers views over Padstow Bay.

Start Point: Polzeath or Pentire Farm

Port Quin to Pine Haven

Distance: 4.2 miles (6.8 km)
Difficulty: Challenging

This rugged coastal walk starts in the small, abandoned village of Port Quin. The path climbs steep valleys, follows sea cliffs, and passes stained caves where pigeons nest. It’s a dramatic route with sea views and the chance to spot birds of prey along the hedgerows inland.

Sir John Betjeman Walk

Distance: 4.6 miles (7.4 km)
Difficulty: Easy

A peaceful walk through sand dunes along the eastern side of the River Camel. The route passes golden beaches and ends at the historic St Enodoc Church, where poet John Betjeman is buried. The church, once buried by shifting sands, has a long and curious history, dating back to early Celtic times.