8 best winter walks in Cornwall for January 2026

Weather-beaten headlands, frost-bitten harbours and empty beaches. Cornwall hits differently in the cold of winter, but with the summer crowds long gone, it’s one of the best seasons to visit. 

The best stretches of the South West Coast Path are blissfully quiet, while famous spots like Land’s End are devoid of tourists. Sure, the weather is unpredictable in winter, but nothing beats a mulled wine in a cosy Cornish pub after a bracing clifftop walk. 

From Rame Head to The Lizard, here are the best winter walks in Cornwall. 

1. Looe to Polperro

Daylight’s limited in winter, which is why one of my favourite Cornish walks is the short 5-mile hike from Looe to Polperro. Straightforward and easily accessible (there’s a train station in Looe and a relatively regular bus service back from Polperro), this wonderful walk takes you along a glorious section of the South West Coast Path. 

You’ll start on the banks of the River Looe, before heading westward along undulating cliffs offering views of Looe Island and the English Channel. The sand and shingle beaches of Portnadler Bay lead around to Talland Bay and onwards to Polperro Harbour, where colourful fishing cottages brighten up those drizzly days.

Enjoy a hearty serving of the historic Blue Peter Inn’s ‘Famous Fish and Chips’, before a short stroll inland brings you north to Polperro itself. 

Take a look at my full guide for this hike.

2. Rame Head to Cawsand

A windswept slate chapel stands atop Rame Head, a prominent headland which sailors have long known as the entrance to Plymouth Sound. This historic chapel also marks the start of an often blustery South West Coast Path walk to Cawsand, a Cornish fishing village right on the Devon border. 

You can park up by the coastwatch lookout next to Rame Head, hike up to the chapel, then follow a clifftop path east towards Penlee Point. Follow Earl’s Drive through sheltered woodland, and you’ll emerge, around 3 miles after setting off, amongst the Cornish cottages and Napoleonic-era fortifications overlooking the calm waters of Cawsand Bay. 

The Bay Bar & Restaurant offers bistro-style dining in an old boat shed on Cawsand Beach; the perfect end to a winter walk. You can hike back along the same path to Rame Head, or cut inland across fields to make this a loop.

You can also extend the hike into Cawsand’s ‘twin village’ of Kingsand, up to Maker Heights for fantastic views of Plymouth Sound, or further north into Mount Edgcumbe Country Park. 

3. Sennen Cove to Land’s End

Anyone who’s visited Land’s End – mainland Britain’s most southwesterly point – knows that Cornwall’s most famous landmark is a tourist trap in summer. In winter, however, Land’s End is rather pleasant, and the perfect spot for a coastal walk. 

I’d recommend parking up in Sennen Cove, where you’ll find the equally famous beach to be quite empty. From here, it’s around 3 miles southwest to Land’s End, where you can warm up with refreshments at the First and Last House. 

Enjoy the sights of Land’s End Landmark (including the First & Last Post Box and the iconic Land’s End Sign), before either continuing onwards to Nanjizal Beach, or turning back to Sennen Cove. 

4. Penzance to Mousehole

If the weather’s looking worse for wear, one of the best winter walks is the 3-mile jaunt from Penzance to Mousehole. This largely ‘urban’ route first takes you along Penzance Promenade and into Newlyn, where you can take shelter if needed in traditional Cornish fishing taverns like the Tolcarne Inn or The Swordfish. 

Once you’ve passed Newlyn’s historic, yet industrial, harbour (this was the last stop of the Mayflower before it crossed the Atlantic), keep an eye out for the Penlee Lifeboat Disaster Memorial as you tackle the short but steep cliff road leading to Mousehole. 

Mousehole is a picture-postcard Cornish harbour, and in December, it’s famed for its impressive Christmas lights show. Make the trek to Mousehole on 23rd December, and you can even celebrate Tom Bawcock’s Eve with a slice of Stargazy Pie at The Ship Inn.

5. St Ives to Zennor

Perched on Cornwall’s dramatic northwestern shores, St Ives is one of the Duchy’s most popular destinations. I get the appeal; after all, it’s home to a branch of the Tate Gallery, Barbara Hepworth’s sculpture garden, and fantastic beaches stretching along Carbis Bay.

But in summer, I avoid St Ives like the plague. 

Once the tourists have gone home, however, St Ives’s narrow streets are quiet, and the colourful harbourfront is the perfect launchpad for a winter walk to Zennor. This 5-mile hike takes you along a tough yet rewarding stretch of the South West Coast Path.

Granite sea cliffs rise 50 metres above the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean, before you turn inland to Zennor, where you can discover the legendary story of the ‘Mermaid of Zennor’ inside the 12th-century church. 

Walk back through the moors, and it’s around a 12-mile loop (a long walk on a short winter’s day), or hop on one of the (fairly) regular buses between Zennor and St Ives. 

6. Lizard Point to Kynance Cove

The Lizard, mainland Britain’s southernmost landmass, is one of my top places for a winter walk in Cornwall. Lizard Point’s salt-sprayed cliffs are glorious when the wind whips up the waves below, while on a calm day, you’ll often spot seals lounging on the rocks. 

Park up at Lizard Point, and once you’ve enjoyed being the most southerly person in Britain, tackle the 2-mile coastal path to Kynance Cove, another of Cornwall’s most iconic natural landmarks.

I’d recommend hiking back inland via The Lizard village, where you can refuel at Ann’s Pasties or pop into The Top House Inn for a pint of Doombar. 

7. The Camel Trail (Padstow to Wenford Bridge)

For a longer winter walk (or bike ride) away from the coast, the Camel Trail offers 18 miles of car-free hiking between Padstow and Wenford Bridge.

The Camel Trail largely follows the route of an old railway line along the River Camel, meaning it’s mostly flat and accessible for walkers of all abilities.

Start your journey in Padstow, home to the National Lobster Hatchery and famous celebrity-run restaurants like Rick Stein’s Fish and Chips. 18 miles is a long haul when there are limited daylight hours, and you can shorten your hike by tackling the trail as far as Wadebridge (5 miles) or Bodmin (12 miles). 

8. The Lost Gardens of Heligan

The Lost Gardens of Heligan, near Mevagissey, is well known for its sub-tropical plants and unusual outdoor artworks. Once part of the Tremayne family’s estate, you can enjoy 200 acres of landscaped Victorian gardens and gentle walking trails, all without the summer crowds. 

In winter, the Lost Gardens of Heligan go all out for the festive season. Kids can meet Santa Claus, while after dark, you can enjoy a gentle walk along a colourful Christmas lights trail during the ‘Heligan Night Garden’ events.