The best walks and hikes in Cornwall

Adventure through the many personalities of Cornwall

Home of the Cornish pasty, its own language and the birthplace of legendary King Arthur, Cornwall is a county rich in culture. History is embedded into the terrain, with chimneys and pumping stations of the former tin mining industry still standing, ghostlike throughout the land. Crumbling castles, Neolithic burial mounds and historic fishing ports stand like points on a visceral timeline. 

Cornwall covers 1,369 sq mi (3,546 km2) and has a staggering 675-mile (1,086 km) long coastline, which bears the brunt of the North Atlantic as well as the calmer waters of the English Channel. Some of the best hiking trails in Cornwall can be found within the 12 designated regions in the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Beauty (AONB): Bodmin Moor, Hartland, St Agnes and Rame Head are just four. In fact, 27% of the county is part of the AONB. 

Magic in every season 

You can enjoy hikes in Cornwall at any time of year and while it’s exposed to prevailing winds, it lounges in a warmer climate than the rest of the UK. Thanks to its undulating, craggy landscape, you can always find an adventure suitable for the weather. Explore peaceful riversides along the Fal, the Fowey and the Helford; marvel at the folded cliff faces dotted with flowers in the Hartland Peninsula; and seek out the soaring views from the amusingly-named Brown Willy hill – the highest in the county. 

With footpaths, traffic-free tarmac trails and bridleways criss-crossing the landscape, there are walks in Cornwall for everyone. If you’re a keen wildlife spotter, you might never want to leave. Seals, dolphins and whales all call the coastling home whilst elsewhere you can spot buzzards, deer and a wide range of butterflies. 

Thanks to its countless beaches, surfing spots and gentle weather, Cornwall sees huge crowds during the Easter and summer holidays. Hiking allows you to choose quieter spots to stay away from the beaches, using the endless network of paths to explore more remote coves, valleys and avoid driving where possible. No matter what season you walk in, Cornwall has plenty of magic in store for you.