Hike the Lizard Coastal Walk from Lizard Point via Cadgwith

Full route: www.welshmanwalking.co.uk/lizard

This 12 km circular walk around the Lizard Peninsula is one of those routes that feels properly Cornish from start to finish. You begin near Polpeor Cliff and Lizard Point, the most southerly point of mainland Britain, before following the coast north towards the famous turquoise water and serpentine rocks of Kynance Cove. From there the route heads across quieter inland paths towards Cadgwith, a traditional fishing village that still feels full of character, before returning along the coast past Housel Bay.

It’s a walk packed with variety: dramatic cliffs, rare geology, old lifeboat and shipwreck history, fishing cottages, hidden coves and big Atlantic views. Kynance Cove will probably be the busiest section, especially in summer, but the full circular gives you a much better feel for the whole peninsula rather than just doing the short out-and-back to the famous viewpoint.

Distance: ~12 km / 7.5 miles circular.
Duration: 3.5–5 hours depending on stops.
Ascent/Descent: ~350 m
Highest Point: Coastal high ground above the Lizard Peninsula
Difficulty: Moderate — not technical, but there are cliff paths, ups and downs, and exposed coastal sections.
Terrain: Coast path, rocky coves, grassy cliff-top paths, inland tracks, village lanes and uneven sections.