The Lamorna to Marazion walk follows the South West Coast Path for approximately 15.4km, passing through Penzance along the way. It is a one way route rather than a circular walk, maintained as part of the National Trails network.
Starting from the sheltered, almost subtropical cove of Lamorna, the path enters an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and quickly turns rugged, with steep climbs and descents along the cliffs. Not far along, you pass Kemyel Crease Nature Reserve, planted with Monterey pines and cypress trees that give off a distinct lemon scent on a warm day. Look closely in late summer or autumn and you might spot the reserve’s more unusual resident, the earth star fungus, which unfurls into a star shape as it matures.
Further on lies Point Spaniard, named for the spot where Spanish raiders are said to have come ashore in 1595 before attacking Mousehole, Newlyn, and Paul.
Mousehole itself is worth lingering in. Dylan Thomas once called it the prettiest village in England, and it is widely believed to be the model for Llareggub in his play Under Milk Wood. The village has its own remarkable piece of local legend too. During a ferocious storm one December, with the fishing fleet unable to leave harbour and the village facing starvation, a fisherman named Tom Bawcock is said to have braved the weather alone and returned with a catch of seven different kinds of fish. Mousehole still celebrates him every 23rd December with Stargazy Pie, a dish famous for its fish heads poking up through the crust.
From here the path eases into easier, tarmac walking through Newlyn, one of the largest fishing harbours in the country and once home to a group of post impressionist painters who founded their own school of art here. The route then joins part of the National Cycle Network around Mount’s Bay into Penzance, where the promenade passes the Jubilee Pool, a Grade II listed Art Deco lido and one of the oldest of its kind still in use in Britain.
As the path continues towards Marazion, St Michael’s Mount comes into full view, a striking outline that has served over the centuries as a Benedictine priory, a fortress, and a working tin mining port, reachable today by causeway at low tide or by ferry the rest of the time. Just before the town, the path skirts Marazion Marsh, Cornwall’s largest reedbed and an important site for breeding and overwintering birds, including the rare Cetti’s warbler, bitterns, and little egrets.
Marazion itself claims to be one of the oldest towns in Britain, with evidence of settlement stretching back to 308BC, and has long been suggested as the port the Romans knew as Ictis.
Those wanting a shorter day can stop at Newlyn, around 6.6km in. For a longer walk, the path continues beyond Marazion to Perranuthnoe, a further 3.8km.
Parking is available at Lamorna, Mousehole, Newlyn, Penzance, and Marazion. If parking at Lamorna Cove itself, it is worth allowing enough time on the ticket, since the car park has a reputation for catching out visitors who slightly overstay.
Plan The Walk
Places along this walk
Places to stay
- The Ship Inn
- Rosario
- Queens Hotel
- The Lugger Inn
- The Abbey Hotel
- Marazion Hotel
- Penrose Guest House
- Blue Horizon Guest House
- Chiverton House
- Mount Royal – Penzance
- St Michael's B&B
- Shoreline bed and breakfast by the sea
- Beachfield Hotel
- Penmorvah
- Carnson House
- Treventon Guest House
- Morwenna’s Cottage
- Cliff Hotel
- Marazion
- ion
- The Old Coastguard
- Chapel House
- The Stanley
- Warwick House
- Lombard House
- Chy An Mor
- Blue Seas
- Camilla House
- The Ship Inn
- Premier Inn
- Mount View Hotel
- Chapel House Suites
- Hotel Penzance
- The Longboat Inn
Beaches
- Long Rock Beach, Marazion Passes nearby
- Marazion Beach Passes nearby
- Mousehole Beach Passes nearby
Where to park
- Long Rock
- Harbour Long Stay Car Park
- St. Peter's Hill Long Stay Car Park
- Harbour Pay and Display
- Duke Street Car Park
Pubs
- Fire Engine Inn
- The Godolphin
- Red Lion
- Fishermans Arms
- The Star Inn
- The Swordfish Inn
- The Tremenheere
- Yacht Inn
- The Dock Inn
- Admiral Benbow
- The Turks Head
- Star Inn
- The Navy Inn
- One and All
- Alexandra Inn
- Lamp and Whistle
- Cutty Sark
- The Union Hotel, Nelson Pub
- The Dolphin Tavern
- The Kings Arms
- Tolcarne Inn
- Mount View Hotel
- The Crown
- The Mexico Inn
- The Longboat Inn
Cafes
- Harris's
- Mermaid Alley
- Terrace Cafe
- The Star Inn
- Sophia's Cafe
- Gino's Spaghetti House
- Thai Moon
- No 2 Fore Street Restaurant
- cafè at Lamorna Cove
- On The Bay
- Sullivan's Big Breakfast Diner
- Chapel Rock Cafe
- Taj Mahal
- The Copper Spoon
- Artist Residence
- Duke Street Cafe
- The Italian Kitchen
- Mackerel Sky Seafood Bar
- Newlyn Harbour Cafe
- Sea Palace
- Newlyn Art Gallery Cafe
- Newlyn Meadery
- Ben's Conish Kitchen
- Four Teas Cafe
- Jessie's Dairy
- The Pirates Rest
- The Front Room
- Zebra Crossings
- Fraser's
- Scarlett's Kitchen
- Impresso Espresso
- The Hoxton Special – Cafe and SUP
- The Bakehouse
- The Boatshed
- Fika
- The ministry of Flavour
- Little Nook Café
- The Quirky Bird Cafe
- The Old Coastguard
- Rock Pool Cafe
- Beach Box
- Harbourside Cafe
- The Old Lifeboat House Bistro
- The Bath Inn
- Dee Dee's Family Café
- Jordan's Cafe
- Costa
- Orange Cafe Bar
- The Station House
- Cornish Rail Coffee Company
Attractions
- Egyptian House
- Chygurno
- Marizion Museum
- Mousehole rock pool
- Kemyel Crease
- Mennaye Field (Cornish Pirates R.F.C.)
- Morrab Gardens
- Jubilee Pool
- Wherrytown Skate Park
- Bolitho Gardens
- Mann's Field
- Grand Casino
- Alexandra Grounds
- St Anthony's Gardens
- Lariggan Gardens
- Lariggan Gardens
- Penzance Sailing Club
- Newlyn Slip
Shops
- Rowe's Cornish Bakery
- Card Sharp
- Pellow's
- Cobble Corner
- TrevennerStores
- Market House Gallery
- The Summerhouse Gallery
- Warrens Bakery
- Long Rock Stores
- Hole Foods
- Philps Famous Pasties
- West Cornwall Angling
- The Ark
- Cat and Mouse
- Warrens Bakery
- Morva
- Roly's Fudge Pantry
- Marazion Gallery
- Keepsakes
- Mousehole Farmers Market
- The Mousehole
- PZ Gallery
- Asda Express
- Tesco Express
- The Buccaneer Shell Shop
- Just Lily
- Mountain Warehouse
- riverbank gallery
Toilets
- Marazion Square Toilets
- Newlyn Fore Street
- Marazion Car Park
- Warrens Bakery toilet
- Marazion Folly Fields
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