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Top 5 Spring Walks in Cornwall

MillyTop 5 Spring Walks in Cornwall, written by our guest blog writer Emily Bartlett.

Cornwall is known for its vast amount of land, beautiful scenery and environment, just some of the main reasons it’s such a popular holiday destination for so many. No matter where you are in Cornwall, you will be sure to find beautiful walks nearby.

Spring is an especially magical time of year to be taking a leisurely stroll in the countryside. In the fields you will see many lambs and calves running around, the birds are singing and an array of colourful buds are starting to flower all over the county, including beautiful bluebells and delightful daffodils. To get the most of this wonderful time of year, I want to share with you a list of five of my favourite walks in the Cornish countryside…

Read on to find out our top 5 spring walks in Cornwall…


1. Kennall Vale

Kennall Vale is a lesser-known woodland just outside the village of Ponsanooth, near Falmouth. Members of the public are free to wander around the picturesque woodland and enjoy the fresh air, sounds of running water and beautiful bird song. The reserve used to be home to a gunpowder factory, so the building remnants give it even more charm and character. I would recommend it as a great place to walk your dog, especially as it is off the beaten track. The dogs will have plenty to sniff and can entertain themselves exploring the woodland and splashing around in the water. However, it is a wildlife reserve, so caution is needed in case there are other animals around. The paths exploring the woodlands can also get very muddy at times, so don’t forget to bring your wellies!

Kennal Vale - one of the Top 5 Spring Walks in Cornwall

Kennal Vale, near Ponsanooth.

You can walk for 30 mins or for a few hours. All are fairly easy walks through the forest, but it does depend on which route you take. The walk is not great for people with walking difficulties due to tree roots/ uneven surfaces. Some paths can often be overgrown or you may have to walk over a stream, so be careful.

Kennall Vale has on road parking but it is limited.


2. St Agnes to Chapel Porth

On a sunny day the views out to sea along this walk are simply breath-taking. Start near Driftwood Spars in St Agnes and make your way out of the village towards Trevaunance Cove. 

From here you will be taken along the coast path towards a quaint little beach, Chapel Porth, with the cafe which is famous for its ‘Hedgehog’ ice creams – which comprise a wafer cone with an ice cream flavour of your choosing, encased in a luxurious smothering of clotted cream, topped with toasted hazelnuts, simply amazing! 

Top 5 Spring Walks in Cornwall

Chapel Porth beach, near St Agnes.

Along the walk you will see some beautiful flowers along the cliff edge, as well as traditional Cornish ruins, like engine houses from the mining days. It is a popular walk for both locals and tourists because of its views and leisurely atmosphere.

This is a difficult walk as there are a few very steep hills, mainly at the beginning and the end of the coast path. A round trip is about 6 miles overall. You can park near Driftwood Spars in St Agnes in the car park by the beach, or you could start at Chapel Porth and use the National Trust car park there instead. 


3. Idless Woods

This is a wonderful woodland walk near Truro. The woods have their own car park and café to encourage visitors to explore the area. Whilst it’s off of the beaten track, there are many pre-made paths for you to wander around so you can follow them through the trees without fear of getting lost amongst the wildlife. 

Idless Woods - one of the Top 5 Spring Walks in Cornwall

Idless Woods, captured by Emily Bartlett.

It is also a perfect place for letting your dog roam around off-lead and allowing them to pick up scents and rummage through the overgrowth in their own time. If you go during spring you can see all the different flowers begin to bud and brighten up the woods with their different colours, making for a very pretty stroll on a nice day. Bluebells are just one of the beautiful ground coverings in Idless Woods and look picture perfect.

Idless Woods has its own car park for easy access to the woods.


4. Pentewan to Mevagissey (and back)

I love this walk because it’s not too long and by going into Mevagissey at the end of the walk, you can reward yourself with some delicious fish and chips or a refreshing ice cream. The walk takes you along the coast path and through fields so you get a chance to admire the ocean and be hit with the refreshing sea breeze at the top. There are several other walks in and around Mevagissey for you to do at your own pace, you can carry on the footpaths further along the coast or take a trip deeper inland around the town.

Mevagissey - one of the Top 5 Spring Walks in Cornwall

Mevagissey harbour on a beautiful sunny day.

You can either park in the car park in Pentewan or at the Pentewan Sands car park by the beach. The walk is about 5 miles long as a round trip, there is also an inland walk if you want to go back a different way. The route is fairly easy but there are a few bigger hills and it does go through fields along part of the coastal path.


5. Penrose

Penrose is a large area between Helston and Porthleven and is popular with locals and tourists. There are so many different routes you can take around Loe pool which all have different difficulties and scenery. The main path takes you through Penrose estate, owned by the National Trust and has its own café where you can stop for a quick bite to eat and drink. 

Penrose - one of the Top 5 Spring Walks in Cornwall

Penrose, photographed by Emily Bartlett.

Part of the route takes you through a woodland, which is full of bird song and bluebells during the spring but the other part will take you along to Loe bar giving you beautiful views and the calming sound of waves rolling up on the sand. You can walk from Helston to Porthleven and back using these routes, or you can cross over Loe Bar from the Penrose side and walk back towards Helston through fields and forestry on the Degibna side.

Jago, Millys dog at Penrose- one of the Top 5 Spring Walks in Cornwall

Jago, Emily’s dog at Penrose. Photo courtesy of Emily Bartlett.

The length of this walk depends on where you start from. A walk from the fairground car park in Helston to the Stables café would be about 1.5 miles there and the same back, or you can walk closer to Loe bar which would be longer. You can also walk from Penrose Hill National Trust car park and walk different routes from there. Routes can vary between from about an hour to about 3 hours. There are a variety of car parks, the Fairground car park in Helston and Penrose National Trust car park are two of the main car parks used for Penrose walks. First Downs car park in Porthleven and roadside parking at High Burrow, Porthleven will both also take you to Loe bar and Penrose, with a choice of inland or coastal path walks. 


There are so many fantastic places to take a walk in Cornwall, we are spoilt for choice. Whether you’re looking for a coastal stroll or a countryside walk in Dartmoor, Cornwall really does have it all.  The South West Coastal Path covers 630 miles of coastline across the West Country and is a great resource for planning your trip. Discover the best South West beaches in England along the way, with plenty of beautiful shorelines to come across.