Penzance to Porthcurno via Mousehole and Lamorna

Penzance to Porthcurno via Mousehole and Lamorna is 18.57 km with 387 m of climbing, so it is usually a full-day coastal walk rather than a short outing. Most hikers should allow roughly 5 to 7 hours of moving time, with extra time for stops in Mousehole, Lamorna Cove, and at the finish near Porthcurno Beach and the Minack Theatre.

Penzance to Porthcurno via Mousehole and Lamorna is rated medium, but the terrain is more demanding than the distance alone suggests. This stretch of the South West Coast Path includes rocky and uneven sections, repeated climbs and descents, and some exposed cliffside walking beyond Lamorna Cove toward Porthcurno.

Yes. Even though it is listed as a multi-day trail type, the full route is 18.57 km, which is a realistic one-day point-to-point hike for most reasonably fit walkers. The main challenge is the cumulative ascent of 387 m and the rugged coastal footing between Mousehole, Lamorna, and Porthcurno.

Dogs can generally be walked on the coast path itself, but beach rules matter at the finish. At Porthcurno Beach, there is a council-enforced seasonal dog ban from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. between July 1 and August 31, so dogs may need to stay on the path rather than go onto the sand during those hours.

Public transport makes this route workable as a point-to-point walk. Porthcurno is served by First Kernow buses, including routes A1 and A3, and National Trust visitor information for Porthcurno notes those services stop there. Buses also connect Penzance with Mousehole, so either end can be reached without driving.

Parking is available at both ends, which helps with a one-way walk. In Mousehole there are several parking options including South Quay, North Quay, and Parade Car Park, while Porthcurno has a pay-and-display car park near the beach. Lamorna Cove also has private parking by the cove, but it sits partway along the route rather than at the start or finish.

The route links several well-known spots on Cornwall’s south coast, including Mousehole, Lamorna Cove, Tater Du Lighthouse, St Loy’s Cove, and Porthcurno. Near the end, the trail reaches Porthcurno Beach and passes close to the Minack Theatre, the open-air theater built into the granite cliffs above Porthcurno Bay.