West Penwith is home to numerous ancient sites – far too many to explore in just one day. There are also so many ways to ‘see’ the sites too, from tours that explore their relationship with the stars to carefully preserved ancient villages that give you a feel for how people lived all those years ago.
We hope these itineraries inspire you to discover more of West Cornwall’s story.
You can mix and match from the suggested activities to create a great day out during your stay. If you were to do all the activities on this itinerary, the estimated duration is given above.
Please note: You will need to contact the venue or experience provider directly to book.
Click on each individual experience and find out more about its accessibility and public transport connections, along with an eco tip.
If you would like to build your own itinerary, head to the Experience page. You can add your favourite experiences to a bespoke itinerary, which can be downloaded or sent to your email address. Please note: This is for inspiration purposes only and does not create a booking. You will need to contact the venue or provider directly to book.
Get a deeper understanding of West Penwith’s ancient sites with a unique tour from an archaeoastronomy expert. Carolyn Kennett shares her extensive knowledge of the area and how our ancestors connected with the sky. The Bronze Age tour is a three-mile guided walk to see a Bronze Age village, stone circles, barrows and more. It can be booked through AirBNB experiences.
Overlooking the dramatic Atlantic Ocean near St Just, you’ll find the ruins of a Bronze age funerary monument. Ballowall Barrow is thought to have been a shrine deliberately built close to the cliff edge. Thanks to the work of English Heritage, you can visit this complex prehistoric tomb and learn about the objects discovered during its excavation.
Have you ever wondered how people lived thousands of years ago? Carn Euny is an incredible ancient village that’s said to be one of the best-preserved sites in the region. Inside, you’ll find the remains of stone houses and a fogou – a walled underground passage that’s unique to this part of Cornwall. Find out more here.
Mên-an-Tol is a collection of granite stones believed to date back to the Bronze Age. Its name translates to ‘holed stone’, which makes sense when you see the centre stone’s striking shape. Some say the site is the remains of a stone circle, others claim it’s part of an ancient burial chamber. You can find out more from Historic Cornwall here. If you follow the Penwith Landscape Partnership’s circular walk, you’ll also see Greenburrow Engine House, Bosiliack Entrance Grave and the Nine Maidens Stone Circle.
Experience Cornwall’s ancient history through West Penwith’s quoits, stone circles and stories. During this fascinating excursion from Kernow Tours, you’ll follow a circular route around West Penwith, exploring holy wells and standing stones to discover their possible meanings. Site visits include Mên-an-Tol, Ballowall Barrow and Lanyon Quoit. Find out more here.
Discover the history of Penzance through a guided walk with bilingual tour guide Anna. She’ll explore Penzance with you, sharing its history as well as anecdotes, myths and legends. Anna is known for her extensive knowledge of the area and can be spotted by her rainbow-striped hat. Find out more and book your private tour here.
Trencrom Hill is an ancient hill fort and mythical home of the legendary giant Trecobben. The story goes that he used to play games with the giant who built St Michael’s Mount (which you will just be able to see in the distance). Look for the rock formations, which are said to be the Giant’s Cradle, Giant’s Chair and Giant’s Spoon.
Whether you’re walking the South West Coast Path or exploring the ancient sites of West Penwith, make sure you pause for lunch in Zennor. The Tinner’s Arms is a traditional Cornish pub that claims to have been built in 1271. It boasts a crackling fire, local ales and a delicious menu to fuel your adventures. The story goes that DH Lawrence once stayed here for a fortnight. Find out more here.
Retreat to a cosy self-catering cottage or book a stylish hotel in the heart of town. Discover the perfect seaside stay for your winter in Cornwall.
Visit out of season and step into an adventure. Explore our entire collection of inspiring itineraries and plan a great day out.
Many of the activities in our itineraries are accessible. Click on each individual experience to find out more about its accessibility. We advise that you contact the venue or experience provider in advance to confirm. You can also find information about accessible venues through Access Cornwall.
Enjoy updates from local experts and find information about upcoming events.
Discover the many ways you can get out there and explore without relying on your car.
We’re hoping to make every stay as sustainable as possible. Find out more here.
This listing has been curated by the EXPERIENCE West Cornwall team and was correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We advise that you contact the venue or provider directly to confirm any seasonal opening details and to book the experience.
