Birdwatching breaks

West Cornwall

Experience Cornwall’s winged wildlife this winter.

Winter is an exciting time of year for birders. You could search for hen harriers in West Penwith or visit Bartinney Nature Reserve to look for snipes and woodcocks. The beach at Marazion is home to a wide variety of waders and seabirds, while overwintering bitterns have been spotted at Marazion Marsh.

Head to cliffs at Land’s End, and you might spot the distinctive red bill of a Cornish chough, which are growing in numbers thanks to a management project from the RSPB. You can read more about the Cornwall Chough Project here.

It’s also worth checking the Cornwall Birdwatching & Preservation Society (CBPS) boards for the latest sightings in the area.

Activity level: Easy
Duration: 2-3 days

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.

Create your own inspiring itinerary

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.

Things to do

Cornwall Birdwatching Tours

Birdwatching in West Cornwall

Join the experienced birders at West Cornwall Birdwatching for a winter tour of the key sites in the area, including Mount’s Bay and Bartinney Nature Reserve. You’ll be searching for short-eared owls, purple sandpipers, kingfishers and more, with plenty of time for photographs. Transport is included. Find out more here.

Cornwall Wildlife Trust

Protecting nature

Cornwall Wildlife Trust is a charity dedicated to protecting Cornwall’s wildlife and natural environment. Within five miles of Penzance, you’ll find three of the many nature reserves that they look after, including a disused clay pit and a conifer plantation. The charity also offers talks and workshops in the great outdoors. Visit their website to see what’s happening during your stay.

Sustainable Penzance

Inspiring talks

Sustainable Penzance is a community group that encourages the use of public transport and promotes sustainability initiatives in the local area. They organise beach cleans, workshops for businesses and events in Penzance. Visit their Facebook page to find out about upcoming events and see if they are doing a talk during your visit.

Take the train to St Ives

Scenic railway

The beaches, art galleries and restaurants of St Ives are just a short train journey from Penzance. Board at Penzance station, sit back and relax as the spectacular St Michael’s Mount rolls past your window. At St Erth, join the St Ives Bay Line for a scenic journey along the coast, through Carbis Bay to St Ives. Find out more about the journey here.

Places to Eat

The Copper Spoon, Marazion

Speciality coffee and homemade cakes

Visit The Copper Spoon café in the centre of Marazion for a friendly atmosphere, homemade cakes, Cornish cream teas, local pastries and savoury treats. It’s the perfect place to pause for a marshmallow-topped hot chocolate after visiting St Michael’s Mount – and you’re welcome to bring your dog too. Find out more here.

Essential Information

Places to Stay

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.

More inspiration?

Visit out of season and step into an adventure. Explore our entire collection of inspiring itineraries and plan a great day out.

Accessibility

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.

Local knowledge

Enjoy updates from local experts and find information about upcoming events.

Getting around

Discover the many ways you can get out there and explore without relying on your car.

Positive impact

We’re hoping to make every stay as sustainable as possible. Find out more here.

Itinerary last updated on March 8th, 2023

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.