Serious cyclists

West Cornwall

Set off for a cycling adventure in wild West Cornwall.

If you are a cycling enthusiast, chances are that Land’s End is already on your radar, as it’s the starting point for the UK’s ‘End to End’ cycling route. But did you know that there’s another long-distance route right here in West Cornwall?

The West Kernow Way is a 230km cycling route created by Cycling UK, which covers West Penwith and the Lizard Peninsular. It takes you through recently connected ways to explore ancient sites, tin mines and local landmarks.

In this itinerary, you’ll find challenging cycling routes that reward you with spectacular coastal scenery, plus information about pubs and cafes where you can rest and refuel.

Activity level: Energetic
Duration: 6-7 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

London Paddington to Penzance

Sleeper train

Wake up on holiday when you travel from London to Penzance via the First Great Western ‘Night Riviera’ sleeper train. You can book a comfortable cabin with a bunk bed, which gives you access to the First Class Lounge at London Paddington. There is also an onboard lounge, although you can enjoy room service in your cabin. Book your tickets here.

Land’s End Cycle Hire

Explore Land’s End

Land’s End Cycle Hire is based at Geevor Tin Mine Museum in Pendeen. They offer bikes for all abilities, from electric and hybrid options to mountain bikes, road bikes, tandems and bikes for younger cyclists. Find out more and book your bike here.

Cycling UK

West Kernow Way

Experienced cyclists will love the West Kernow Way, a 230km ‘bikepacking’ route that explores West Cornwall and the Lizard. Designed to be enjoyed over 3-4 days, you’ll follow bridleways, country lanes and even lost ways to experience some of the key highlights of the area, including St Michael’s Mount and Land’s End. Find out more here.

Site-specific artwork

Gwelen

If you’ve ever visited Mount’s Bay, home of St Michael’s Mount, it might surprise you to learn that beneath the waves lies the remains of an ancient forest. To bring this secret landscape to life, local artist Emma Smith has created a site-specific artwork, ‘Gwelen’. To find her wooden ‘seeing sticks’, join the section of the South West Coast Path that connects Marazion and Penzance. This unique installation is accompanied by a podcast, which will introduce you to Emma Smith and her work.

St Michael’s Mount

Walk the causeway

On a crisp and bright day, St Michael’s Mount is a sight to behold. As the tide lowers, the causeway is revealed – and this is your entry point to the famous landmark. The castle itself is a National Trust site, which is open to visitors daily during the summer, but only on selected dates from the 1st November-31st March, so it’s definitely worth planning your day here first.

Places to Eat

The Godolphin, Marazion

Views of St Michael’s Mount

Sit back and enjoy the views. The Godolphin is a restaurant, hotel and bar positioned directly in front of St Michael’s Mount. You could pop in for a cocktail at sunset, enjoy a seasonal three-course menu in their stylish restaurant, or make the most of the daylight hours with breakfast overlooking the beach. 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 10th, 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.