Rail to Trail: South West Coast Path walks

Mermaid of Zennor walk

Inspired by GWR’s The Line To Legend Land book, here’s our guide to the scenic train ride to St Ives and the South West Coast Path walk to discover the Mermaid of Zennor:

• Take the Cornish main line to St Erth station
• Change at St Erth on to the St Ives Bay Line (train times)
• At St Ives station, head to the far end of the platform to see the new mermaid statue
• Wander through town to join the rugged 6-mile South West Coast Path walk to Zennor (walk directions)
• See the mermaid carving at St Senara’s church (contactless donations welcome in the church)
• Have lunch at the Tinners Arms opposite the church
• Take the 16A bus from the edge of the village back to St Ives (check times in advance)
• Finish your day with a MooMaid ice cream before the train home!

More walks from Cornish stations

To help people access the South West Coast Path by train, new walking maps have been unveiled at five key railway stations in Cornwall: Penzance, Looe, Newquay, Falmouth Town and Falmouth Docks.

The project is a collaboration between the South West Coast Path, the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership and Great Western Railway, who funded the boards.

Each of the five stations acts as a gateway to the Coast Path, with at least three circular walks that begin and end at the station – ideal for day trips and weekend adventures, without the need to drive!

Get directions for each walk:

From Looe station:

Looe, Talland & Polperro (5.7 miles)

Talland Bay & The Giant’s Hedge (7.3 miles)

Looe to Portwrinkle (8.7 miles)

From Penzance station:

Penzance to Mousehole (3.6 miles)

Penzance to Marazion (6.8 miles)

Penzance to Porthcurno (10.9 miles)

From Newquay station:

Newquay to The Gannel (3.1 miles)

Newquay to Trevelgue Head (5.1 miles)

Newquay to Twin Headlands (5.0 miles)

From Falmouth stations:

St Just in Roseland (5.0 miles)

Pendennis Castle (4.0 miles)

Falmouth Packet (2.0 miles)

Falmouth Town (2.0 miles)

---

Top tip – get a Devon & Cornwall Railcard (just £13 a year and now available online) to save a third for you and a friend. Plus you can bring up to four kids for just £2 each.