Cornish Miles
Back to route directory

West Cornwall / Coast path

St Just to St Ives Coast Path

The big one: from St Just past the Botallack engine houses, Pendeen Watch, Bosigran and Gurnard's Head to Zennor, then over the boulder fields to St Ives. Run and recorded end to end — the watch said thirty kilometres, and every one of them asks for attention.

4 hr 30 min – 6 hr 30 min

St Just, Cape Cornwall side to St Ives, Porthmeor Beach

Field checked / Last verified 2026-07-03

Distance
30.0 km
Elevation
882 m
Start
St Just, Cape Cornwall side
Terrain
Coast path
Difficulty
Hard
Route type
Point to point

Practical notes

Best for

  • A full coast path mission
  • Arc of Attrition and coast race recces
  • Mining-coast scenery that distracts from the climbing

Watch for

  • Old mine workings close to the path around Botallack and Levant — stay on the line
  • Boulder fields and rock steps through the whole Zennor-to-St Ives half
  • Boggy stream crossings between Morvah and Zennor after rain
  • Remote middle section where bailing out means slow inland lanes

Facilities

  • Car parks and shops in St Just
  • Shop and toilets at Pendeen
  • Pubs at Gurnard's Head and Zennor mid-route
  • Everything in St Ives

Season

A settled-weather route that wants long daylight. In winter the bogs deepen, the granite greases up, and the time estimates stop being polite.

Parking
Free parking in St Just a short jog from the route. Pay car parks in St Ives, which fill by mid-morning in season.
Public transport
Run it one-way with a bus return: St Just and St Ives both connect through Penzance, and the seasonal Land's End Coaster links the far west villages. Check times before committing to the finish.
Conditions
Recorded end to end on 2026-07-03: granite steps and mine track early, boggy valley crossings through the middle, and near-constant boulder work after Zennor. Five hours elapsed, with a pub stop at the Tinners Arms.
Navigation
Coast path waymarks the whole way. The boulder sections past Zennor ask you to pick lines rather than follow a worn path; keep the sea on your left and be patient.

Nearby routes

More ground nearby

Browse all routes

From the journal

Reading for this ground