Guided Walking for Families at St Ives

• A unique feature of Guided Walking for Families is the selection of up to 3 guided walks each walking day
• Our friendly and experienced leaders will guide you on the walks and are there to assist with any queries you may have
• Evening activities are fun for all the family – enjoy indoor and outdoor activities, and there’s also a kids-only games room
• Make the most of the nearby family-friendly attractions

Easier Walks       Medium Walks       Harder Walks

Holidays for 2012

7 night holiday - Sat 4 Aug

Itinerary for 7 night holiday - arrive Sat 4 Aug

Sunday: Fields and coasts around St Ives

Easier Walk: A circular walk taking us from St Ives to Knill’s Monument and the promontory of Carrick Gladden, before following the South West Coast Path to Carbis Bay back into St Ives. 5½ miles with 850 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: From St Ives we head up Knill’s Monument, then join the coast near Lelant church and follow the South West Coast Path back to St Ives. 7½ miles with 1,000 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: Taking a loop over Trencrom Hill - with its Iron Age hill fort - and Lelant Downs, we take another circular walk from St Ives, returning via the coastal path. 10 miles with 1,300 feet of ascent.

Monday: Heritage sites of the northwest coast

Easier Walk: First we view the spectacular Crowns Mine engine houses at Botallack. We then walk from the mining village of St Just to go inland across the Cot Valley fields and lanes, before joining the coast path to the fishing village of Sennen Cove and then to Land’s End. 5½ miles with 525 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: From Botallack we follow the South West Coast Path, viewing scenes of the tin mining en route to Cape Cornwall and Ballowall Barrow, a Bronze Age burial chamber, before heading to Land’s End. 8 miles with 1,150 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: Walking from Geevor Mine we also follow the South West Coast Path all the way to Land’s End. 10 miles with 1,400 feet of ascent.

Tuesday: Mining, shipwrecks and smuggling in Mount’s Bay

Easier Walk: Starting at the sandy beach of Praa Sands we take the undulating coast path to Kenneggy and Prussia Cove, with stunning views of St Michael’s Mount. We finish at the ancient and attractive town of Marazion, with perhaps time to walk the causeway to the Mount, tide permitting. 6¼ miles with 775 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: From the mine buildings of Wheal Prosper at Rinsey Head we join the coast path to the mile-long beach of Praa Sands and then on to Marazion. 8½ miles with 900 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: From the fishing harbour of Porthleven we follow outstanding coastline to Trewavas Head - with the dramatic views of old mine buildings - before walking our way to Marazion via Praa Sands and the attractive village of Perranuthnoe. 11 miles with 1,575 feet of ascent.

Wednesday:

With no guided walks organised, this is a great opportunity for your family to explore Cornwall independently - see the Local Area tab for places that you may enjoy visiting.

Thursday: The beaches and cliffs of north Cornwall

Easier Walk: From Porthtowan we pass the famous old Wheal Coates mine with its impressive Towanroath engine house on the coast path, before we head inland from St Agnes Head to follow a footpath over St Agnes Beacon and into the village. 5½ miles with 750 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: Starting in Porthtowan we pass the unspoilt National Trust Cove of Chapel Porth and the Wheal Coates mine. We then take a path high above the sea to St Agnes Head, dropping into Trevaunance Cove and over Cligga Head to Perranporth. 8½ miles with 1,075 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: First walking along the South West Coast Path from Portreath to Porthtowan, we then follow a similar route to the medium walk into Perranporth. 12 miles with 1,650 feet of ascent.

Friday: The extreme south of England - around the Lizard

Easier Walk: Walking from Lizard Green we take the cliff path high above Polpeor Cove to Kynance Cove with its serpentine rock formations. We return to Lizard Green along a “Cornish hedge” footpath. 5½ miles with 425 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: From Mullion we follow the coast path to the harbour of Mullion Cove and along the cliffs to Kynance. We continue on to Lizard Green via the “Cornish hedge” footpath or around Lizard Head itself. 8 or 9½ miles with 875 or 1,250 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: Today we take a circular walk from Lizard Green - tracking along the coast past to the quaint fishing village of Cadgwith, the Devil’s Frying Pan, the lifeboat station Kilcobben Cove, and on to Bass Point, Lizard Head and Kynance. 11¼ miles with 1,200 feet of ascent.

Local transport

On some days the walks start and finish at our Country House. On other days you’ll be transported to other parts of Cornwall. The cost of all transport to and from the walks is included in the price of your holiday.

In the evenings

Your leaders will inform you about the choice of walks for the next day and answer any questions you may have. After a sociable evening meal you could join in an evening activity created specifically for all the family - enjoy a quiz, a game of rounders or outdoor treasure hunt or use the Country House facilities - the kids will love the adult-free play zone.