Walks in West Cornwall

Walk Book - Platinum Jubilee Edition

A collection of self-guided walks compiled by the West Cornwall Footpaths Preservation Society.

Originally published in 1962, revised in 1972 and further revised in 2023 to mark the 70th anniversary of the Society.

The Platinum edition of the walk book consists, where possible, of all the original walks revised to take account of changes in the countryside that have occurred in the 50 years since the last revision in 1972.  Quite a few paths have been extinguished, including ones around the quarry at Castle and Dinas and those through the Chysauster Settlement, which is now owned by English Heritage.

Other routes are somewhat impractical, including the suggestion that walkers should “walk the four miles back to Penzance along the A30”.  Similarly, others refer to buses that do not exist and features such as the AA box on the St Just Road which was removed when the Penzance bypass was built.

The library now holds over 70 walks.  They are held online in the WCFPS archive.  The online version can be accessed free of charge.  Each walk includes a “self-guided” route description so that it can be printed out and taken on the walk.   Also included is a .gpx file enabling the route to be followed on a Global Positioning System (GPX) gadget or app (eg the Ordinance Survey one) on a smart phone.

What is nice about the walks are that they are mainly inland.  Many walkers visit Cornwall and head for the Coast Path and that is all they experience.  That’s great, but the walks are somewhat one dimensional and are also very hilly!   

And you are missing the best bit – the gorgeous Cornish countryside.  Inland walks are typically sheltered, not nearly as hilly, have tremendous views, cover a multitude of landscapes including bleak moorland, wooded valleys and have historical monuments to admire.