Short answer: The best walks near Perranporth are the mostly flat 4.2 to 4.6 mile beach route to Holywell Bay, the 3.3 mile Perran Sands section of the coast path, and the cliff walk to Cligga Head. At low tide the beach joins into a 2.2 mile stretch of sand. The Lost Church is hard to find, so reviewers suggest heading for the concrete cross.
Check the tide before you pick a Perranporth walk. At high water the big beach splits in two, with Perran Sands to the north and Perranporth beach to the south. At low tide the pieces join into a single stretch of sand about 2.2 miles long and up to a quarter of a mile wide, according to the iWalk Cornwall guide. That one fact decides whether your walk is a beach stroll, a dune trek or a clifftop climb. Here are the best walks near Perranporth, grouped by direction.
Start at the town end of Perranporth Beach and walk out to Chapel Rock at low tide. The rock has a tidal pool that reviewers say is free to use, rated 4.8 from 178 Google reviews, though access depends on the tide. One caution is from the South West Coast Path: there are dangerous rip currents around Chapel Rock on ebb tides, and lifeguard patrols run from May to September. In winter, stay out of the water and keep an eye on the incoming tide.
Then climb to Droskyn Point for the Millennium sundial, a millennium landmark with views across Perran Bay. Reviewers say it is set to Cornish time rather than GMT, and that there are toilets nearby. It makes a short outing and a good first look at the bay.
Yes, and it is the best flat walk here. A GPS Routes guide gives the route as about 4.2 to 4.6 miles (the page quotes both), starting from the public car park near Droskyn Point. It follows the long beach, passes Ligger Point and Penhale Point, and drops to Holywell Bay, which the same guide says has National Trust owned beach, a large dune system and Holywell Cave, which is accessible at low tide. The route is mostly flat beach with some small clifftop climbs.
Holywell is also where the longer Newquay to Perranporth coast path comes in: see our best walks near Newquay if you want to link the two. The Perran Sands to Perranporth section of the South West Coast Path is a gentler 3.3 miles, rated easy by the path's own walks database, starting at the Perran Sands holiday park and crossing the dunes or the sand.
St Piran's Oratory (4.5 from 45 Google reviews) is the early chapel linked to St Piran, the saint the town is named after, lost in the sand for centuries. The stones were first noticed in 1835, and a trust has since re-excavated the site. The iWalk guide lists a 3.6 mile circular Lost Church walk through the dunes, rated easy to moderate. Reviewers agree it is hard to find: there are no signposts in the dunes, and the tip is to head for the large concrete cross on the skyline. Reviewers also say the oratory itself is protected and can be wet inside, so lower your expectations of the interior, and check the current state of the site before a long walk. A ruined later church and a Celtic cross are nearby, reviewers say.
A warning: the iWalk page says the dunes to the north are military land with no public access, even though some routes pass through Penhale Sands. Stay on waymarked paths and check signs and a current map. Perran Sands to Perranporth is the safer choice for most walkers.
4.6 from 108 Google reviews. Head south on the coast path to Cligga Head, where old mine workings left tunnels, ruins and fenced shafts. The South West Coast Path describes "bat castles", mesh caps over old workings that stop people falling in while letting bats use them. Reviewers say the walk is tricky in places and some routes to the cliffs are dangerous, so stay on the obvious path. The tunnels are old mine workings, so treat them with care, keep out of any fenced shafts and do not go in without proper equipment.
The iWalk guide lists a moderate 5.7 mile circular to Trevellas and back. Another is a one-way 4.7 miles to St Agnes, made circular with a bus. The South West Coast Path says Hanover Cove is named after a ship wrecked in 1763, and puts St Agnes at 5.5 miles from Perranporth on its full 12.4 mile, challenging route to Portreath.
If you go on to St Agnes, read our Chapel Porth and Wheal Coates walk guide and the St Agnes town page. Check bus times on Traveline before you commit to a one-way plan.
The beach is a dog walker's favourite: iWalk says dogs are allowed on the beach all year. Our dog-friendly beaches guide has detail. For buggies, stick to the beach, which is flat, rather than the dune and cliff paths, which are not suited to wheels.
It is one of the best winter walking bases on the north coast: free-to-walk beach, big swells and empty sand. The catch is daylight once the clocks go back, so keep cliff walks for the middle of the day and be off the headlands before dusk. The route to Cligga and the dune paths can turn muddy after rain.
The Watering Hole (4.4 from 4,806 Google reviews) is the pub on the sand, with a roof terrace, though several reviewers say prices are high for the location. For dry seats and a fire, use our list of rainy day dog-friendly pubs in Perranporth. For the best place to be at the end of the day, see where to watch the sunset in Perranporth. More on the town is on the Perranporth page.
For flat walking, the beach to Holywell Bay is about 4.2 to 4.6 miles. For cliffs and mine ruins, walk south to Cligga Head. The Perran Sands to Perranporth section is 3.3 miles and rated easy.
Reviewers say to head for the tall concrete cross on the dune skyline. There are no signposts and the oratory is hidden until you are close, so carry a map or GPS.
Much of the northern dunes at Penhale Sands is military land with no public access, according to iWalk Cornwall, so stay on waymarked paths and check current signs and maps before heading into the dunes.
Yes. St Agnes is 5.5 miles along the coast path from Perranporth. iWalk lists a one-way 4.7 mile walk to St Agnes made circular with a bus, so check the timetable.
iWalk Cornwall says dogs are allowed on the beach all year. Keep them on a lead near the cliffs and around Chapel Rock.
Times, prices and dates are the businesses' and organisers' to change, so check before you travel. Spotted something we've got wrong? Tell us and we'll fix it.
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