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Day Walks in Cornwall
Day Walks in Cornwall features 20 circular routes between 7.2 and 13.7 miles (11.6km and 22km) in length, suitable for hillwalkers of all abilities. Researched and written by experienced authors Jen and Sim Benson, and covering the extremities of this stunning peninsula, the walks reach areas from Bude to the Isles of Scilly, and from Rame Head near Plymouth to Lizard Point on the southernmost tip. Taking advantage of the South West Coast Path, discover a unique view of the charming coastline at every turn in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Explore Chapel Porth caves, and countless coves, archways and waterfalls, or simply immerse yourself in a leisurely stroll along white sands and blue waters. Head for the Merry Maidens stone circle in Lamorna, examine the serpentinite rock formations at Lizard Point, watch over medieval Tintagel Castle and parade past Cromwell’s Castle. Find serenity overlooking St Enodoc’s Church or soak up the vibe of trendy fishing village St Mawes, nestled in its sheltered bay; you’ll find Cornwall has it all.
Together with stunning photography, each route features Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps, easy-to-follow directions, distance and navigation information, refreshment stops and local information.
Explore Chapel Porth caves, and countless coves, archways and waterfalls, or simply immerse yourself in a leisurely stroll along white sands and blue waters. Head for the Merry Maidens stone circle in Lamorna, examine the serpentinite rock formations at Lizard Point, watch over medieval Tintagel Castle and parade past Cromwell’s Castle. Find serenity overlooking St Enodoc’s Church or soak up the vibe of trendy fishing village St Mawes, nestled in its sheltered bay; you’ll find Cornwall has it all.
Together with stunning photography, each route features Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps, easy-to-follow directions, distance and navigation information, refreshment stops and local information.
160 pages, Paperback
Published April 11, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 11, 2020
As I’ve been a frequent visitor to Cornwall for more decades than I care to share (well, fifty if you must know!), always spending as much time as possible exploring the county on foot, I did wonder whether this pocket-sized guide to twenty day-walks would contain any new routes for me to explore – to my delight I’ve discovered that it does! Even some of my much-loved, oft repeated coastal walks, which I’ve usually done in a linear way, now hold the promise of new delights because each of the walks in the book is circular, cutting inland to take in many other points of interest.
I was pleased to see that a circumnavigation of Bryher and Tresco (two of the Scilly Isles) is included as I know what a delightful walk this is. Equally pleasing is the fact that three walks on Bodmin Moor and one in the Tamar Valley are included and, although I know both areas quite well, I’m familiar with only one of the featured walks … so I’m now feeling impatient to get down to Cornwall to tackle the other three!
Each walk is accompanied by a facsimile of an OS map, has excellent step-by-step directions, an indication of how easy/challenging it is, useful as well as interesting information about the area and some beautiful photographs. However, there is a wealth of other information for the walker, including details of the countryside code, safety advice, advice about suitable clothing and footwear, about navigation, including the numbers of the relevant OS 1:25,000 Explorer Series maps, details of en-route refreshment opportunities and information about accommodation to suit all budgets etc. I’m amazed, and impressed, by how just much information has been packed into this handy guide, without making it feel in any way confusing.
For anyone who loves Cornwall, and for all those yet to discover the rich variety of walks this county has to offer, I cannot think of a better guide to take with you on your travels.
With my thanks to Vertebrate Publishing for a free copy in exchange for my review.
I was pleased to see that a circumnavigation of Bryher and Tresco (two of the Scilly Isles) is included as I know what a delightful walk this is. Equally pleasing is the fact that three walks on Bodmin Moor and one in the Tamar Valley are included and, although I know both areas quite well, I’m familiar with only one of the featured walks … so I’m now feeling impatient to get down to Cornwall to tackle the other three!
Each walk is accompanied by a facsimile of an OS map, has excellent step-by-step directions, an indication of how easy/challenging it is, useful as well as interesting information about the area and some beautiful photographs. However, there is a wealth of other information for the walker, including details of the countryside code, safety advice, advice about suitable clothing and footwear, about navigation, including the numbers of the relevant OS 1:25,000 Explorer Series maps, details of en-route refreshment opportunities and information about accommodation to suit all budgets etc. I’m amazed, and impressed, by how just much information has been packed into this handy guide, without making it feel in any way confusing.
For anyone who loves Cornwall, and for all those yet to discover the rich variety of walks this county has to offer, I cannot think of a better guide to take with you on your travels.
With my thanks to Vertebrate Publishing for a free copy in exchange for my review.
November 8, 2019
This is a great little book to take with you next time you visit Cornwall with lots of different and interesting routes to walk and a lot to see while there. I haven’t visited Cornwall yet although this book does make me want to go there and try out several of the walks described in here. The book is a small pocket sized one with glossy pages and lots of interesting information on not only the routes to take but some brilliant picture too.
There’s a brief introduction to Cornwall at the start and how to use this book as well as a few key bits of safety information which should be taken seriously as going for a walk and getting lost or having an accident is still possible regardless of how used to walking in the countryside you are. After that the walks are seperated into the different areas of Cornwall and each walk varies in both how far it is, and how easy a walk it is for beginners. Although none of the walks seem too difficult, some are more complex than others and go on steeper terrain or through areas where you do need a little bit of of knowledge and confidence in orienteering as it can be tricky to navigate in poor conditions.
Every walk in this book sounds interesting and visits different locations around Cornwall. There is some interesting information in this book at the start of each walk, a little bit about the route with some history of the area or information on why a place is so-named. There is also a box of information at the bottom detailing the distance of the route, how high the route can take you as well as how long it should take, where to stop and find refreshments, etc. Although this information is there, I have to point out that for beginners I believe the time a walk can take as well as the distance travelled might increase if you’re not used to going on long walks across differing terrain or just want to take in the scenery a lot (which I’m guilty of doing!).
After the introduction each walk then has an ordinance survey map of the walk with key parts of the walk marked out. The walk is then described in detail, step by step, explaining where to turn and what to pass. I haven’t tried this book out in Cornwall yet so I can’t comment on how accurate it is, but the instructions do seem easy to follow and I suspect a little common sense has to be used too, as sometimes things happen that can affect the route you take and if you’re not used to walking I’d stick to the easier walks at first, ones that take you along assigned walking paths (which is what I’ll be doing when I first try this out).
The photographs in this book are beautiful with so many lovely pictures showing just how beautiful Cornwall is. I love how each walk has it’s own photo or two to show you what you could see when you visit the area. There are some really fascinating sights and of course there are many more places you can visit along the walk route that aren’t included in the book. It’s also reasurring to see the family in some pictures, including children, walking some of these routes which can make you feel like you can accomplish the walks as a beginner, as well as some of the more complex ones for those more used to walking.
I’ll definitely be taking this to Cornwall when I visit, which I’m hoping will be soon. I was interested in some of the history and landscape of the area already, but reading about things like the serpentine rock, which I didn’t know about, (how it looks like a lizard skin!) and some more about the area as well as the accompanying photographs just makes me want to visit all the more.
-Thanks to Vertebrate Publishing for a free copy for review.
There’s a brief introduction to Cornwall at the start and how to use this book as well as a few key bits of safety information which should be taken seriously as going for a walk and getting lost or having an accident is still possible regardless of how used to walking in the countryside you are. After that the walks are seperated into the different areas of Cornwall and each walk varies in both how far it is, and how easy a walk it is for beginners. Although none of the walks seem too difficult, some are more complex than others and go on steeper terrain or through areas where you do need a little bit of of knowledge and confidence in orienteering as it can be tricky to navigate in poor conditions.
Every walk in this book sounds interesting and visits different locations around Cornwall. There is some interesting information in this book at the start of each walk, a little bit about the route with some history of the area or information on why a place is so-named. There is also a box of information at the bottom detailing the distance of the route, how high the route can take you as well as how long it should take, where to stop and find refreshments, etc. Although this information is there, I have to point out that for beginners I believe the time a walk can take as well as the distance travelled might increase if you’re not used to going on long walks across differing terrain or just want to take in the scenery a lot (which I’m guilty of doing!).
After the introduction each walk then has an ordinance survey map of the walk with key parts of the walk marked out. The walk is then described in detail, step by step, explaining where to turn and what to pass. I haven’t tried this book out in Cornwall yet so I can’t comment on how accurate it is, but the instructions do seem easy to follow and I suspect a little common sense has to be used too, as sometimes things happen that can affect the route you take and if you’re not used to walking I’d stick to the easier walks at first, ones that take you along assigned walking paths (which is what I’ll be doing when I first try this out).
The photographs in this book are beautiful with so many lovely pictures showing just how beautiful Cornwall is. I love how each walk has it’s own photo or two to show you what you could see when you visit the area. There are some really fascinating sights and of course there are many more places you can visit along the walk route that aren’t included in the book. It’s also reasurring to see the family in some pictures, including children, walking some of these routes which can make you feel like you can accomplish the walks as a beginner, as well as some of the more complex ones for those more used to walking.
I’ll definitely be taking this to Cornwall when I visit, which I’m hoping will be soon. I was interested in some of the history and landscape of the area already, but reading about things like the serpentine rock, which I didn’t know about, (how it looks like a lizard skin!) and some more about the area as well as the accompanying photographs just makes me want to visit all the more.
-Thanks to Vertebrate Publishing for a free copy for review.
November 14, 2019
Day Walks in Cornwall is a recent (2019) addition to the list of similar format guides from Vertebrate Publishing and as such, is a tried and tested format for giving the reader useful information to plan a day out walking in the far south west of Britain.
The book is subdivided into five distinct areas, with each area containing four walks ranging in distance from 7.2 to 13.7 miles. As Cornwall is a peninsula it is not surprising that 16 of the 20 circular walks include an element of coastal footpaths. That includes a walk on the Scilly Isles as well as eight on the north coast and seven on the south. The remaining four walks are on or around Bodmin Moor.
Each walk is accompanied by an extract of an Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 map which, because of the detail those maps have, gives the walker scope to shorten the walks if required. As such, some of the longer walks can be split and done as two shorter walks if required. Each walk is plotted on a map with way mark numbers added to help identify your location and destination when reading the step by step directions section. There is a six figure grid reference to get you to the starting point, a narrative summary of the walk which includes some background information and points of interest along the way. It also gives a summary of distance, expected time allowance, height gain and a guide to the ease or difficulty of navigation.
The book includes some stunning full colour photographs and concludes with an appendix which has selective information on local food and drink establishments and accommodation.
This is a great part of the country to explore (especially “out of season”) and having this pocket sized guide to hand makes for an enjoyable days walking.
The book is subdivided into five distinct areas, with each area containing four walks ranging in distance from 7.2 to 13.7 miles. As Cornwall is a peninsula it is not surprising that 16 of the 20 circular walks include an element of coastal footpaths. That includes a walk on the Scilly Isles as well as eight on the north coast and seven on the south. The remaining four walks are on or around Bodmin Moor.
Each walk is accompanied by an extract of an Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 map which, because of the detail those maps have, gives the walker scope to shorten the walks if required. As such, some of the longer walks can be split and done as two shorter walks if required. Each walk is plotted on a map with way mark numbers added to help identify your location and destination when reading the step by step directions section. There is a six figure grid reference to get you to the starting point, a narrative summary of the walk which includes some background information and points of interest along the way. It also gives a summary of distance, expected time allowance, height gain and a guide to the ease or difficulty of navigation.
The book includes some stunning full colour photographs and concludes with an appendix which has selective information on local food and drink establishments and accommodation.
This is a great part of the country to explore (especially “out of season”) and having this pocket sized guide to hand makes for an enjoyable days walking.
December 8, 2020
This guide follows the successful format of other guides in the Vertebrate Way Walks series, its clearly laid out with useful Ordnance Survey Maps overlaid with the routes to aid navigation. Routes are broken down into stages and the authors impart detailed knowledge of the areas with clear and fluent writing that shows a love for the area. The enticing pictures show the beauty of the castline and moors and the inclusion of OS maps for each walk mean the guide is self-contained and there is no need to carry a map when walking (unless you plan to deviate from the route).
Unfortunately given the current LOCKDOWN! restrictions I've been unable to field test the guide, but have walked in some of the areas described in the past and look forward to revisiting the areas with this guidebook to highlight some of the points of interest I will have unwittingly missed in the past..
Disclosure : I received a free copy of the guide to review.
Unfortunately given the current LOCKDOWN! restrictions I've been unable to field test the guide, but have walked in some of the areas described in the past and look forward to revisiting the areas with this guidebook to highlight some of the points of interest I will have unwittingly missed in the past..
Disclosure : I received a free copy of the guide to review.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews