Mousehole To Lamorna Walk Guide

The walk from Mousehole to Lamorna takes you along a great bit of coast path. Quite different to other bits of coast path I have walked on actually. I walked it after walking from Penzance to Mousehole, (which if you read, you will know I wasn’t fond of) and it really made my day so much better.

Top Tip: Mousehole is pronounced Mowzel. I was one of those that said it wrong and got funny looks. Giving away that I’m not from around here.

A narrow path leading through the bushes to the village of Lamorna, half way through the walk from Mousehole. There are a few white cottages up on the grass and bushes covered hill ahead. — Lamorna

What was the walk from Mousehole to Lamorna like?

Very very rocky and overgrown. This might just be the rockiest bit of the South West Coast Path I have walked, and your hands will definitely need to get involved.

A few rocks on the path, surrounded by overgrown grass.

A pile of rocks leading towards a small cottage partially hidden behind the bush, half way through the walk from Mousehole to Lamorna.

Rock steps leading uphill on the coastal walk from Mousehole to Lamorna. The hill is covered with grass with small pretty pink flowers. There are two people walking on the two of the hill.

A large slab of rock across the trail on the side of the hill on the coastal walk from Mousehole to Lamorna. There are lots of rocks ahead on the trail.

Parts of the trail are also seriously engulfed with the bushes, which adds to the adventurousness of it. It is a little hilly, but that’s to be expected. Not crazy hilly though.

I did this walk in a circular, and the walk back to Mousehole from Lamorna was wildy different. Easy level walking through field after field. You don’t have much in the way of views for the walk back, until the end that is. If you want something scenic and adventures, you should walk back the way you came. I did quite enjoy the walk back though, it was more chill…apart from the cows, but I will get to that later.

Logistics for the circular walk from Mousehole to Lamorna

Start/Finish: Mousehole

How to get there: Located in South Cornwall, Mousehole is a short distance from Penzance which is the last stop on the Great Western train line. You can walk between the two, or get a short bus journey on a bus called the Mousehole.
Distance: 5.4 miles
Time: 2h

Elevation: Highest point is 115m. With the ups and downs, total elevation gain is around 325m
Difficulty: Medium
Option to shorten the walk: Kind of. From Lamorna you can catch the 347 bus back to Penzance, journey time just under 30min. The bus stop is about 10min walk along the road from the beach in Larmona. BUT, from what I can see, there is just one a day at 9:30, so this would only work if you did a sunrise hike. Alternatively, if you walk further to reach the bigger main road, you can catch the Lands End Coaster back to Penzance. It’s roughly a 20min walk to reach the road from Lamorna Cove.

Terrain: Dirt trail, lots of rocks, grass, maybe some mud, steps, a small bit of road.
Amenities: In Lamorna there are public toilets, a cafe at the beach, and a short walk up the road is a pub called Lamorna Wink. In Mousehole you have a lot of foodie choice. Cafes/tea rooms, pubs, restaurants and ice cream shops. The is also car parking at Mousehole.
Time of year: Spring

Tips for the walk from Mousehole to Lamorna

Hiking boots/shoes. You will thank me when you get to the rocky bits.
I mentioned you can walk from Penzance to Mousehole, and it doesn’t look too far on the map, but I would actually recommend getting the bus. That walk is quite uneventful, and you want your energy for the main walk.
Think about your skin. There are a few stinging nettles in those overgrown bits. I was being carful, and made it out with just one sting. You could bring some loose trousers to wack on for those bits.

If you like adventure and a challenges, then walk back to Mousehole from Lamorna along the coast path. If you want a chilled return, then do the circular like me.
If you plan to get the Mousehole bus, just be aware that the last one back to Penzance is (at the time of writing) at 4:20pm.

Map for the circular walk from Mousehole to Lamorna

More walk ideas near Mousehole and Lamorna will be at the end

A Guide To The Circular Walk From Mousehole To Lamorna

Starting from the harbour in Mousehole, walk to the far side, and up the road. Go past The Ark building (which has a sign pointing to Lamorna), where you now have a chunky uphill walk. A little way up, you will see a trail off the road to the left. Ignore that and stick to the road.

Looking across the bay of mousehole at low tide. There are lots of boats resting on the sea bed. There is a stone wall on the left of the bay. There are lots of houses behind the wall. — I’m standing here at the far side of the bay in Mousehole

A road leading uphill to the left around a white wood building with 'the ark' written in red. — Stay on the main road here

A road leading uphill to the right, and a trail to the left. There is a black bin and red post box in between them. — Stay on the main road here

First you will be walking past the houses, and then the green bushes. When you reach a junction with a left turn, take the left and go up a gravelly path with more bushes and a palm tree looking thing. Follow this path as it takes you to the right.

A country road lined with bushes and trees. There is a person walking on the road ahead.

A road junction with bushes and trees between them. — Go left here

A gravel path lined with a hedge on the right, and bushes and a tree on the left. — Go left here

A narrow dirt trail lined with lots of bushes and trees encroaching on the trail.

The bush attack

It will all start out simple with bushes along the side of the trail. Then the trail will get narrower and narrower, and the bushes will start to take over. I don’t have any photos of the serious bushy bits, as I was focusing on making it through alive. At one point in a bush tunnel, you will walk past a sort of ruin. It was a little creepy.

A narrow dirt trail surrounded by bushes and trees encroaching on the trail.

A narrow trail with tall bushes on the right and smaller bushes on the left.

Things will then start to open up a little to give you a break from the bush. Just for now though. They come back later

It was around here I stopped dead in my track because I though I saw a snake. This looks like a snake right?

A trail lined with bushes and tall grass. There is a wire snaking along the trail.

It wasn’t, it was a pipe or something coming from the ground. I wonder what that is for.

As you turn the corner, you will get a view to the coastline on the other side, with a lovely viewpoint bench. This point sort of marks the beginning of the next chapter of the Mousehole to Lamorna walk. The trail up until now had been fairly level, on a relatively easy path. Everything is about to change.

A trail at the top of a hill on the walk from Mousehole to Lamorna. There is a wooden bench on the right, next to a rock, and view down to the sea and coastline to the left.

The rocks, steps and undulations

Straight past the bench, you will head downhill. First amongst some more overgrown stuff, and then the rock steps. The trail will become steeper as you make your way down in a zigzag sort of fashion.

Rocky steps on the trail disappearing through the bushes on the walk from Mousehole to Lamorna.

Rock steps leading downhill, surround by tall grass and some bushes with the sea and some coastline rocks below.

When you reach the bottom, you will then make your way along the side of this hill. Some level bits, but mostly short ups and downs. Lots more rocks, and some areas that look like potential mud fests. Keep making your way along and you will then reach the woods.

A green grass hill leading down to the rocks as it meets the sea on the coastal walk from Mousehole to Lamorna.

Looking along the hill as it leads down to some rocks which meet the sea.

A rock trail surrounded by greenery and disappearing ahead into the bushes.

A rocky trail through the tall grass and leaves on the coastal walk from Mousehole to Lamorna.

Looking along the side of a grass and bush covered hill towards some trees ahead and the sea to the left.

The woods and the easy bit

The woods is a pretty easy and short section. It was nice to have a moment of not needing to look down at where I was stepping.

A dirt trail through the woods. The trail is also lined with bushes and fern.

When you leave the woods, the trail will become narrow again, but it’s a very easy non rocky bit. Everything is more open, with a small bit of bush. The trail undulates a little, but nothing aggressive. You will also see some very interesting rock formations.

A narrow trail along the side of a grass covered hill on the coastal walk from Mousehole to Lamorna. There are large rocks at the bottom of the hill on the left next to the sea.

Someway further along, you will have a steep but short uphill with rock steps. At the top you will have some more big impressive rocks and your first view over to Lamorna.

Stone steps leading uphill, with a trail running next to it on the walk from Mousehole to Lamorna. The hill is grassy with a few pretty flowers dotted about. There is a wooden trail signpost next to the steps, with a yellow arrow pointing uphill.

Looking down to the sea on the walk from Mousehole to Lamorna. There are large rocks to the left and a rocky coastline on the right.

Walk to Lamorna – The half way point in the walk from Mousehole

The trail will then gradually take you downhill (with some small short ups) as you make your way to Lamorna. It is a mix of narrow trail, rocks and slabs of rock. Some scrambling will be needed along here.

Looking along the side of a grass covered hill with lots of rocks at the bottom by the sea, on the walk from Mousehole to Lamorna. There are lots of pink flowers on the hill.

A small trail running across lots of big rocks on the side of the hill on the right with the sea down below on the left, on the walk from Mousehole to Lamorna.

As you get nearer to Lamorna, you will be surrounded by green again, and will walk past the rubble of rocks.

What the hell are all these rocks about? Seriously, I’m interested to know.

A mound of rocks ahead past some bushes.

A small trail running through the grass and bushes on the Mousehole to Lamorna walk. There is a view to a green hill ahead with a few white house on it.

You will then reach the bottom where you can go over to Lamorna Beach.

Looking across the rocks to the beach and then the sea on Larmona.

I had fully planned to take my snack break here, although, there were children noises. I also knew I had a big uphill next to get out of the Lamorna Bay area. I reasoned that if I tackle the hill now, I will get it out of the way, then at the top, I can enjoy my snack in peace with a nice view down. Little did I know that this plan was flawed….

Start the walk back to Mousehole from Lamorna

To leave Lamorna, make you way back the way you came, and just past the toilet block, you should see this trail split. To go back along the coast path, go right. To do a circular back along the top, go left. Now it’s a slow and steady uphill through the woodland. This bit is quite pretty with lots of flowers and bluebells.

A trail spilt, with both trails lined with grass and bushes. There are piles of rocks ahead.

A dirt trail leading up through the woods on the walk back to Moushole from Lamorna. The trail is line with grass, bushes and trees and pink, blue and white flowers.

You will reach an opening with a view of rocks, hills homes, and a big rock cliff face. Keep going up, and at the top you will reach a wooden trail signpost in front of a house. Follow the trail to the right.

Looking across the bushes and rocks to the grass and bushes covered hill on the other side. There is a white home nestled between some bushes on the hill.

Looking across the bushes to the side of a cliff on the walk from Mousehole to Lamorna.

A wooden trail signpost infant of bushes, with a house to the right. The grass in front of the sign is tall and wild.

I had hoped that at this point, I could take my break. But there wasn’t really much here to look at. No views. No benches. I thought if I kept going, something would pop up.

Walk past the houses and through the fields

Following the sign to the right, it will lead you onto a road and past the houses. This definitely wasn’t a suitable snack break spot, I would have to either sit on the road or on someones wall. So I kept going.

A grass trail leading towards the road and a stone budding.

A public footpath sign on the walk from Mousehole to Lamorna. The sign is in front of a stone wall covered in ivy. There is a stone house behind the wall.

A road track lined with stones walls with pink flowers on the walk back to Mousehole from Lamorna. There are a few stone walled houses ahead.

Look out for the footpath sign on the right of the road, which takes you over slabs of rock and into the field. You will now walk through a few fields which look like farm fields. As I made my way through them, I didn’t want to stop for my break, as I wasn’t sure what might appear. There was no livestock, but they might be let out soon. So I kept going.

Stone steps leading into a field. There is a green footpath sign to the right of the steps.

A grass trail along the side of a field. There is a telephone pylon on the left side of the field.

Stone steps between the bushes, leading into a field.

A large Fram field, with a wooden trail signpost on the left with a yellow arrow pointing ahead.

At the end, you you will exit over a stile with more rock slabs, and just ahead you will reach the road again. Follow the road, and look out for the footpath sign to take you off it into another field on the right.

Stone steps with bushes on the right and stone wall on the left. A stone walled house is on the other side of the wall.

A grass path, with a stone wall on the left and a hedge on the right. The roof of a house is visible ahead next to the trail.

A country road snaking along, lined with bushes and hedges, on the walk back to Mousehole from Lamorna.

A metal gate on the right, with a field on the other side. There is a wooden trail signpost with a green footpath sign next to the gate.

A grass trail through a field, leading to some bushes.

Follow the grassy trail, which will lead you into some bushes on the left.

The next little bit is quite bushy and a little rocky. Reminiscent of the earlier part of the Mousehole to Lamorna walk. As you leave the bush, you will be lead towards some houses. There is a trail split coming up. Take the left one which will lead you to a wonky footpath sign pointing down the back of the farm buildings.

A trail leading through the overgrown grass. There are some white and pink flowers on the left.

Tall grass in front of a stone wall and trail signpost, pointing in between the farm buildings.

The trail with farm buildings on the left and stone wall on the right. There is a wooden gate ahead.

Walk through the farm

The next bit is quite interesting. You will go over the rock steps, between the farm buildings, and through a series of gates (the photo above). Through the last gate, walk along the edge of the field with the stone wall to your right, and then over the stone steps and stile at the end.

A geen field with a stone wall on the right. There is a dirt trail running along the side of the wall.

Stone steps leading past the budding on the right, with a stone wall on the left.

Keep going, keeping to the edge of the field. This leads you into another field which looks to be used for crops. Continue following the edge of it and into the next field, and then another. There are lots of fields.

A brown crop field, with a hedge on the left.

A grass field, with a hedge on the left and along the edge of the field ahead.

I was very hungry by this point, but I was also aware of the fact that I had yet to see any livestock. I had walked through so many fields by this point, I was worried my luck would run out. What if I took a break, and in that time, they were let out to roam. No. I needed to get through these fields as quick as possible just incase.

The first cows

Well, my luck did run out. I was met with a large field with lots of cows. There were younger ones. Maybe teenagers. Does this mean they are safer and more friendly? I stood there looking at them. There were just so many, all chomping at the grass. I mean, I could hear them. The chomping.

A field filled with brown and black cows grazing the the end of the Mousehole to Lamorna walk.

I started to make my way into the field carefully, thinking maybe they were too busy eating to notice me. But no. A few of them looked up and started walking in my direction. Maybe they were friendly curious, but I didn’t want to find out. So I turned back and found a way into the field next to it. The field next to it did eventually lead me into this cow field, but over on the other side, past the mass of cows.

I quickly entered, stuck to the edge and kept my head down, hoping they didn’t see me. I only looked back once I had safely exited on the other side.

The final stretch of the Mousehole to Lamorna circular walk

Now there are three options to walk back to Mousehole from here. I know because I tried all of them. The easy way is to turn right and follow the road down. This will lead you all the way back.

A country rods lined with bushes and trees and pink and white flowers.

I wanted to take the trail, so instead I walked along the road which took me between the houses. It’s the left one off the main road. If you go this way, it will feel like you are doing it wrong and you are walking in a private area, but don’t worry, this is correct.

A road with a hedge on the right and some buildings to the left and ahead.

A gravel road, with a small stone wall and houses on the left.

As you walk along this road path, at the house at the end, walk to the right of it, and a little way further along, the road path will lead you onto a grassy trail, and then to some rock steps on the right and into a field.

Stone steps leading up through the bushes.

The second cows

This is where I was met with the second cows. These were the big grown up cows. All across my path.

A field filled with ball cows on the walk back to Mousehole from Lamorna.

There was no way I was walking through that, so I check my map to find an alternate route. If I walked to the left, I could get onto another trail which would lead me back to Mousehole. It was a longer route, but I was ok with that if it meant no cows. So off I went. I didn’t make it very far before I was forced to turn back by impassable overgrowth.

So I went back to the cow field to regroup.

I was very very hungry by this point. Almost a little faint, which was clouding my judgement. So I sat on the the rock steps to eat with the smell of cow poo in the air.

Once I felt my blood sugar was more normal, and my decision making more clear, I decided I wasn’t going to let these cows obstruct my walk. So I went over the steps and into the field. Some cows stood up and looked at me, so I hopped myself out of there and walked back to that road to make my way to Mousehole from there.

The road leading down towards the village of Mousehole at the end of the walk back from Lamorna. There are cars parked on the left of the road. There is a man on a motorbike driving down the road.

More walk ideas near Mousehole and Lamorna

St Ives to Zennor – This is also a super rocky walk, although I think the Mousehole to Lamorna route still wins. It’s much more challenging as it’s twice the length. Still gorgeous though.

Penzance to Mousehole – If you fancy walking to Mousehole instead of getting the bus, you can see what it’s like here.

Rinsey mines walk – Slightly further along the coast, you could try this walk featuring the tin and copper mines. It’s a very short walk but pretty mind-blowing seeing the old engine houses along the coastline.

More walks in Cornwall that I love and have to mention

Tintagel walk – Over in North Cornwall, this one I found by accident. A happy accident you might say. It has a sort of Game of Thrones Jurassic Park vibe.

Looe to Polperro – Over on the north part of east Cornwall. Any walk that finishes in Polperro will always win. It’s so magical the way it opens up at the end.

Fowey to Polperro – This walk has two of the most beautiful bays I have ever seen. It also finishes at Polperro which as I already mentioned, is a win.

Bendruthan steps – The walk itself isn’t as amazing as some of the ones I have previously mentioned, but Bedruthan Steps is one of the most beautiful beaches I have seen.

For more ideas of things to do in Moushole, you can check out the Visit Cornwall website.

Pin it for later: Circular walk from Mousehole to Lamorna

Mousehole to Lamorna walk guide, Cornwall