Prussia Cove and Mount's Bay

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Walk directions

From the Trenells car park entrance walk back along the approach road, past the large house. Keep left and round the next sharp right-hand bend. Watch out for traffic. Ignore the first footpath sign on the left and, in about 150yds (138m), just past a wide gateway, go over a stile on the left, and into a field.

Follow the field-edge, bearing off to the right, where it bends around to the left, to reach a slate stile by a telegraph pole in the hedge opposite. Walk down the edge of the next field, behind the privately owned Acton Castle. Turn right and follow the bottom field-edge to its end. Go over a stile and follow the next field-edge to a gateway. Go through this and turn right along a lane.

On reaching tarmac, turn left along a rough track at a junction in front of a bungalow entrance at Trevean Farm. In 55yds (50m), by Trevean House, keep right, up a stony track, then go through a gate on the right, by Beare’s Den campsite. Follow the left-hand edge of a long field to a stile on its top edge, then follow the right-hand edge of the next field.

At Trebarvah go through a kissing gate. Cross a lane and continue across a stony area with houses on your right (there’s a view of St Michael’s Mount ahead), then follow a field-edge to a hedged-in path. Keep ahead at a path junction and then go through fields and pass the front of houses to reach the road opposite the Victoria Inn. Go left and follow the road to the car park above Perranuthnoe Beach.

For the beach keep straight ahead. On the main route of the walk, go left, just beyond the car park, and along a surfaced lane. Bear right at a fork, then bear right again just past a house at a junction. Go down a rough track towards the sea and follow it round to the left. Then, at a field entrance, descend right (signposted), turn sharp left through a gap and follow the coast path.

At a junction above Trevean Cove, bear off right from the track to walk along a path that follows the cliff edge.

At the National Trust property of Cudden Point, ignore the broad inland path to your left and continue ahead around the coast. Then cross the inner slope of the headland above Piskies Cove, keeping right wherever the path divides.

Go through a gateway and pass some ancient fishing huts. Follow the path round the edge of the Bessy’s Cove inlet of Prussia Cove. Turn left at a fork to go up some steps and reach a track by a thatched cottage. The cove can be reached down a path on the right just before this junction. Turn right and follow the track, past a post box. Keep left at junctions, to return to the car park at the start of the walk.

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Location

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Additional information

Terrain - Good field paths and coastal paths, many stiles

Landscape - Quiet coast and countryside

Dog friendliness - Dogs on lead through grazed areas

Parking - Trenalls at Prussia Cove, a small, privately owned car park, or car park at Perranuthnoe, from where the walk can be started at waypoint 5

Toilets en route - Perranuthnoe

Walks in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Dog-friendly walks in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

About the walk

Smuggling clings to the image of Cornwall like the Atlantic mist through which the old-time ‘freetraders’ so often stole ashore with their cargoes of tea, spirits, tobacco, silk, china and even playing cards. However nostalgia blurs the record of incidental brutality that often accompanied...

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Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

Cornwall has just about everything – wild moorland landscapes, glorious river valley scenery, picturesque villages and miles of breathtaking coastline. Known for its popular surfing spots, the region provides ample opportunities for water sport enthusiasts, and for those who prefer to stay on land, visitor attractions like the Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan offer a lovely day out.