Active autumn adventures in West Cornwall

Plan your off-season adventure in West Cornwall

Walking, running, trekking, cycling. Visiting West Cornwall in the autumn, winter or spring is your opportunity to head off the beaten track and experience the freedom of the great outdoors.

You could channel your inner Poldark with a gallop along the beach or head underground to navigate the tunnels of an old tin mine. We’ve even created a rainy-day itinerary, so nothing needs to get between you and an adventure.

Off season activities in West Cornwall

With itineraries to suit every type of adventurer - from beginner to experienced, wildlife watcher to serious cyclist - we’re sure you’ll find plenty of activities to inspire a wild weekend in West Cornwall.

Cold water swimming; Marazion

There’s nothing quite like a skin-tingling swim in the sea to reinvigorate you during a break. In Marazion, you’ll find the shallow and relatively sheltered waters of Mount’s Bay, home to St Michael’s Mount. Swimmers dare to dip even in the winter, but make sure you have a warming cup of tea waiting for you when you get out, and follow this advice from the RNLI.

**Please note: **There are no lifeguards in the off-season, so it’s always safer to swim with others.

Bespoke country hack; Cornwall Swimming Horses

Channel your inner Poldark. Experienced horse riders can join Cornwall Swimming Horses for an autumnal hack. Make the most of the quieter months with a low-tide gallop on the beach or enjoy the details of the changing seasons with a steady ride through country lanes. There’s even a route that stops off at the cosy Tinner’s Arms in Zennor. This experience is suitable for an advanced level of fitness and it lasts around two hours.

Marazion treasure trail; treasuretrails.co.uk

What will you find in Marazion this winter? A treasure trail is an exciting way to get your bearings in a new town or to rediscover your favourite places. Simply order the treasure trail by post or download it to your phone. You’ll follow the route from St Michael’s Mount into town, heading a little off the beaten track and solving clues linked to the buildings and monuments along the way. This experience is suitable for the entire family. Find your adventure here

Mount’s Bay tour with EBike Cornwall

Get ready for a cycling adventure. An ebike is a fantastic way to explore Mount’s Bay, as you can pause to take in the scenery, and you won’t need to worry too much about any hills. Cycle from Penzance to Gulval, stopping at Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens along the way (check seasonal opening hours), then head to Marazion to experience St Michael’s Mount and the Gwelen art trail. This experience is suitable for an intermediate level of fitness.

Land’s End, Sennen & Porthcurno with EBike Cornwall

This 29mile / 48km route is perfect for experienced cyclists. You’ll start in Penzance, before exploring the quaint fishing village of Mousehole and heading off to see some of the most beautiful beaches and coves in Cornwall. You’ll even pull in at the Minack Theatre at the half-way mark. Good fitness is required but hiring an ebike does make it easier. This experience is suitable for an advanced level of fitness. EBike Cornwall have planned a route with plenty of delicious pitstops.

Magical Christmas lights; Mousehole Harbour

There’s nothing quite like a harbour filled with colourful lights to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside at Christmas. Crowds flock to see Mousehole’s magical Christmas lights, which illuminate the harbour from mid-December. If you’re planning to snuggle up in a quaint fishing village this winter, you can look forward to warming mulled wine and a warm welcome at the local pubs and restaurants.

Look up; Stargazing in West Penwith

From October onwards, the darker evenings create the perfect opportunity for stargazing. West Penwith is part of Cornwall's National Landscape and has recently been designated an International Dark Sky Park (one of just seven sites in the UK). This means the area is naturally dark and has minimal light pollution.

Head out on a cloudless night and follow these helpful tips to experience nature’s spectacle in the sky. Top stargazing spots include the Merry Maidens Stone Circle near St Buryan and Carn Galver Engine House to the west of Zennor.

Stargazing requires advanced planning as locations can be remote. Suitable for advanced levels of fitness. You can find more through Go Stargazing

Fishing villages; Penzance to Mousehole walk

Nothing says, ‘Welcome to Cornwall!’ quite like a wander through the narrow streets of a historic fishing village. This 3.6-mile route follows the coast from Penzance, through the working harbour of Newlyn, past the busy fish market and into Mousehole - with plenty of cosy pubs to duck into along the way. An easy route that will take around two hours. See the route here.

Deep into history; Cornwall Underground Adventures

Travel back in time by travelling underground through an old tin mine. You’ll step into the shoes of a Cornish miner and descend ladders, wander through the narrow walkways and even abseil down the different levels of the mine (if you dare!). Cornwall Underground Adventures offers a range of caving experiences with many complex mining tunnels to explore. The ‘Underground Explorer’ is the easiest route. Suitable for the more adventurous and lasts around three hours. Find out more here.

Step into an adventure; Penzance to Marazion walk

The South West Coast Path runs along the seafront from Penzance to Marazion. It is a level and gentle 2.7-mile walk, and all the beaches are dog friendly from October. Along the way, you’ll enjoy views of Mount’s Bay and St Michael’s Mount. Make sure to look out for the new sculpture trail ‘Gwelen’, which re-imagines a submerged ancient forest in the bay. Take a moment to pause and enjoy the views as you make your way into Marazion. A gentle and accessible walk that will take around two hours. See the route here.