St Ives to Lelant Walk
Enjoy a lovely strech of the South West Coast Path from St Ives to Lelant in Cornwall. You can return on the train at the end of the walk from Lelant Saltings Station. The walk runs for a distance of just under 4 miles along a fairly flat, waymarked path.
The walk starts on Porthminster Beach next to the train station in St Ives. You then head south to the lovely village of Carbis Bay which overlooks the small bay of the same name. It is bounded to the north by Porthminster Point and to the east by Hawk's Point and contains a popular family beach. There's also the noteworthy Carbis Bay Hotel, on the seafront, which was built in 1894 by Silvanus Trevail. Just behind the village stands the Knill Monument, known locally as 'The Steeple', a 50-foot (15 m) high monument to John Knill, a mayor of nearby St Ives during the 18th-century.
You continue east past the interesting rocks at Carrack Gladde. The cliffs between Carrack Gladden headland and Hawks Point to the east are of metamorphosed Devonian slates and rise to 60 metres high. Near here you will also find the beautiful Porth Kidney Sands which sits just to the north of Lelant. This final section has lovely views over the Hayle Estuary. The estuary is also a significant nature reserve with 18,000 birds including many wading birds, gulls and terns. Look out for teal, curlew, little egret and oystercatcher as you make your way along the estuary.
The walk finishes at Lelant Saltings railway station. Here you can catch a direct train back to St Ives or you can retrace your steps. It's also possible to turn it into a longer circular walk by heading west to Mennor and picking up the St Michaels Way long distance trail. This leads back through the countryside to Carbis Bay.
To extend the walk continue along the South West Coast Path through Hayle and on to the National Trust owned Godrevy Head and the splendid beach at Gwithian.
St Ives to Lelant Walk Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
St Ives to Lelant Walk Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
St Ives to Lelant Walk OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
St Ives to Lelant Walk Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
In St Ives you could pay a visit to the Tate Gallery which displays modern works by artists with links to the St Ives area. You can find them at Porthmeor Beach with postcode TR26 1TG. There's also the lovely Barbara Hepworth Museum which includes a delightful sculpture garden displaying her works. She purchased the site in 1949 and lived and worked there for 26 years. The studio and garden have been left in much the same state. You can find the museum at Barnoon Hill, Saint Ives TR26 1AD.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
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St Ives
Carbis Bay, Cornwall, taken from St. Ives.
Overlooking Carbis Bay with St. Ives in the background
Porth Kidney beach 1
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Porth Kidney beach 2
From Lelant Saltings across to the Causeway
Knill's Monument Carbis Bay. Also known as Knill's Steeple. A granite monument to John Knill, built in 1782, though the modest man himself died in 1811 and was buried in Holborn. Every 5th year on St James's Day (25th July), a fiddler playing the Furry Dance leads two elderly widows and ten young girls in a dance around the monument.
Lelant Church