St Michael’s Way, Cornwall: Route Guide, Distance and What to Expect

The St Michael’s Way is a short coast-to-coast walk across Cornwall, linking St Ives Bay on the north coast with Mount’s Bay on the south coast. There are a couple of route options that can be easily walked in a day — but each packs in history, beautiful countryside, and far-reaching coastal views.

St Michael’s Way Route Map

The Pilgrim Route – The One Most Hikers Walk (13.5 miles)

Interactive map: Zoom and pan to explore the route. View this route in OS Maps for an interactive elevation profile, 3D planning and full Explorer mapping.

Paper OS Maps: OS 1:25,000 Explorer 102 — Browse the Explorer map range if you need to buy a copy.

An Alternative Official Route, Through Marazion Marsh (10 Miles)

If you’re not on a pilgrimage, I highly recommend this route. From Ludgven, you head to St Michael’s Mount through an RSBP Nature Reserve, Marazion Marsh, rather than walking on busier roads to Gulval Church. View, follow and download the route free on the OS Map App: St Michael’s Way, Marazion Marsh

My Extended Full Day Hike From St Ives to Penzance (19.5 Miles)

View, follow and download my route free on the OS Map App: St Michael’s Way extended route

Getting To And From The Trail

Getting To The Start

The two official routes (10 and 13.5 miles) begin at St Uny Church at Lelant, near St Ives, and my extended version starts at St Ives railway station.

• To get to both Lelant and St Ives, take the main-line train (between London Paddington and Penzance) to St Erth. Change at St Erth for Lelant and St Ives (both are on the St Ives branch line). Train times.
• Alternatively, if you wish to travel by car, there’s a park and ride at St Erth railway station, and you can take the train to your preferred start point from there.

Return Travel

There are frequent buses from Marazion to Penzance, where you can catch a train back to St Erth. The bus stop is outside the Godolphin Hotel on The Square, and I recommend Bustimes.org to find the best times — just search Marazian.

Is The St Michael’s Way Suitable For Beginners?

The St Michael’s Way is an easy route for seasoned hikers, and the variety of distances makes it a good choice for beginners. As well as some quiet country lanes, you’ll be on obvious paths across farmland and countryside most of the way. The terrain is generally level, with only a couple of steep hills; the paths are distinct and mostly well signposted with the Camino clamshell symbol. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that there aren’t many places to stop for refreshments, so take plenty to eat and drink.

What Can I See Along The Way?

One highlight is the top of Trencrom Hill. It’s the highest point of the trail, and you can see out to Godrevy Lighthouse on the north coast and St Michael’s Mount on the south.

Other things to look out for include:

• Various holy wells and churches, including St Uny and Gulval
• Sweeping sandy beach at Carbis Bay
• Knills Steeple
• Trencrom Hill Iron Age fort and Giant’s Stone (standing stone)
• Bowl Rock
• Marazion Marsh RSPB reserve
• St Michael’s Mount
• The classic Cornish towns of St Ives and Penzance on the extended walk

The St Michael’s Way And The Camino

Most hikers have heard of the Camino, a series of ancient pilgrimage routes that criss-cross Europe and converge at the Santiago de Compostela in Spain. But, not so many hikers know that you can begin your Camino Ingles (the English Way) here in Cornwall on the St Michael’s Way. Pick up a passport in St Uny Church in Lelant and collect the stamps you need to qualify along the way.

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My Experience of Walking St Michael’s Way

A Local Trail I Keep Returning To

For me, this is a fairly local trail — just a short train ride from home. It’s one I return to often because it works in almost any weather.

In winter, I’ll walk one of the shorter variations in daylight hours, blowing away the cobwebs in a few bracing hours — especially on blustery Trencrom Hill.

Wildlife, Weather — and the Cows

On a good summer day, I’ll head out for the full 20 miles: long stretches of sunshine, far-reaching views, and none of the crowds you find on the coast. Summer has to be my favourite. I rarely leave home without a sketchbook in my rucksack, and the St Michael’s Way offers plenty of places to sit, pause, and take it all in.

The colours are spectacular — vivid wildflowers, the jewel-tones of the sea, mosaic flashes of butterflies over the heath, even the sultry red of a fox crossing the path just a few feet ahead. It’s a heady mix.

It’s not all about wildlife and wildflowers, though. I’ve had my fair share of encounters with rogue cattle along this trail. This is dairy country, and sometimes the cows seem to think they’re in charge.

The first time I ever walked the route, I took a wrong turn and ended up boxed into a strange enclosure for twenty minutes while a small herd chewed the cud around me. Every time I moved, they edged closer; when I stood still, they lost interest entirely. Eventually, I squeezed behind a building so they couldn’t see me, and they wandered off — a trick I’ve relied on ever since.

Trencrom Hill and the Stories Beneath Your Feet

The St Michael’s Way is a trail that keeps on giving. There’s so much to immerse yourself in, whether it’s the natural world or the ancient one steeped in myth and legend.

I feel that most strongly on Trencrom Hill. Littered with granite tors and hollow-topped slabs with names like Giant’s Chair and Giant’s Cradle, it’s a wild, evocative place. Folklore runs deep here. Legend has it that the Giant of Trencrom threw a hammer to the Giant of St Michael’s Mount — accidentally killing his wife in the process. She was buried at Chapel Rock in front of the Mount.

I always spare a thought for her when I reach the causeway, usually ready to soak my tired feet in the cold water before the final, hard concrete stretch into Penzance.

Is the St Michael’s Way Worth Doing?

All of the route variations are ideal if you want to escape the crowds in summer while still enjoying expansive views — and it’s a wonderful way to step into the myths and stories of this ancient landscape.

For long-distance hikers wanting more time on the trail, linking the St Michael’s Way with the South West Coast Path between Penzance and St Ives creates a rewarding 52-mile circular walk. I’d rate it around 3.5/5 for difficulty.

As a long-distance hiker, I see the St Michael’s Way as a perfect warm-up before a bigger trail — but it’s also well worth walking in its own right.

Happy hiking