The South West Coast Path near Land's End — open clifftop path above the Atlantic.

Cornwall · Walks · Marazion

Walks near Marazion.

Marazion faces St Michael's Mount across the tidal flat — and the walk to the island at low tide across the ancient cobbled causeway is one of the most distinctive short walks in England.

Photograph — Dietmar Rabich / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Marazion · West Cornwall

Marazion is one of England's oldest chartered towns and its most dramatic topographic asset — St Michael's Mount — is also its best walk. The tidal causeway that connects the village to the mount is twelfth-century or earlier, and the crossing at low tide is an experience that connects walkers directly to a pilgrim tradition stretching back to medieval times. The mount itself is managed by the National Trust; the St Aubyn family that has lived there for three centuries still occupies the private apartments.

Beyond the mount, Marazion's walking extends along the Mount's Bay shore in both directions. East towards Perranuthnoe and Cudden Point is the better coastal route — an underused section of the Coast Path with good clifftop scenery and access to Prussia Cove, the famous haunt of the eighteenth-century smuggler John Carter. West towards Penzance the path follows the shoreline past the Marazion Marsh RSPB reserve, which holds the largest reed bed in south-west England.

St Michael's Mount Causeway and Island

The cobbled causeway from Marazion is accessible for approximately three hours either side of low tide. The crossing is half a mile and takes fifteen minutes; the views of the mount are best on the approach from Marazion at mid-morning light. The island circuit — around the base through the subtropical gardens, to the castle entrance, and back — is half a mile. NT entry applies for castle and gardens. Always check tide tables; a boat runs at high tide.

Best for

Tidal island crossing and medieval castle gardens

Marazion Marsh RSPB Reserve

West from Marazion, the RSPB Marazion Marsh — 24 hectares of reed bed and open water accessible from the beach car park — is the best single birdwatching site in west Cornwall. Marsh harrier, bittern, and bearded reedling are annual visitors; autumn migration brings rare Siberian warblers. The boardwalk path through the reserve is short but exceptional. Continue west along the promenade to Penzance for a flat three-mile one-way walk.

Best for

Outstanding reed bed birdwatching and rare autumn migrants

Perranuthnoe and Cudden Point

East from Marazion the Coast Path climbs above the beach to Perranuthnoe — a small sandy cove two miles out with a pub and seasonal café — and continues to Cudden Point, a rocky promontory with views across to the Lizard. The four-mile circular back to Marazion via inland footpaths through Trevean is an excellent half-day walk. The section above Perranuthnoe often has grey seals in the water below — scan the rocks carefully.

Best for

Grey seal spotting and a quiet section of the south coast path

Prussia Cove

Six miles east of Marazion, Prussia Cove is a rocky inlet and the base of the notorious Carter family smugglers in the eighteenth century — their leader styled himself 'King of Prussia'. The coast path from Perranuthnoe above Trenow Cove descends to the cove via a private road (public right of way). A nine-mile circular from Marazion via the coast path and inland return; alternatively drive to Rosudgeon and walk the cove section alone.

Best for

Smuggling heritage and a genuinely secluded rocky cove

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