Walking Britain Cornwall AONB Walk
Housel Bay & Bass Point from the Lizard
Maps | |||
| Ordnance Survey Explorer 103 | Sheet Map | 1:25k | BUY |
| Anquet OS Explorer 103 | Digital Map | 1:25k | BUY |
| Ordnance Survey Landranger 204 | Sheet Map | 1:50k | BUY |
| Anquet OS Landranger 204 | Digital Map | 1:50k | BUY |
It is recommended you take a map. The preferred scale is 1:25k. | |||
Walk Route Description
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The Lizard Peninsula is England's most southerly point and not surprisingly it receives many visitors at peak times. A dramatic coastline with a tragic maritime history going back centuries, there is much of interest in this short walk and it should not be dismissed as being too easy!
Park in Lizard village (grid ref SW703125) and from the phone box by the bus stop in the village centre go to the left of the Top House pub taking the road which eventually becomes Penmenner Road. Across fields to your left can be seen the Lizard lighthouse and this is a convenient landmark for most of this walk. This road leads to a rough track (signed as a footpath) that descends to the sea. On reaching the coastal path turn left to pass behind the old lifeboat station that has been superseded by a new station seen later in the walk. You will then reach the café and buildings on the southernmost extremity of England.
Stay with the coastal path past the lighthouse. Shortly afterwards a short diversion to the right leads to the collapsed cave known as the Lion's Den. Return to the main path and descend steps to cross a footbridge at Housel Bay. This is a splendid location and one of the highlights of the walk. Further steps on the opposite side take you back to the cliff top. Turn right past the Housel Bay Hotel. After passing the Lloyds Signal station, now a National Trust property, you stay on the South West Coastal Path to arrive at Bass Point with its coastguard point.
Shortly after the cottages adjacent to the coastguard point the coastal path bears right and continues past the new lifeboat station to descend to Church Cove. Turn left up the road past thatched cottages to pass St Wynwallow Church - the most southerly place of worship in Britain. Stay on this road, which takes you back into the centre of Lizard village.
Other walks nearby
Walk 1032 Kynance Cove & Cadgwith from the Lizard - moderate - 8.0 miles/13 km
Walk 2001 Coverack & Lowland Point - easy/mod - 4.2 miles/6.8 km
Walk 1778 Maenporth and Helford Passage Circular - easy/mod - 8.0 miles/13 km
Walk 2009 Gillan & Nare Point from Porthallow - easy - 4.7 miles/7.6 km
Walk 2007 Helford Passage & Frenchman's Creek - easy/mod - 7.0 miles/11.4 km
Walk 2088 Rosemullion Head from Mawnan - easy - 4.0 miles/6.5 km
Walk 2208 Marazion - a town stroll - easy - 1.0 miles/1.6 km
Walk 3501 Penzance to Porthcurno via Mousehole and Lamorna - moderate - 11.0 miles/17.9 km
Walk 2207 Penzance - a town stroll - easy - 1.5 miles/2.4 km
Walk 2205 Newlyn - a village trail - easy - 1.0 miles/1.6 km
Recommended Books & eBooks
South West Coast Path Map Booklet - Plymouth to Poole
Map of part of the southern section of the 630 mile (1014km) South West Coast Path National Trail. Covers the trail from Plymouth to Poole along the coastline of Devon and Dorset. This convenient and compact booklet of Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps shows the route, providing all of the mapping you need to walk the trail in either direction.
More information
South West Coast Path Map Booklet - St Ives to Plymouth
Map of part of the southern section of the 630 mile (1014km) South West Coast Path National Trail. Covers the trail from St Ives to Plymouth along the west Cornwall and Devon coastline. This convenient and compact booklet of Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps shows the route, providing all of the mapping you need to walk the trail in either direction.
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Navigation
This pocket handbook to navigation will help you master the necessary map and compass skills for mountain walking. Chapters include map scales, symbols and contours, grid references, map reading, bearings, route planning and night and bad-weather navigation, as well as navigating with a GPS.
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