Discover The Salt Path: Walk this May in Cornwall
This May is National Walking Month 2025, and where better to celebrate the joy of walking than the coast path near St Ives? May also marks the release of the film adaptation of The Salt Path, Raynor Winn’s moving bestseller about her journey along the South West Coast Path.
The Salt Path is the true story of Winn’s journey along the South West Coast Path. She and her terminally ill husband Moth lose their home and income, and with nowhere to go, decide to set out along the 630-mile route in search of solace and solutions. The book is a love letter to the coast path, to our beautiful landscape and to a marriage that’s as strong as the granite cliffs they scramble along.
We all loved the book, and can’t wait to see Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs step into Raynor and Moth’s well-worn boots. The Cornish coast also stars in the movie, including the stunning stretches of footpath around St Ives.
If you’d like to mark National Walking Month by following Raynor and Moth’s footsteps, here are some of our favourite walks around St Ives.
St Ives to Zennor
Raynor and Moth walk this “wilderness of headlands” in a downpour. We recommend choosing a bright and sunny day to make the most of the stunning sea views (and so it’s safer underfoot). It’s not an easy walk – eight miles of rocky and rugged terrain with a lot of ascent and descent.
Set off from the west end of Porthmeor Beach in St Ives, and hug the coast until you get to Zennor Head. Despite its closeness to St Ives, this coast feels remote, and if you want to get a sense of Cornwall’s wild side, this is where you come. At Zennor Head, leave the coast path and walk inland towards the village, where you can enjoy a hearty pitstop at the Tinners Arms.
You can catch the bus back to St Ives or turn the route into a 12-mile circular walk. The inland return route starts by St Senara’s Church and follows the “Coffin Path”, the pathway once taken by pallbearers between St Ives and Zennor. It passes through ancient field systems and old hamlets, with glorious views across the sea and the moors.
If you really want a challenge, this route takes you further along the coast to Pendeen (about 14 miles). Otherwise follow the directions as far as Zennor, which is a robust enough walk for most of us!
St Ives to Carbis Bay
If you’d like to walk the coast path from St Ives but prefer a gentler path, head east from the town. The 1-2 mile-long route from Porthminster Beach to Carbis Bay is paved, with a bit of incline as it passes through the trees. There are beautiful views across St Ives Bay, and it’s one of our favourite local sunset spots. Look out for the old Hewer’s Hut along the way, where the fishermen’s lookout would scan the water for signs of a shoal.
Arrive in Carbis Bay, and treat yourself to a dip in the turquoise sea or lunch at a beachside cafe. If you’ve walked this route in reverse, the path emerges just outside the cafe on Porthminster Beach – perfect. Prefer not to retrace your steps? Catch the branch line train for the return journey.
Follow the South West Coast Path guide to make the most of this pretty route. Alternatively, extend the walk by continuing through Carbis Bay towards Lelant and Hayle. It’s simply beautiful around Hayle and Godrevy, and we recommend this 2.3-mile walk around Gwithian Towans.
St Ives Town Trail
Raynor and Moth pause a while in St Ives, exploring its Festival-full streets. St Ives is such a maze of narrow little lanes that it’s easy to miss some of the best bits.
We recommend following the St Ives Town Trail, a 1.9-mile guided walk through the streets and beaches. Follow in the footsteps of generations of fishing families and see the scenes that inspired the artists’ colony. You can pick up a copy of The Salt Path in the lovely Harbour Bookshop (and after 30th May, watch the film in the Royal Cinema).
Further Afield: Other Sections of The Salt Path
Every section of the coast path has its own unique beauty – and challenges! If time and energy allow, here are three more lovely walks that feature in The Salt Path.
Porthcothan to Newquay, a 10-mile walk along a once-treacherous stretch of coast, taking you through coves and along headlands.
Port Isaac to Padstow, a challenging 12-mile walk that takes in The Rumps.
Rame Head Chapel walk, where Raynor and Moth celebrated their halfway point. This is a short walk up to the tiny chapel.
Book your Walking Holiday in St Ives
Raynor and Moth walked the coast path the hard way, wild camping every night and cooking noodles on a portable stove. If you’re heading down to Cornwall on a hiking holiday this May, there’s still time to book one of our wonderfully comfortable holiday cottages in St Ives and Cornwall. Take a look at our last-minute availability holiday accommodation, and enjoy a Cornish walk this May.