Here’s everything you need to know about the Penrose Loop walk in Cornwall! From directions to parking, I cover it all in this useful guide.
We’ve been to Cornwall and hiked different sections of the South West Coast Path a few times now. It’s a part of the country we keep coming back to and absolutely adore. Secluded bays, secret beaches, and the sound of waves crashing into the cliffs – I mean, what’s not to love about that?
On our most recent trip to Praa Sands in South West Cornwall, I thought it would be a good idea to do a slightly different walk. We still wanted those stunning views, but we wanted a bit of variety, you know? Enter the conversation – the Penrose Loop.
This is a really gentle walk that takes you through a grand National Trust estate, alongside Loe Pool (the largest freshwater lake in Cornwall), before following the coast path into that charming harbour town of Porthleven. It has a little bit of everything, but the woodland walks are a real nice addition to the coastal views. Also, it was perfect for us as we’ve got two little ones, so the changing landscapes really helped keeping the kids engaged. I know how important that is when walking!
I would say this is a relatively quick walk at 2 hours and 30 minutes. You can do it quicker, but that’s with a 30-minute stop at the Penrose National Trust café for a coffee and some cake. Also, I’d really recommend exploring Porthleven afterwards. This is such a quaint Cornish town and it’s well worth spending a bit of time exploring it.
In this guide I’ll tell you all about the highlights of this walk, including directions on where to go and the best place to park too. We nearly took the wrong turn a couple of times, so if you use this guide then you’ll be good to go. I really hope you enjoy this walk as much as we did. It’s a bit of a Cornish gem.
Contents:
Parking for the Penrose Loop walk
Located just on the outskirts of Porthleven and a 15-minute drive from Praa Sands (where we were staying), this is a very accessible walk. For most people, the go-to starting point is the Penrose Hill National Trust car park, which sits right on the edge of the estate and is perfectly placed for the trail. Parking here is refreshingly straightforward. It’s a voluntary contribution of £2 per car, which feels very reasonable for National Trust parking.
We did things slightly differently though, and I’d recommend it. We parked in Porthleven instead and walked the loop from there. This meant we could finish the walk in town and head straight for lunch at the harbour afterwards. If you’re planning to eat in Porthleven after the walk (and you absolutely should), you should do the same. I promise you, you won’t regret it!
How long is the Penrose Loop?
Generally speaking, the Penrose Loop takes around 1.5 to 2 hours to complete. The total distance is 6.8km (just over 4 miles), so it’s not a huge undertaking. All the paths are well maintained and we saw plenty of walkers well into their 70s, so it’s definitely one for all ages.
However, I’d really recommend stopping at the café and popping into the walled garden afterwards, then exploring Porthleven at the end of the walk. We ate lunch at Kota Kai in Porthleven, so the whole walk with lunch was more like 4 hours. We really wanted to make it a morning & afternoon activity, so it worked out well for us.
Penrose Loop Directions
Section 1: Park at Kitto Fields and walk to Penrose Estat
Right, let’s get you started. Head out of Kitto Fields car park and walk downhill towards the harbour. You’ll immediately get a lovely glimpse of Porthleven doing its thing, with the boats bobbing in the water and the smell of the sea in the air. Turn left at the bottom of the car park, walk for about 50 metres, then turn left again and make your way up Fore Street, passing the shops and cafés that line the main street. File this away for later, because this is exactly where you’ll want to end up for lunch once the walk is done.
Follow the road round to the right, passing the Methodist Church, then turn right onto Thomas Terrace. Take the left-hand fork through and then turn left onto Unity Road. Keep your eyes peeled here for a right turn between two houses – it’s very easy to miss – which leads you onto Parc an Maen. From here, turn left onto Trevenen Road and brace yourself, because this is where things get quite steep. Just keep going – the views at the top are worth every step.
When you reach the top, take a right and then an immediate left up another hill called St Piran’s Park. Once you’ve crested that one, turn left onto Shrubberies Hill and follow this road for a good while, going uphill and then down a little, until you spot a white-washed cottage on your right-hand side with a sign for a public bridleway. This is where you’ll also see the National Trust sign for Penrose Hill car park – which, as mentioned earlier, is the alternative starting point for the walk if you’d rather skip the urban section entirely.
Turn left and head through the car park, following the signs for the Stables Café and public footpath. The path drops down through some really pretty woodland here, and it’s a lovely change of pace after all that road walking. At the bottom of the hill, turn right following the sign for the Stables Café, and then take the left turn after a few minutes. This is where the walk really starts to open up and show you what it’s made of.
I’m not going to lie, the first section of the walk is very residential. It feels like you’re walking around the houses a bit. But I always like getting the most boring part of the walk out the way first. And as I said, it really is worth it!
Section 2: The Stables Café, the Loe Pool and onto the coast
Okay, so you’re just coming into the main National Trust site now. After that left turn, you’ll get your first glimpse of The Loe. This is Cornwall’s largest natural freshwater lake and it’s a beauty. You can see the lake in the distance surrounded by trees. We even had a field of cows in front of us – it was all very English countrysidey.
Continue over the stone bridge, then follow the path round to the right. You’ll soon see the Stables Café ahead of you. This makes an absolutely brilliant pit stop. Whether you need a coffee, a snack, or just a few minutes off your feet, it’s a great spot to recharge before continuing. While you’re here, it’s also worth poking your head into the walled garden just nearby, which has all sorts of interesting plants, vegetables, and herbs to have a nosy at. It’s a lovely little bonus that a lot of people walk straight past.
From the café, continue the walk uphill towards the Loe. You follow the lakeside path for a good stretch, with the water glinting through the trees as you go, and it’s really one of the most peaceful sections of the whole route. Just keep following the path all the way until the lake starts to give way to open ground and the landscape begins to change. As I said, having this woodland section was really nice and very different to just following the coast.
Eventually you’ll reach a signpost pointing right to the coast path, with Porthleven marked at a mile to go. Turn right here and zigzag your way up the hill – it’s a short, sharp climb but nothing you haven’t already dealt with today. At the top, turn left and you’re now on the South West Coast Path with three quarters of a mile back to Porthleven. From this point on, the sea is your companion and the hard work is essentially done.
Section 3: The South West Coast Path back into Porthleven
This final section is the reward for everything that came before it, and it delivers on every level. The coastal path stretches out ahead of you with brilliant views over the sea. Our toddler was motoring at this point, but that was partly with the promise of ice cream at the end. Just keep following the path with the sea on your left and enjoy the fact that you’re nearly back.
After a while, you’ll come to a set of zigzag steps leading down towards the road, and as you descend, you’ll be treated to a gorgeous view of the beach ahead. This was one of my favourite viewpoints along the walk. Continue along the left-hand side of the road, following it all the way back towards Porthleven Harbour.
As you get closer to town, you’ll start to see the clock tower coming into view. Follow the harbour wall back into Porthleven, take a deep breath of that sea air, and give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back. Now go and find a table somewhere with a view of the harbour, because you’ve absolutely earned it.
Section 4: Explore Porthleven
Finishing the Penrose Loop in Porthleven is honestly one of the best things about this particular route. It means you get to explore one of the most charming harbour towns in the whole of Cornwall as your reward. Built around Cornwall’s most southerly working harbour, Porthleven is a gorgeous mix of colourful fishing boats, independent shops, galleries, and some seriously good places to eat and drink.
We spent a bit of time wandering around after the walk. We got ice creams (we had promised our son after all), and popped into a few of the art galleries. If you can, time the walk so you finish around lunchtime and book a table at Kota Kai on the harbourside. The food is exceptional here. It’s fresh seafood and Asian-inspired dishes right on the water. All in all, we loved our walk. It really was one of the best things to do in Porthleven.
Where to stay nearby
Four Winds, Praa Sands
Everyone knows that having the right holiday home can make or break your holiday. Well, this time we absolutely struck gold. Four Winds is a stunning four-bedroom property booked through Aspects Holidays, and it has genuinely set the bar for every holiday home we stay in from here on out.
It’s worth coming here just for that first moment you walk through the door and see the panoramic view. Perched directly above the beach with nothing but open water stretching out in front of you, it’s the kind of place that makes you start messaging people saying: “you’ll never guess where I’m staying?”
The upper level is all open-plan living with floor-to-ceiling glass and wide patio doors opening onto a full-width balcony, and we made full use of every single day. Morning coffees with the waves rolling in, drinks on the balcony as the sun dropped over the water, lazy evenings in the hot tub. It was absolutely brilliant.
Sleeping eight across four gorgeous bedrooms (each has an en suite by the way), there’s plenty of room for a big group or a couple of families. The kitchen is well stocked and perfectly set up for proper big meals. For me though, the most special bit was the hot tub on terrace overlooking the beach below. We spent far too long in that hot tub and have absolutely no regrets about it.
The beach is just a five-minute stroll through the dunes – close enough that you can nip down on a whim, but far enough away that the house feels like its own private world. If you’re heading to this corner of Cornwall and want somewhere really special to base yourself, Four Winds is it.
This post was in association with Aspects Holidays showcasing some of their top properties in the UK. As always, all views are entirely my own and without bias.
If you have any questions about the Penrose Loop walk, or any other things to do near Porthleven, let me know in the comments below.
just completed this walk and we thoroughly enjoyed it! Thank you so much for the guided walk.
Ah amazing, we’re so happy to hear that Selena! We’re glad you enjoyed the walk.