Running in Penzance

Admittedly Cornwall is more famous for its leisurely pace of life and calorific cream teas than its enthusiasm for running! In fact, a local saying goes ‘it is best to miss the train than be seen running for it.’ However, with a section of the 630-mile South West Coast Path accessible nearby, YHA Penzance is perfectly positioned to offer some sensationally scenic routes.
 Run to the sea front from the hostel and, once there, turn left for a 4 mile beach run to St Michael’s Mount, a tidal island that’s steeped in Cornish myth and legend and is home to a castle and a kaleidoscope of colourful sub-tropical flora and fauna.
 
 RunYHA - Penzance to Land's End
 Distance: 16.5 miles/ 27km
 Start/Finish: Penzance Station TR18 2LT, Land's End
 Terrain: Trail, road, coast path
 Toughness: Challenging
 Ascent: 791 metres
 Navigation: Easy to moderateGood for: Coast, history, culture
 Route info: wildrunning.net/02

A tough but rewarding coastal run with plenty of scenery and history that can be run in sections or, for those up for a challenge, in its entirety. Steep steps and narrow paths make for exciting, technical running. Leave Penzance by the coast road to the west, through Newlyn and Mousehole (described by Dylan Thomas as the prettiest village in England), before following the SW Coast Path sign left out onto the rugged coast path. Continue along an undulating mixture of trail and granite steps to Lamorna. The secluded cove and café here, surrounded by bluebell woods in spring, provides a welcome spot for a rest. Climb steep steps to the cliff top, passing Treen’s white sandy beaches and the Minack Theatre. In the final miles, grasslands make for easier running as Land’s End beckons.
 Download your Wild Running guide here.
 Rest your weary legs with a bus ride back to Penzance. And your home for the evening is a beautifully restored Georgian mansion complete with all the amenities you’ll need for a comfortable stay.