Best Places to Run in West Cornwall (Chosen by Local Runners) 🏞️👟
Looking for your next run along Cornwall’s stunning west coast? These five routes consistently appear on local Strava heatmaps, get regular shout-outs on Reddit, and see heavy usage year-round. Ideal for beginners, locals, or visitors who want to explore West Cornwall on foot.
1. Champernown to Padstow – The Camel Trail
📍 Padstow–Wenford Bridge (18 miles flat rail trail)
📈 ~400,000 users yearly — one of Cornwall’s busiest multi-use routes, source: skamper.com Strava Reddit
Ideal for easy, scenic long-distance runs, the former railway path follows the Camel Estuary and offers wide, flat routes perfect for training or family miles.
2. Perranporth to St Agnes (Return)
📍 Perranporth Coast Path (~6 miles return)
Why locals love it: Frequent Strava segment entries and multiple positive mentions on r/Cornwall corncot. Expect uneven coastal terrain, sweeping cliff views, and a classic Cornish hill challenge.
3. Hayle Towans to Godrevy Point (Return)
📍 Hayle Beach to Godrevy Lighthouse (~5–7 miles return)
A well-used route for evening and training runs, the path is popular for its soft sands, dune backdrop, and seal sightings near Godrevy Point. Cross-check this with trail maps and group run logs.
4. Goss Moor Circular Trail
📍 Near Newquay (~7 miles loop)
A flat multi-use trail frequently used by locals. Mentioned on r/Cornwall as a reliable, dog-friendly, quiet route skamper.com treworgeycottages.com Trail Running (and Walking!). Ideal for easy long runs and beginner-friendly miles.
5. Porthcurno to Logan Rock (Coast Path Loop)
📍 Porthcurno clifftop to Logan Rock (~4–5 miles loop)
Runs along one of Cornwall’s most scenic stretches of the South West Coast Path. Highly rated by trail-running blogs and appreciated for dramatic granite outcrops and ocean views skamper.com Wikipedia.
Why These Routes?
- Camel Trail: Easy, accessible, heavy footfall — ideal for training longer distances without steep grades.
- Perranporth–St Agnes: Gorgeous coastal visuals and moderate hill work, often used for group sessions.
- Hayle–Godrevy: Sand & dunes make runs tougher while rewarding with nature encounters.
- Goss Moor: Quiet, flat, and perfect for longer, easy runs away from the busy coast.
- Porthcurno–Logan Rock: Compact, dramatic, and visually stunning – a joyful route for shorter efforts.
Want to Run Together?
Some of routes feature in our Carn Runners social runs. If any of these catch your eye, join us or drop in for a weekend run and explore with the crew!
