Coastal Access in Cornwall: Newquay to Penzance
Find out about the progress of improving coastal access – including maps, process and timing – in Cornwall.
Introduction
Natural England is working to improve public access along an 87.3 mile (140.5 km) stretch of the Cornish coast between Newquay and Penzance
Officers from Cornwall Council and the National Trust are providing Natural England with expert local advice during the establishment of the route.
Some sections are open to the public, some are still under development.
This page has information about the stage of progress for each section of the stretch.
Information about open sections of the route
You can view open sections of the route on the National Trails website
You can see the status of all sections of the route in the table.
| Report number and title | Stage 5 (approved) | Open to the public |
|---|---|---|
| NQP 1: Newquay Station to Penhale Point | 6 March 2020 | Open |
| NQP 2: Penhale Point to St Agnes Head | 6 March 2020 | Open |
| NQP 3: St Agnes Head to Gwithian | 18 August 2020 | |
| NQP 4: Gwithian to Clodgy Point | 18 August 2020 | |
| NQP 5: Clodgy Point to Pendeen Watch | 6 March 2020 | |
| NQP 6: Pendeen Watch to Land’s End | 6 March 2020 | |
| NQP 7: Land’s End to Carn Barges | 18 August 2020 | |
| NQP 8: Carn Barges to Penzance Station | 18 August 2020 |
If you’re planning a walk on the coast path, check our interactive access maps for details of local access restrictions and coast path diversions which may therefore apply at certain times.
Coastal access rights normally apply to all land that is coastal margin - including any land seaward of the route - unless it falls into a category of excepted land or if an access restriction applies to the land.
The maps in Natural England’s original proposals to the Secretary of State are still available to view. They show the route of the coast path along this stretch of coast as it was proposed at that time. They also show the adjoining land that is coastal margin.
Any variation needed after a stretch has been proposed, approved or opened is achieved through rollback or a modification or variation report that you can comment on. Modification and variation reports are published on GOV.UK and details will be added to this page.
Use the link that follows for guidance on your rights and responsibilities if the coast path passes through your land.
Stage 5: Open to the public
Newquay Station to St Agnes Head (NQP1 and NQP2)
This 23.2 mile (37.3 km) section of the coast path is now open to the public.
Coastal access rights came into force along this section of the Newquay to Penzance stretch on 6 November 2024, by order of the Secretary of State.
Stage 5: Open (not yet available for public use - work to establish the route is being planned or currently taking place)
St Agnes Head to Penzance Station (NQP3 to NQP8)
On 6 March 2020 and 18 August 2020, the Secretary of State approved these sections of the coast path in Cornwall.
Natural England will publish further details of the approved route in due course.
Find out more about the coast path
Next steps
Work is now underway to prepare the remaining parts of the new stretch of coast path for public use.
The first step is to contact owners and occupiers of the affected land to discuss the design and location of any new infrastructure which is required such as signs and gates.
When preparations are complete, new access rights will be brought into force along the route and adjoining spreading room.
See information about all stretches in preparation around England’s coast.
The coastal access scheme gives details of the process being followed to improve access to the coast.
Contact the authority managing sections that are open to the public
If you need to contact the authority managing open sections of this stretch of the coast path, use the contact forms on the National Trails website contact us page .
Contact the coastal access team for sections not yet open to the public
Contact Natural England with any comments, suggestions or queries you have about improving coastal access.
Coastal access (south west)
Natural England
Ground Floor, Sterling House
Dix’s Field
Exeter
EX1 1QA
Email southwestcoastalaccess@naturalengland.org.uk
Telephone: 0300 060 3900
See the map below for information about progress on improving coastal access in other parts of the South West.
Updates to this page
Last updated 6 November 2024 + show all updates
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Page updated to show that parts of this stretch are now open to the public.
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Updated page to show that the remaining 4 reports are now approved.
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Added table showing the reports which make up the collection. Page updated to show that 4 of the 8 reports have received Secretary of State approval.
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Page updated to show the opportunity to comment on the reports has ended.
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Page updated to show this stretch is now at stage 4.
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Removed the sentence giving a date for when access is expected to be ready. Publication of the report is expected in summer 2019.
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Dates amended: publication of report now expected in 2019. Access expected to be ready in 2020.
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Page updated to stretch now at stage 2/3
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First published.