Serpentine-rock cliffs past Cadgwith Cove and the blow-hole of the Devil's Frying Pan to Coverack.
Highlights
- Cadgwith Cove
- Devil's Frying Pan
- Coverack
Know before you go
- Rough path near Black Head
Climbs 738 m and descends 760 m, topping out at 69 m and dropping to 4 m. Measured along the mapped route.
What you walk on, by distance (from OpenStreetMap way types).
Four axes rated 1–5 — the single rating above is only the headline.
Serpentine-rock cliffs past Cadgwith Cove and the blow-hole of the Devil's Frying Pan to Coverack.
The Lizard to Coverack is 10.6 miles (17.0 km). Allow about 6 h of walking, before stops.
Stage 27 climbs about 738 m and descends about 760 m, with a high point of about 69 m. On the South West Coast Path the ascent, not the distance, is what decides how long a day takes — the route repeatedly drops to sea level and climbs straight back out.
It is graded moderate. Rated out of five: physical demand 3/5 (Moderate), terrain 3/5 (Moderate), navigation 2/5 (Modest), remoteness 2/5 (Modest). On the SAC hiking scale it is T2 — some steep, rough or uneven ground.
By distance the surface is footpath 93%, track 1%, road & lane 6%. Percentages come from the mapped way types along the route.
March to October is the usual window for this leg. Outside it, daylight is short, some estuary ferries stop running and cliff-top wind and rain make an exposed route much harder work.
Water on this stage is moderate. We map 2 refill points on the leg — mostly pubs, cafés and taps in the villages the path passes through. Shade is minimal: this is open cliff-top walking, so carry more than you think in summer.
Highlights on this leg are Cadgwith Cove, Devil's Frying Pan, Coverack.
Rough path near Black Head.