Lizard and Lands End

Mousehole is a pretty little harbour - follow the road right into the harbour (keep left at the first T junction just before the harbour comes into view. From the harbour the road you want goes a short distance along the harbour wall before turning sharp right and climbing steeply out of the village for approx. 1km to the village of Paul. In Paul take left turn after the church, after approx 1.2km take a left at the T-junction onto the B3315 (signed to Lamorna).

Mousehole >

This is a big day out given how hilly it is down here, if there's a fresh wind blowing as there frequently is then it'll be even tougher. You could split it into two days I suppose but as a single day ride it's a superbly satisfying achievement.. you'll visit both Lands End and the UK's most southerley point at the Lizard, and complete a coast-to-coast (albeit a short one!) all in one day...

I've started directions in Marazion just by St Michael's Mount simply because it's a handy landmark, there's parking, cafes etc etc, and if you're on the train then Penzance is close by.

	Total Distance: Approx 180km depending on how many optional detours you take for cafes etc. Elevation Gain: 3000+m Time: depends, 6.5-7hrs average but you may as well make a day of it and enjoy some cafe stops and views. Gearing: whatever you like, I've done most of it fixed in one day but that's just silly, rest of the time I use a 39x25. Max. gradients don't get any steeper than 20% for any distance... Map: OS Landranger 203 will do just about all of it except a tiny part of the Lizard and a small area around Stithians.

	From Marazion village center roll south west along the waterfront towards Long Rock (note cafe on the left just before the railway tracks does good coffee, baguettes etc). At the roundabout in Long Rock take 1st exit towards Penzance. Follow road/signs all the way into Penzance (you have to join A30 for a short distance), past the heliport and keep left at the A30 roundabout, i.e you don't want to go to St Just yet... (follow signs for Newlyn/Mousehole). As you ride into Penzance keep left all the time and follow the road round and on past the harbour and on towards the waterfront, don't follow the one-way system into the town centre. Keep straight on past Penzance Promenade, signs to Newlyn. In Newlyn follow the road sharply round to the left rather than climb the steep hill facing you. Follow this road past the harbour and keep on to Mousehole. Out of interest on the way into Mousehole you'll pass the Penlee Lifeboat House, home of the boat and men lost in the Penlee Lifeboat disaster in Dec 1981.

Stay on the B3315, but the short return detour to Lamorna Cove after about 4km from the above turn is well worth it. Simply follow the B3315 (turn left at Sparnon) now all the way until it meets the A30 for the final short stretch to Lands End itself. Bikes can go onto the Lands End site for free ... if you really must, personally I think it's a ghastly place. I can just remember Lands End when it was still a wild and woolly outpost..

From Lands End follow the A30 through Sennen village itself, after a further km or so you can turn left at a mini-roundabout to descend to Sennen Cove. It's a stiff climb back out but well worth it, especially if the sun is shining. Excellent beachfront cafe (turn right at the bottom of the hill), beautiful beach (good surf beach) and a tiny jetty/harbour at the far end.

The B3306 now takes you all the way into St Ives. If you've not been here before then it's worth a ride down to the harbour for a look. There's plenty of pubs, cafes etc here if you're in need of refreshment. From St Ives centre follow signs out on the A3074 to Carbis Bay, Lelant and Hayle.The alternative avoiding St Ives (and the associated climb out of the vilage) is to take a right turn just before arrival in St Ives, this is the B3311 signed to Penzance. Follow this road for a few km through Halsetown (sharp right hand bend). Aprox 1.5km after Halsetown, climbing slowly, take left turn (just before the climb steepens) to Lelant Downs. This roads descends approx 4km through Lelant Downs to mini-roundabout - go right here and immediately left. Ride under the railway bridge and merge with the B3301 along the causeway across the Hayle Estuary.

Follow B3301 into Hayle (cafe, pubs, shops etc), at roundabout (just under the railway bridge) take first exit (left) along past the small harbour. Follow this road all the way through the town centre to a double mini-roundabout. Go left, signed Gwithian, Portreath (8mi). This is the B3301 that takes you to the coast past Upton Towans (dunes) on your left. The road descends gently into Gwithian - here the route takes a sharp right turn by the pub but it's recommended that you continue straight on for a short detour of a km or so to Godrevy... so bear left through the village ,after 1km or so (more dunes/lake on your left) there is a junction on your left just after the little humpback bridge signed to Godrevy. It's only 200-300m down this narrow road but the cafe is fantastic and the views of Godrevy Lighthouse from the coastal track are worth it.

From Godrevy, backtrack to the pub in Gwithian and take a left (effectively straight on) up the hill past the pub. Shortly after passing over the A30 you arrive at a cross roads in the village of Connor Downs - go straight across. Follow this road all the way (about 3km) to Carnell Green, crossing the railway tracks on the way. On arrival in Carnell Green take a right turn at the junction follwed by an immediate left by the pub. Follow this road to it's end (T-junction) and go left. After approx 1km you arrive in Praze-an-Beeble (great, these Cornish place names aren't they!). Go straight across at the cross roads, small garage on the right. After 300m or so by the school the road splits - take the left junction. The road climbs steadily for approx 3km along a narrow lane lined with tall hedgerows. Eventually arrive at a t-junction with a house opposite - turn right and follow the road to the end. Turn left at the t-junction and stay on this road for a couple of km until it meets the B3297 main Helston to Redruth road. Bear left for the 1500m into Four Lanes.

In Four Lanes you need to take a right turn at the crossroads (there is a convenience store on the opposite corner and a pub on the junction. This road takes a narrow, twisty at times, descent with nice views of Stithians Reservoir. Watch out for some of the bends though, they're extremely tight, blind and at least one is off-camber! This road ends at a t-junction by a couple of houses, turn right then immediately left to Stithians. The road skirts around the edge of the lake and on into the village. Basically follow the road through, keeping the church on your left, past a Spar shop on your right to a crossroads. Straight across takes you to Truro and Falmouth... so go right! Follow this road as it descends slightly, bears round to the left ina wooded glade then climbs to the right. A further 1500m or so after the climb levels out the road bears sharply right at a junction - you need to effectively continue straight ahead up a short, steep hill rather than follow the road round. After 500m the road meets the A394 Falmouth road. Go right here, after approx 1km take the next left turn, signed Gweek. Simply follow this road as it descends over the next few km to the village of Gweek.

In Gweek you arrive at a T-junction right on the Helford river (Spar shop on your right). Turn right here and follow the road over the bridge, past the boatyard and take the next left after the boatyard entrance, it's a steeply climbing turn. This road is lovely as it winds it way under the trees with views of the creeks below, eventually it begins to climb to a small roundabout - go straight across here (signed either Goonhilly, St Keverne and/or Coverack I can't remember exactly what it says!). Simply follow this road out past the big dishes of Goonhilly Earth station (it's eerie out here in a fog!). The topography/vegetation changes dramatiocally here to an open moorland feel -the Lizard is geologically distinct from the rest of Cornwall but here isn't the place to go into detail.. (do a google search or something!). Take the right turn shortly after Goonhilly.

The road now descends slightly, and almost dead straight' for a few km. Simply follow it to it's end at a T-junction in the small village of Kuggar. Take a right here and continue to the next junction where you have a choice.... you can either take a short but very steep detour down to the pretty little fishing village of Cadgwith or head straight for the Lizard...

From Lizard Point simply take the same road as you arrived on but continue on this road all the way to RNAS Culdrose naval airbase. On the way you have the option of a cafe stop in Mullion (see here) and a detour to Mullion Cove - yet another beautiful little harbour!

Approx 12km from the Lizard you arrive at a mini-roundabout just before the airbase, take first exit (straight across) and ride along the perimeter of the airfield (on your right) to a roundabout (at this point there is a bike path on your left). Take a left at the roundabout into Helston. After approx 1km arrive at another roundabout with a Spar shop opposite - go left here down the hill. At the bottom of the hill there's a double roundabout, you could detour left here to Porthleven, but legs are probably tired so head straight across onto the Penzance road. The road climbs steadily now for about 1km, at the top there is a right turn by a Jet garage... a decision has to be made here between the fast and direct route back toi Marazion or the prettier, longer and hillier fiddle through the lanes. I'll describe the direct route as you may well have had enough by now and need a pint on the beach! If you do want to go the longer route then turn right, take second left and find your way (or get you map out) to Marazion via Carleen, Godolphin, Millpool and Goldsithney.

For the direct route go straight past the Jet garage and simply stay on this road for 15km or so. You have another longish but steady climb to the village of Breage but after that the road just undulates and the final couple of km are gently downhill so ideal for a warm-down. At the Goldsithney roundabout simply turn left to Marazion and trundle on down through the village centre back to where you started.