THis is basically the first half of the long Lizard and Lands End route but instead of continuing up the coast from St Ives it cuts across the peninsula back to Penzance before you get to St Ives. Makes my life easy, I can cut and paste a lot of the directions! Once again 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 80km depending on how many optional detours you take for cafes, views etc.
• Elevation Gain: TBC
• Time: depends, 3hrs average, more if you make lots of stops or take it steady.
• Gearing: whatever you like, I've done it on a fixed gear without too many problems but normally I'd suggest 39x25. Max. gradients don't get any steeper than 20% for any distance...
• Map: OS Landranger 203 will do, as will Explorer sheet 102 (in finer detail).

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.

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 >

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.

Back on the A30 suitably refulled with caffeine take the next left onto the B3306 to St Just. This meets the A3071 just before St Just.. turn left and ride through the village centre. Here you can detour to Cape Cornwall for more spectacular views, it's wild place down here in a winter storm. The A3071 reverts to the B3306 in the village, just stay on this road now all the way along the coast, it's a spectacular stretch. There are cafes at Geevor Mine in Pendeen and further on in Zennor.

< Sennen Cove

After Zennor on the B3306 the route now deviates from the big ride referenced in the intro (unless you want to visit St Ives, which is easy). Approx. 3.5-4km after Zennor you reach a junction on the right signed to Towednack. In fact it's the first right turn after Zennor so isn't hard to miss. Stay on this road as it goes straight for approx 1.5km and then bears sharp left. Follow the road all the way to it's end as it meets the B3311 St Ives-Penzance road (T-junction). Turn right here up the hill. It's simple now, stay on this road as it twists, turns, ducks and dives it's way through Nancledra. Just before you start descending through Gulval towards Penzance there's a spectacular view of St Michaels Mount, Mounts Bay and the coast up towards the Lizard... assuming of course the weather is clear! The road descends through Gulval and passes under the A30 just before reachinng a T-junction on the road into Penzance - turn left for Marazion and right for Penzance.

Just a note, if the wind is blowing with any strength from points South to West the do the ride clockwise as I've written - that way you'll get some shelter from the headwinds in the lush valleys on the south side and make the most of the breezes on the exposed north coast. Likewise, if the wind is from northwest thro to south east then consider reversing the route.