When the British decide to stride out on a country walk, they're likely to head for Cornwall. Who are we to disagree? On our Cornwall walking tours, the well-established footpaths are some of the finest in the civilized world. The sea is Mediterranean blue. The headlands offer fine trails with terrific views punctuated by lighthouses. This is, after all, the neighborhood of Land’s End where quiet coves once harbored infamous pirates and smugglers. You’ll find history and legend around every Cornish corner. There’s Tintagel, according to legend the birthplace of King Arthur. Like an offshore mirage, St. Michael’s Mount rises above the bay, drawing pilgrims (and us). And everywhere, cozy villages, warm friends and—we confess—the occasional cream tea with scones and jam and clotted cream always leave us feeling very at home.

DAYS 1-3 - MOUSEHOLE
A short ride from the Penzance train station, we settle into Mousehole (3 nights), a beautiful Cornish village with views across the bay to St. Michael's Mount.  We’ll take the quintessential coast walk, surrounded by banks of golden gorse, azure water, grey granite cliffs and wide skies. There’s time for shopping and, in season, a performance at the Minack amphitheater carved into the rock.

Depending on the tides, we ferry or walk to the former Benedictine monastery on St. Michael’s Mount. Following a morning visit to the Victorian cathedral in Truro, we’ll amble through the mysterious gardens and ancient woodlands of the Lost Gardens of Heligan.

DAYS 4-7 - FOWEY / BODMIN
Fowey (pronounced Foy and our home for 3 nights) is in the heart of Daphne du Maurier country. It’s also the center of the region’s lively maritime trade, which is ours to discover by foot with a local friend.

On to Land’s End, where we meet up with a local ecologist guide who escorts us to Zennor, where traces of Stone and Bronze Age works are still visible. And no Cornish visit is complete without an exploration of Tintagel Castle. Whether you believe the Arthurian legends or not, there’s no denying the haunting beauty of this place. On our last morning, we wander the gardens of Lanhydrock House before parting company in Bodmin for trains to London.