Cornwall, England — 45 km — 2–3 days
The Saints’ Way
An ancient Cornish crossing from Padstow on the north coast to Fowey on the south — linking two of Cornwall’s most beautiful harbour towns.
Long before the Saints’ Way was walked by modern pilgrims, Celtic saints — Petroc, Samson, Fimbarrus — used this cross-peninsula route to avoid the treacherous seas around Land’s End. Irish and Welsh missionaries travelling to Brittany crossed Cornwall here, leaving behind a trail of ancient churches, holy wells and carved granite crosses that still stand today.
The route connects Padstow — one of Cornwall’s most celebrated fishing ports — with Fowey, a town whose literary and maritime history rivals anywhere in England. Between them: Helman Tor’s Bronze Age landscape, the Luxulyan Valley’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a remarkable sequence of medieval Cornish churches. Two to three days of accessible walking through the Cornish interior. Pairs beautifully with St Michael’s Way for a longer Cornish pilgrimage experience.
The Route
Stage by Stage
Padstow to Lanivet
Start at St Petroc’s Church in Padstow — founded by the Celtic saint who arrived from Wales in the 6th century and whose relics were revered across Cornwall and Brittany. Follow the Camel Trail east before heading south through Little Petherick to Lanivet, a village named after the Old Cornish word for shrine.
Lanivet to Luxulyan
Cross the high ground of the Cornish interior — china clay country — passing Helman Tor with its ancient hillfort. Descend into the Luxulyan Valley, a magical landscape of giant granite boulders, iron-age field systems and a Victorian viaduct that is part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining World Heritage Site.
Luxulyan to Fowey
South to St Austell and on to the Fowey estuary. The approach to Fowey is superb — descending through oak woodland to the water, with the town’s pastel-coloured houses and the deep blue estuary opening up below. Cross by ferry to the town quay, where the journey ends.
Your Package
What's Included
Walk Padstow to Fowey at your own pace, with all logistics handled.
- Hand-picked accommodation in Cornish B&Bs and inns
- Daily luggage transfers throughout
- Detailed route notes with OS maps and waypoint guide
- Guide to Celtic saints and ancient crosses along the route
- 24/7 local support line throughout
- Cornish food and restaurant guide (Padstow to Fowey)
- Fowey ferry crossing arranged
Everything in self-guided, plus an expert Cornish guide steeped in the stories of the Celtic saints who walked this way before you.
- Everything included in self-guided
- Expert Cornish guide — specialising in Celtic Christianity
- Welcome dinner in Padstow on arrival evening
- Farewell dinner in Fowey on final evening
- Evening storytelling: the Celtic saints and their journeys
- Option to combine with St Michael’s Way (5-day package)
- Weekend departures throughout the walking season
Follow the Celtic saints across Cornwall.
From Padstow harbour to the Fowey estuary. A long weekend that feels like a world away.