The Cornish coast is one of Britain's most spectacular stretches of coastline - and it's reachable by train from London Paddington in around 5 hours without a car.
The myth that Cornwall requires a car is largely false. The main towns, beaches and the South West Coast Path are all accessible by train and bus. You'll need to plan slightly more carefully, but the reward is arriving relaxed rather than frayed after the A30 in August.
London Paddington to Penzance: around 5 hours on the Great Western Railway. The final section from Plymouth through the Tamar Valley and along the coast to Penzance is one of the most beautiful rail journeys in England. The train runs along the sea wall at Dawlish - a section of track unlike almost anywhere else in Britain.
Carbon comparison: driving from London to Penzance (300 miles each way) in a petrol car produces around 0.25 tonnes of CO₂. The train produces around 0.015 tonnes - an 94% reduction.
Book at gwr.com or trainline.com. Advance tickets from around £25 single. The Night Riviera sleeper from Paddington to Penzance (departs around 11:45pm) is worth taking for a longer trip.
Penzance is the end of the line and an excellent base. St Ives is 25 minutes by branch line - one of the most beautiful seaside towns in Britain, and deliberately car-restricted. The Tate St Ives gallery is genuinely worth visiting. St Michael's Mount is a tidal island accessible by causeway at low tide and by ferry at high tide, 3 miles from Penzance.
Land's End is around 10 miles from Penzance and reachable by bus (A1 or First Kernow) or by walking the coast path. The tourist complex at the point is best avoided; the cliffs and sea stacks themselves are extraordinary.
The Coast Path runs 630 miles from Minehead in Somerset to Poole in Dorset, with Cornwall forming the most dramatic section. Day walks from train-accessible towns are genuinely feasible without a car. Penzance to Mousehole along the coast is a classic 4-mile walk. St Ives to Zennor is more rugged and rewarding (around 6 miles).
For multi-day walking, luggage transfer services (Luggage Transfers, Sherpa Van) collect bags from accommodation and deliver to the next stop - making the path feasible without carrying everything.
Newquay is reachable by branch line from Par. Padstow requires a bus from Bodmin Parkway. The Camel Trail cycling path runs 18 miles from Padstow to Bodmin along a former railway line - hire bikes are available at both ends. Rock and Polzeath beaches are accessible by ferry from Padstow.
June and September are ideal - warm enough for swimming, significantly less crowded than July and August. The sea temperature in Cornwall peaks in September. Winter is dramatic on the coast path and very quiet, though many smaller businesses close November-March.
