Driving Tour of West Cornwalls Ancient Roads
West Cornwall has more history per mile than almost anywhere else in Britain. On this self-guided audio driving tour, you'll trace the deep roots of Kernow, a Celtic kingdom with its own language, legends, and hard-won identity. You'll make your way through coastal villages, prehistoric monuments, and the ruins of an industry that once powered the world. The tour starts at Penzance—a working port that gave the world both a famous opera and Humphry Davy, the scientist who discovered laughing gas. You'll drive through Poldark country at Porthgwarra Cove and arrive at Land's End, where legend says a drowned kingdom called Lyonesse once stretched toward the Isles of Scilly. The tour ends at Lanyon Quoit, a Neolithic chambered tomb on the open West Penwith moorland. Includes offline access to audio, maps, and geodata via the VoiceMap app for Android and iOS, with lifetime access and flexibility to explore at your own pace.
Program
Heliport Retail Park, Penzance
Start at the B&M car park, Heliport Retail Park, Penzance TR18 3RG. Install the VoiceMap app and enter the code from your confirmation ticket before you arrive.
St Michael's Mount
Marvel at this extraordinary tidal island rising from Mount's Bay, crowned by a medieval monastery and fortress that has served as castle, priory, and family home across eight centuries.
Mousehole
Drive through this charming fishing village of granite cottages clustered around one of Cornwall's most picturesque harbours, and hear the beloved story of the Mousehole Cat.
Merry Maidens and Minack Theatre
Pass the remarkably well-preserved Bronze Age stone circle and the breathtaking open-air theatre carved into the granite clifftop above the Atlantic.
Land's End
Reach the westernmost tip of mainland Britain, where the Atlantic crashes against the cliffs and the horizon stretches toward the Isles of Scilly and the drowned kingdom of Lyonesse.
Botallack Mine and Men-an-tol
Admire iconic clifftop engine houses perched on the edge of the Atlantic, then pass the mysterious Bronze Age monument with its perfectly holed centre stone.
Lanyon Quoit
Finish at this striking Neolithic chambered tomb—a massive granite capstone balanced on three upright stones that have stood on the open West Penwith moorland for over 4,000 years.
Additional Activities
- Culture tours
- Self-guided drive
- Prehistoric sites
- Coastal cruise
- Guided exploration
- Photography stops
