Flora & Fauna On The South West Coast Path

One of the joys of walking along the Coast Path are the birds, plants and other wildlife you’ll see, hear and encounter. Get ready for some bird-watching excitement in this prime geographical spot jutting into the Atlantic, West Cornwall!

The majority of the Coast Path outside of towns and villages is managed as part of an agri-environment scheme, where landowners are given advice and grants from Natural England on how to look after the land for the benefit of wildlife, heritage and the landscape, this work is helping to ensure that the views from the Path remain world-class.

As you walk along the Cornish coastline, the geology varies greatly, which is why we have such beautiful and varied scenery along the Path. As the rocks change, so does the way the land is farmed, the shape of the cliffs and harbours, and even the wildlife, and this is what makes the Coast Path such an interesting walk.

Keep an eye out for the world’s fastest bird, the Peregrine falcon, cormorants, shags, guillemots, chiffchaffs, grey wagtails and if you’re very lucky, some choughs! Offshore, as well as sea birds, seals, dolphins and in early summer, basking sharks are frequently seen, particularly from the headlands of west Cornwall.