Best bus routes in western Cornwall?

lxfe_mxtterz · 14 Apr 2026

Towards the end of June, I'll be going for a short break down to western Cornwall, and would like to make the most of travelling around and exploring what the area has to offer.

I've already planned out a few things I'd like to see, but can anybody suggest any particularly good or enjoyable bus routes in the St Ives / Penzance area?

I understand that the open top buses have all since been withdrawn which is very disappointing, and that the Mousehole bus route has also been curtailed and now no longer traverses the village's narrow streets.

Are there any remaining bus routes which could be recommended? Might be for a variety of reasons... excellent scenery, a white-knuckle ride down narrow roads, or anything else!

Many thanks.

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TheGrandWazoo · 14 Apr 2026

lxfe_mxtterz said:
Towards the end of June, I'll be going for a short break down to western Cornwall, and would like to make the most of travelling around and exploring what the area has to offer.

I've already planned out a few things I'd like to see, but can anybody suggest any particularly good or enjoyable bus routes in the St Ives / Penzance area?

I understand that the open top buses have all since been withdrawn which is very disappointing, and that the Mousehole bus route has also been curtailed and now no longer traverses the village's narrow streets.

Are there any remaining bus routes which could be recommended? Might be for a variety of reasons... excellent scenery, a white-knuckle ride down narrow roads, or anything else!

Many thanks.

To be honest.... You're spoilt for choice, but we have to define "Western Cornwall". Assume that this is west of Truro...

34 Helston to Lizard - nice to visit and wander down to the old lifeboat station
2 Helston to Penzance - think it's better this direction for the descent into Porthleven, and the views across Mounts Bay
16 Penzance to St Ives - quite a rugged journey over the top (and even more interesting if you get the 16A via Gurnards Head)
1/1A Penzance to Lands End - obviously! and you can enjoy either a trip via Porthcurno or Sennen
4/4A Penzance to St Just - get the 4A over the top to St Just, then come back on a 4 via Pendeen and Madron
39A Penzance to Camborne - do it on a clear day and as you climb up, you might get views of both coasts

The 7/7A is also returning to link around from Penzance to Lands End, St Just and St Ives (back via Marazion to Penzance) but no confirmation on times yet. To be honest, you'll do well to find a dull route in the area!!

lxfe_mxtterz · 14 Apr 2026

TheGrandWazoo said:
To be honest.... You're spoilt for choice, but we have to define "Western Cornwall". Assume that this is west of Truro...

34 Helston to Lizard - nice to visit and wander down to the old lifeboat station
2 Helston to Penzance - think it's better this direction for the descent into Porthleven, and the views across Mounts Bay
16 Penzance to St Ives - quite a rugged journey over the top (and even more interesting if you get the 16A via Gurnards Head)
1/1A Penzance to Lands End - obviously! and you can enjoy either a trip via Porthcurno or Sennen
4/4A Penzance to St Just - get the 4A over the top to St Just, then come back on a 4 via Pendeen and Madron
39A Penzance to Camborne - do it on a clear day and as you climb up, you might get views of both coasts

The 7/7A is also returning to link around from Penzance to Lands End, St Just and St Ives (back via Marazion to Penzance) but no confirmation on times yet. To be honest, you'll do well to find a dull route in the area!!

Thanks very much for that, very helpful!

Re western Cornwall, I was toying with the idea of using Penwith, but thought it might've been a bit obscure, so ended up going with western Cornwall. But yes, anything west of Truro certainly works - I shall be staying in St Ives so really anything doable within a day from there would be great!

Stan Drews · 14 Apr 2026

TheGrandWazoo said:
To be honest.... You're spoilt for choice, but we have to define "Western Cornwall". Assume that this is west of Truro...

34 Helston to Lizard - nice to visit and wander down to the old lifeboat station
2 Helston to Penzance - think it's better this direction for the descent into Porthleven, and the views across Mounts Bay
16 Penzance to St Ives - quite a rugged journey over the top (and even more interesting if you get the 16A via Gurnards Head)
1/1A Penzance to Lands End - obviously! and you can enjoy either a trip via Porthcurno or Sennen
4/4A Penzance to St Just - get the 4A over the top to St Just, then come back on a 4 via Pendeen and Madron
39A Penzance to Camborne - do it on a clear day and as you climb up, you might get views of both coasts

The 7/7A is also returning to link around from Penzance to Lands End, St Just and St Ives (back via Marazion to Penzance) but no confirmation on times yet. To be honest, you'll do well to find a dull route in the area!!

In my opinion, Sennen Cove is a much nicer place to while away an hour or two than Lands End, although the walk along the cliffs between the two is worth doing if you get pleasant weather.

TheGrandWazoo · 14 Apr 2026

Stan Drews said:
In my opinion, Sennen Cove is a much nicer place to while away an hour or two than Lands End, although the walk along the cliffs between the two is worth doing if you get pleasant weather.

Indeed - Land’s End is just a shopping mall selling tourist tat (in my opinion). Sennen is nicer, whilst Porthcurno has the Minack and the excellent Telegraph Museum

Andyh82 · 14 Apr 2026

I’d go as far as saying there is barely a route that isn’t scenic, either good views or twisting around ridiculously narrow lanes.

A pro tip is to identify the journeys on the rural services like the various services in the 30s that are run by deckers, due to them having a school working at some point in the day. Obviously avoid the school journey itself.

RELL6L · 14 Apr 2026

I would agree with everything suggested above. I would also add the very rural 50 from Truro to St Mawes - most journeys are run by double deckers. From St Mawes you can take a ferry to Falmouth which is scenic of itself on a sunny day. From Falmouth to Helston on the OTS 35/A is another good rural run.

83G/84D · 15 Apr 2026

Only one trip each way at present, but possibly an extra one in the summer on route 36B operated by OTS between St Keverne and Helston via Helford. Very scenic country lanes and a nice beach at Porthallow .

If you wanted you could alight at Helford car park and get the ferry over to Helford Passage for OTS service 35 to Falmouth stopping off at Glendurgan Gardens.

As already stated the 16A on a good day is very nice. If you are feeling rather energetic and are reasonably fit go to St Ives, walk the coast path to Gurnards Head or Zennor and pick up the 16A.

Needs

Cheers Drive · 17 Apr 2026

RELL6L said:
I would agree with everything suggested above. I would also add the very rural 50 from Truro to St Mawes - most journeys are run by double deckers. From St Mawes you can take a ferry to Falmouth which is scenic of itself on a sunny day. From Falmouth to Helston on the OTS 35/A is another good rural run.

50 was one of my fave routes when at TFC/GC this was in 2020/21 so barely saw anyone definitely doesn’t need a decker but must be fun coming out of st mawes. Remember that a few deckers got stuck jammed in a tree coming out of st mawes down that steep tight silly bend not a good place to meet anything there.

lxfe_mxtterz · 19 Apr 2026

Thanks to all who have replied so far, some fantastic options for me to consider all around.

TheGrandWazoo said:
The 7/7A is also returning to link around from Penzance to Lands End, St Just and St Ives (back via Marazion to Penzance) but no confirmation on times yet.

Having done a bit of research into the routes which have been mentioned, I'm really quite confused by this one. The TfC website shows the route as running between St Just and Sennen Cove but with no dates or times available, whilst bustimes.org does show a timetable with three return trips per day however no dates (apart from a rather vague "Runs Monday to Friday, not bank holidays").

I don't suppose yourself or anyone else would be able to confirm the current status of this route? I'd suspect it is operational as bustimes.org shows buses are consistently tracking on the route, but I find it odd there is very little information available anywhere.

TheGrandWazoo · 19 Apr 2026

lxfe_mxtterz said:
Thanks to all who have replied so far, some fantastic options for me to consider all around.

Having done a bit of research into the routes which have been mentioned, I'm really quite confused by this one. The TfC website shows the route as running between St Just and Sennen Cove but with no dates or times available, whilst bustimes.org does show a timetable with three return trips per day however no dates (apart from a rather vague "Runs Monday to Friday, not bank holidays").

I don't suppose yourself or anyone else would be able to confirm the current status of this route? I'd suspect it is operational as bustimes.org shows buses are consistently tracking on the route, but I find it odd there is very little information available anywhere.

Apologies - should've been clearer. It has the 3 return trips currently only between Sennen and St Just. However, a registration has gone in to expand it and so returning it to a full loop around PZ, Lands End, St Ives and Marazion but to what timetable is yet to be established.

lxfe_mxtterz · 20 Apr 2026

TheGrandWazoo said:
Apologies - should've been clearer. It has the 3 return trips currently only between Sennen and St Just. However, a registration has gone in to expand it and so returning it to a full loop around PZ, Lands End, St Ives and Marazion but to what timetable is yet to be established.

No worries at all, and thank you that clears it up.

As I'll be staying in St Ives, it sounds like a useful link so fingers crossed it's running by the time I'm down there!

yorksrob · 20 Apr 2026

I love St Ives to Penzance around the coast. Some great sea views along with the rugged Cornish landscape.

lxfe_mxtterz · 15 Jun 2026

Apologies for bringing this back up, but does anybody know what's currently going on with route 7 between St Just and Sennen Cove?

The TfC website shows no timetables for any dates, and the route has been removed entirely from bustimes.org.

I was under the impression the route was running between St Just and Sennen Cove on weekdays, and the extended version around to St Ives and Penzance on weekends, but can't find any timetables whatsoever now.

I'll be wanting to travel from St Just to Sennen Cove on a Tuesday so need to know if this is possible otherwise I may have to rethink my travel plans.

JKP · 15 Jun 2026

lxfe_mxtterz said:
Apologies for bringing this back up, but does anybody know what's currently going on with route 7 between St Just and Sennen Cove?

The TfC website shows no timetables for any dates, and the route has been removed entirely from bustimes.org.

I was under the impression the route was running between St Just and Sennen Cove on weekdays, and the extended version around to St Ives and Penzance on weekends, but can't find any timetables whatsoever now.

I'll be wanting to travel from St Just to Sennen Cove on a Tuesday so need to know if this is possible otherwise I may have to rethink my travel plans.

Runs 26th July to 31st August according to the Transport for Cornwall website under news headlined summer buses. Sorry cannot post link. No timetable is shown though nor days of operation.

lxfe_mxtterz · 15 Jun 2026

JKP said:
Runs 26th July to 31st August according to the Transport for Cornwall website under news headlined summer buses. Sorry cannot post link. No timetable is shown though nor days of operation.

Thanks, yes I saw that earlier - but until recently there were three weekday return journeys on the section between St Just and Sennen Cove.

What I'm trying to find out is whether these are still operating (even though they're not being published for whatever reason) or have they been withdrawn? Conversely I haven't seen any publication to say they've been withdrawn so it's all a bit mysterious!

robbob700 · 15 Jun 2026

The three weekday return journeys between St Just and Sennen Cove were withdrawn back in April.

lxfe_mxtterz · 15 Jun 2026

robbob700 said:
The three weekday return journeys between St Just and Sennen Cove were withdrawn back in April.

Thanks, that is disappointing to hear. Looks like I will have to change my travel plans to go the long way via Penzance now.

BuhSnarf · 15 Jun 2026

Interestingly I asked this question on a short I put up this morning as I am going to Cornwall this weekend for a few days and wanted some suggestions, I'm slightly more east in Launceston area but these are some of the suggestions that people left which I think have already been mentioned... 16 St Ives to Penzance, 1/1A Penzance to Lands End, 2 from Penzance to Helston.

I found the same as you that the withdrawal of the open toppers to be a dissapointment.

Hope you have a lovely trip.

Goldfish62 · 15 Jun 2026

Just come across this thread. Definitely do the 4/4A, preferably in that order and on a double decker. On the 4 you go along lovely winding roads through the Penwith Moors, with a stunning decent towards Morvah. Then on the 4A after the climb out of St Just you start a steady decent towards Penzance with extensive views across Mounts Bay and St Michael's Mount.

lxfe_mxtterz · 1 Jul 2026

I've just concluded my trip to western Cornwall - thanks once again to everyone who has contributed and suggested routes.

Sadly of course I wasn't able to do all of them, but managed to do quite a few where practicable.

All of the routes I rode on were very enjoyable indeed (with the exception of perhaps the 17 which, apart from the lovely views coming into St Ives, was rather dull).

The highlights for me were the 16A via Gurnards Head and the 1A to Lands End, both very scenic with some insanely narrow roads. The 1A in particular was really quite a thrilling ride from the front seat of a double decker.

Also managed to do the coastal walk between Sennen Cove and Lands End as suggested upthread, along with some coastal walking around Cape Cornwall after a trip to St Just on the route 4.

A spectacularly pretty corner of the UK and somewhere I'll definitely be returning to in the near future.

Best bus routes in western Cornwall?

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