23rd May 2026 - 27th May 2026 - 9:00 am
Annual Walk 2026
We’re pleased to announce that our Annual Walk 2026 will take place along the beautiful coast of Cornwall, from Saturday 23 May to Wednesday 27 May 2026.
Join us next spring for this unforgettable coastal adventure. Over four days, a group of 70 walkers will take on scenic routes together while raising vital funds for St Luke’s.
It’s a chance to challenge yourself, create lasting memories, and make a real difference for the people we care for.
Registrations opens Wednesday, 5 November at 6pm!
Details of Annual Walk 2026
This year’s Cornish Coastal Challenge will follow the South West Coast Path and St Michael’s Way, starting in Padstow and finishing at St Michael’s Bay. Walkers will be based in the seaside town of St Ives, surrounded by golden beaches and stunning countryside.
Following a travel day, you can enjoy four walking days in some of the finest landscapes the UK has to offer while fundraising for St Luke’s Hospice.
You will be staying in the small seaside town of St Ives, within walking distance of four beautiful white-sand beaches – Porthmeor, Porthminster, Harbour and Porthgwidden – and spectacular countryside.
Our walk starts in Padstow and lies predominantly along the North Cornwall coast, following the South West Coast Path and King Charles III England Coast Path, finishing along St Michael’s Way at St Michael’s Bay.
Highlights of the walk include long golden beaches, picturesque fishing villages, secluded coves and rugged cliffs. Remnants of the mining industry and Iron Age earthworks are also evident. You will also discover estuaries full of fauna and flora, numerous species of birds including greenshank, ringed plover, dunlin, curlew and teal and, if lucky, possibly seals around islets.
Choose your walk
Each day there will be a choice of walking distances to suit your ability:
- Ultra distance: 17–18 miles
- Long distance: 12–15 miles
- Middle distance: 10–12 miles
- Short distance: 6–8 miles
You will be free to walk at your own pace or join some of our experienced walkers, all of whom are friendly and welcoming.
Accommodation
For our 2026 Annual Walk, we’ll be staying at the beautiful Tregenna Castle Resort in St Ives, a historic castle overlooking the Cornish coastline. Surrounded by 72 acres of peaceful gardens and woodland, it offers the perfect place to relax, connect, and enjoy some well-deserved downtime after each day’s walk. The town of St Ives and its beaches are just a short stroll away, making it an ideal spot for our walkers to unwind and explore.
Guests can choose from a variety of comfortable room types to suit different needs and budgets:
- Non-Sea View Double / Twin Rooms
- Non-Sea View Double for Sole Occupancy
- Spacious Non-Sea View Double / Twin Rooms
- Castle Sea View Double / Twin Rooms
- West Wing Sea View Double / Twin Rooms
Price per person range from £590 to £890, depending on the room type and booking date. As there are only a limited number of single rooms available, we’re encouraging walkers to pair up where possible to make the most of the accommodation.
Tregenna Castle combines comfort, character, and community. With its welcoming atmosphere, relaxing leisure facilities, and stunning sea views, it’s the perfect base for our Annual Walk family to come together and create special memories in beautiful St Ives.
Information evening – find out more
Join us at the information evening on Tuesday, 11 November 2025 from 7pm at Harrow District Masonic Centre, Kenton, where you can find out more about the walk, meet your fellow walkers (they’re a friendly bunch!) and chat to the events team from the hospice.
To find our more information about the event contact the Events team at events@stlukes-hospice.org.
History
The annual walks (or Lesley’s Walks as they are affectionately known) were organised by our beloved Lesley Dodd for 20 years, starting in 1996, when over one hundred people took part in our inaugural Hadrian’s Wall walk.
Since then, our walkers have covered thousands of miles on long-distance footpaths in all parts of the United Kingdom and beyond, including the West Highland Way, The Cleveland Way and the 2021 Lesley Dodd Memorial Walk along the Coleridge Way.
Along the way they have raised well over a million pounds to support the work of St Luke’s Hospice and forged many lasting friendships.
Some of our supporters enjoy the walking, the countryside and the company of their fellow participants so much that they return to walk and raise funds year after year, but there is also always a friendly welcome for newcomers.
Accommodation and local transport are organised for you; all you have to do is choose your distance, turn up and walk.
