🧭 Club Trip #6: Cornwall 🗺️🏖️

UCL Hiking Club is proud to bring to you a THIRD TRIP this summer 2026!! We're going all-out this summer to host a THIRD trip that you can get involved in! BONUS: This one is based in the UK!!

You can register your interest for both trips, or just choose one. Applicants for each trip will first be screened for hiking experience, and then entered into a random lottery for selection. Stay on this page to read about the Chamonix trip, or go to this page to read about the Romania trip.

Sign-ups for this trip will be separate from the upcoming Chamonix (France 🥐) and Busteni (Romania 🐻) trips. We will prioritise applicants who did not get into either of these trips, however this does not guarantee that you'll get a spot, as there is a very limited number of spaces available.

1/5 - AT A GLANCE

2/5 - ABOUT THE TRIP

For our third summer trip, we are taking you to the stunning Cornwall for four nights, giving us three full days to explore this coastal escape from London. It’s the perfect chance to unwind and relax after the hectic year we’ve had, slow things down, and spend time outdoors in a truly unique landscape. During the day, we’ll split into groups and hike along a variety of routes across the area, before returning each evening to our hostel, with time to socialise and play games. Overall, the trip will include two travel days, three days full of fun, and four evenings of relaxation and good company.

Cornwall is world-renowned for its dramatic coastline, over 400 miles of sandy beaches, and status as the UK’s top surfing destination. From rugged cliff paths and hidden coves to rolling moorland and picturesque fishing villages, Cornwall offers some of the most stunning scenery in the country. Whether you fancy exploring the South West Coast Path, watching the sunset by the sea, trying your hand at surfing, or simply unwinding with a cream tea after a long day outdoors, there’s something here for everyone. Whatever your preference, join us for this next adventure!

3/5 - HOSTEL, FOOD, & TRAVEL

ACCOMODATION (Hostel Rooms)

Address: Castle Horneck, Penzance, Cornwall, TR20 8TF 

For all four nights of the trip, we’ll be staying at YHA Penzance, located in the heart of Cornwall in southwest England. The accommodation sits on the outskirts of Penzance town, surrounded by beaches and coastal trails, making it an ideal base for a summer hiking residential.

We have booked 3 private rooms in the hostel, but we won't have the whole place to ourselves. From here, we have direct access to the hiking routes we’ll be covering, including national trails and coastal paths - so there’s no need for daily travel to reach the start of our walks.

The cost of the accommodation is fully included in your SU event ticket purchase.

Type of Accommodation

The accommodation is purpose-built youth hostel, designed for group stays.

• We will reserve a mix of single-gender and mixed-gender rooms, depending on preferences.
• You’ll be able to indicate your room preference when signing up for the trip.
• Beds will all be single beds with 4-8 beds per room. 

Facilities & Amenities

The accommodation is fully equipped for our stay, and it includes:

• Heated bedrooms and communal areas
• Hot showers and indoor bathrooms
• Free Wi-Fi (note: signal may be patchy in some areas)
• A self-catering kitchen shared with other hostel visitors.

Sleeping Arrangements & What to Bring

• Bedding and linen are provided by the hostel.
• Towels are not provided, so please bring your own.
• You should also bring your own toiletries and any personal items you’ll need for the trip.

Please see the full kit list for more details.

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS

The official meeting point is YHA Penzance, rather than London. The recommended way to travel is by train or coach from London to Penzance. The total cost may be £50-100, depending on mode of transport and fluctuations in prices.

Once you have a confirmed place on the trip, you’ll be added to a trip group chat, and we strongly encourage everyone to coordinate and travel together where possible. This is a great way to meet people before the trip properly begins.

We will share more advice and recommendations for travel with everyone once they are selected, but we are happy to answer any questions you might have before this!

FOOD & COOKING

This is a self-catered residential. All food will need to be purchased individually or with other people on the trip, and meals will be prepared, cooked, and cleaned up individually.

• There are lots of supermarkets and local shops nearby to purchase groceries.
• The hostel has a shared self-catering kitchen that everyone will have access to.
• Each flat will do their own cooking and cleaning during the trip.

The cost of groceries and food is not included in the SU event ticket purchase. In order to minimise costs, all trip members will be able to coordinate their own food plan to their preferences. You may choose to buy groceries and cook for yourself daily, or you may also visit the local restaurants (but these may be expensive).

4/5 - TICKETS & SIGN-UPS

TICKET INFORMATION

Cornwall, England - £TBC

• There are 14-20 spots available for the Cornwall (England) trip.
• Cost: £TBC
• Included in price:
  • 🏠 Hostel accommodation (all 5 nights)
  • 🗺️ Guided routes and trained walk leaders
• Not included in price:
  • 🚂 Transport to/from the hostel
  • 🚌Local buses/transport (if needed)
  • 🍽️ All food (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks). Food will be independently catered.
• This trip is designed to include both  🔵 moderate 🔵 and 🔴 challenging 🔴 routes. If you have not completed a hike at this difficulty before, this trip may not be suitable for you. Please see the grade difficulties above.
• Spots will be allocated using a lottery (random selection), NOT first-come-first-serve!
• Note: we are not asking for extensive applications about your entire history of hiking or anything similar. We simply need to hear enough to know that you can confidently hike in challenging terrain and weather and that you will not be a danger to yourself or to others in the group due to inexperience. If you have been on lots of weekend hikes with the club in the South East UK, you are most likely experienced enough to step things up and join this trip.
• You MUST have a £15 Explorer membership in order to be eligible for this lottery. You must get this before signing up for a spot!

Both Trips:

HOW TO APPLY

• You can register your interest for this trip using this form. The form will remain open until 12:00 (midday) on Wednesday 20th May.
• Submitting the form does not guarantee a spot. Please see the details above for how places will be allocated.
• Unfortunately, it is impossible to approximate your chances of getting a spot on one of our club trips, as this depends entirely on how many people register their interest. On our November trip to the Yorkshire Dales, there were ~150 sign-ups for 60 spots. For both Feb 2026 trips, there was a total of 200 sign-ups for 87 total spots.

Note: In the event that not all spots are initially filled (for either trip), the sign-up deadline will be extended and converted into first-come-first-serve (all eligibility criteria still apply).

HOW TO CONFIRM YOUR SPOT

• The results of the lottery selection will be released between TBC and TBC.
• Everyone who signed up will receive an email. This email will either confirm that you were successful in getting a spot on the residential trip, or that you have been unsuccessful and automatically added to the waiting list.
• If you are added to the waiting list, please watch your emails carefully in the following few days, as many spots usually open up (due to people not buying their ticket on time). On previous trips, 1 in 3 of the final attendees were people who were initially on the waitlist.
• If you were successful in getting a spot on the residential trip, the email will contain a password and you will have 24 hours to purchase your ticket on this webpage. If you do not purchase your ticket in time, your place will be given away to someone on the waiting list. Please keep an eye out for this email.
• Once you have purchased your ticket, your spot on the trip is confirmed.

CANCELLATION/REFUND POLICY

Once payment for a trip has been made, refunds are not guaranteed. Trip costs (including accommodation, transport, and bookings) are typically committed in advance, meaning we are often unable to recover costs after payment.

If you are no longer able to attend a trip, you must inform the club as soon as possible in writing to [email protected] and please clearly state "I wish to no longer attend this trip" in the email. This will be treated as a formal withdrawal from the trip.

If there is a waiting list, we will attempt to offer your place to another member up to 24 hours before departure. If a replacement is found and confirmed within this timeframe, we will issue a refund. If no replacement is found, we are unfortunately unable to offer a refund. The more advanced notice you provide us, the higher the likelihood of finding a replacement for your spot.

 If we are unable to find a replacement, you will still be considered withdrawn, and it may not be possible to re-join the trip at a later date. This is because we are required to confirm final attendee lists with the Students’ Union and external providers in advance, and last-minute changes cannot always be accommodated.

This policy applies to all trips and all members and is in place to ensure fairness, financial stability for the club, and the smooth running of trips for everyone involved.

5/5 - FAQS

What should I pack?

Please see this full kit list for details on what to pack.

Do I need hiking boots?

Yes. Hiking boots provide essential support for your feet, ankles, and legs on uneven terrain and help prevent serious accidents. This residential will have rocky and uneven terrain and therefore is only suitable for those with hiking boots.

For further questions, please ask these in our members-only WhatsApp chat, which can be accessed here. If your question is more sensitive, please email us at [email protected]. Please refrain from directly texting committee members without their prior consent.