St Nectan's Glen is an area of verdant woodland upstream of Rocky Valley along the Trevillet river near Tintagel. At the top of St Nectan's Glen is a 60ft waterfall known as St Nectan's Kieve (or basin) (there is an admission fee to the waterfall). Pilgrims visiting St. Nectan's Shrine have used the Glen path since 500AD. St Nectan is supposed to be buried under the waterfall, along with the treasure he collected, according to local legend. There used to be a church dedicated to him where there is now a Hermitage (with tea gardens during the summer). Once, it was said, a couple of witches lived in the chapel, and locals blamed every disaster on their evil ways.
Who was St Nectan?
St Nectan was the eldest son (of 24 children!) of a 5th century welsh king. Having received a vocation to become a monk earlier in his life, he and many of his relatives sailed to north Devon where Nectan settled by a spring at Stoke, in the then dense forest of Hartland, north of Bude. Here, in this solitude, he lived as a hermit. It is claimed he also spent some time here in the Glen near Tintagel, which at about 30 miles south of Stoke is not inconceivable.
Directions and parking
In the village of Trethevy on the Tintagel to Boscastle road there is a car park (on your left if you are coming from Tintagel, just as you reach the top of the hill). From here follow the signs marked to the waterfall turning right to pass in front of St Piran's chapel. Follow the track down the hill which leads onto a path into the Glen. Follow the path upriver and you'll eventually reach the entrance to the waterfall.
A footpath also leads out of St Nectan's Glen to Halgabron on the road up above Rocky Valley which can be used to create a circular walk if you park opposite Rocky Valley or are walking from Park Farm.
Walks passing through St Nectan's Glen
St Nectan's Glen and Condolden Barrow (6 miles)
The walk starts out on the lane past Trenale and then drops down into St Nectan's Glen before climbing the wooded valley alongside the river. From here it crosses some fields and joins a lane leading to Condolden Barrow - the highest point in the area with excellent views. Tracks and footpaths then lead back past the slate quarries of Trebarwith Valley and across Trewarmett Downs.
Rocky Valley, Trevalga and Trethevy (6.75 miles)
This walk also starts along the lane through Trenale but this time goes to the very end. The route then descends through pretty woodland into Rocky Valley through slate canyons where it meets the sea. From here it climbs up onto the coast path towards Boscastle. Further along the coast it loops back into the pretty hamlet of Trevalga and across fields to Trethevy. From here it passes St Piran's Chapel and Well and descends into St Nectan's Glen, climbs out of the other side and along the lane back to Trewarmett. For avid geocachers this is another good one - there are up to 9 geocaches within reach of this route.
