- Distance:1.75 miles
- Walk grade:Moderate
- Start from:Bossiney
Highlights
- Riverside walk though Rocky valley
- Coastal views over Willapark headland
- Beach at Bossiney Haven
Directions
- Start at the car park at Bossiney next to the mobile phone mast
- Cross the main road and take the lane opposite into the caravan site
- Follow the lane around to the right and take the public footpath off to the right
- Cross a large field heading for the gap in the hedge then cross the next field heading for the right of farm
- The footpath skirts around the farm and comes out onto a lane
- Turn left on the lane and follow it downhill until it meets a road
- Cross the road and head for Trevillet Mill on the other side
- The Entrance to Rocky Valley (Trevillet Mill) is opposite a steep hill leading up from the main road.
- Walk down the private road to Trevillet Mill (there is public access along here) - the route is well signposted at the bottom.
- Follow the path down into Rocky Valley crossing the stream onto the opposite bank
- Follow the path along the river
- There has been large-scale unsustainable removal of bulbs for sale, though it is a now criminal offence to remove the bulbs of wild bluebells.
- There is extensive hybridisation with Spanish bluebells from gardens producing fertile seeds. This has produced hybrid swarms around sites of introductions and, since the hybrids are able to thrive in a wider range of environmental conditions, the hybrids are frequently out-competing the native English bluebells. Sir Francis Drake would not be impressed!
- Bluebells will also struggle in the face of climate change. During periods of cold weather, spring flowers such as bluebells have already started the process of growth by preparing leaves and flowers in underground bulbs in summer and autumn. They are then able to grow in the cold of winter or early spring by using these resources stored in their bulb. Other species (such as cow parsley or dandelions) require warm weather before they are able to germinate and grow. With the warmer springs induced by climate change, bluebells will lose their 'early start' advantage, and be outcompeted.
- After a short distance you reach the ruins of an old mill. On the rockface to the right are some stone carvings
- Follow the path towards the river and cross the bridge, then follow the path along the river towards the sea
- Near the bottom of Rocky Valley the coast path climbs from the left side of the valley. Take this.
- Follow the coast path over the headland and around behind Benoath Cove
- When the path dips and crosses a track, turn right on the track down to Bossiney Haven
- After exploring the beach, head back up the track ignoring the turnings for the coast path
- The track leads back up to the car park where the walk started from
Only a large mound next to the chapel remains as evidence of the twelfth century castle at Bossiney. Almost certainly the castle was built by Reginald, the illegitimate son of Henry I of England who made him Earl of Cornwall. According to legend, The Round Table of Camelot is supposed to be buried under the ruins of the Castle and on the eve of the summer solstice, the Round Table will appear when King Arthur and his knights are due to return.
Bossiney was one of a number of small parliamentary boroughs established in Cornwall during the Tudor period. Sir Francis Drake was elected MP for Bossiney in 1584 after giving his election speech from Bossiney Mound. War broke out with the Spanish in 1585 and his attention turned to their Armada.
Rocky Valley has been formed by the Trevillet river carving its way through the slate bedrock and was mentioned in travel books as a place of exceptional beauty as early as 1897. The river cascades through woodland before opening out into a canyon which meets the coast.
About half way down Rocky Valley there is the ruin of Trewethet Mill and monastery. Next to this are some labyrinthine stone carvings, the age of which is unknown (some historians think they could be as early as bronze age, others think they are much more recent).
There are 2 geocaches in Rocky Valley courtesy of Vodor and Scorsby:
Some estimates suggest the UK has up to half of the world's total bluebell population; nowhere else in the world do they grow in such abundance. The poor bluebell faces a number of threats:
Bossiney Haven a secluded cove close to Tintagel which is a lovely place to swim or paddle on a warm summer's day. There is no beach at high tide but when the tide is fully out there is a beach of golden sand which stretches around the other side of the headland (known as Benoath Cove) from the main inlet (Bossiney Haven). There is good snorkelling to the far left of the beach, and also to the far right when the tide is right out. The beach is not patrolled by lifeguards and combined with the steep steps down, it's not ideal for young children.
