Crackington Haven to The Strangles

1. From Crackington Haven head down the ramp towards the beach and turn left onto the coast path

On a very low tide you can walk round to Tremoutha Haven. Here there is a shipwreck of a german "E-boat" S-89 which having survived several sea battles during the war broke free from a tow in 1946 and ran aground.

2. Follow the path through a couple of gates onto Bray's Point and round behind Tremoutha Haven and out towards the point at Cambeak
3. At the Cambeak headland the path splits. The coast path runs up the steep headland - there are nice views from the top. There is a path that goes out onto the very end of Cambeak which you can take a short detour on.
In late Spring and Summer listen out for the characteristic song of skylarks hovvering high above the coast path. The coastal heath is a particularly good habitat for them, being mild but with fairy short vegetation in which they can hunt for insects.
4. The path runs along the edge of the coast passes behind Cam Strand and heads towards The Strangles passing the Northern Door arch and Little Strand
5. When you reach the waymark to Trevigue, keep right on the coast path
6. Continue along the coast path until it crosses the path to The Strangles.
There are more than 20 breeding pairs of peregrine falcons along the coast from Bude to Padstow. The peregrine can reach over 322 km/h (200 mph) during its hunting stoop (high speed dive) making it the fastest member of the animal kingdom. In 2005 one was measured at a top speed of 389 km/h (242 mph). The air pressure at this speed could damage a bird's lungs, but small bony tubercles on a falcon's nostrils guide the powerful airflow away, enabling the bird to breathe more easily while diving.
7. From here you if the tide is out you may want to stroll down to the beach, returning back to this point

The Strangles gets its name due to the treacherous currents and jagged rocks that have wrecked many ships trying to navigate the rocky coastline of North Cornwall. This is not a safe beach for swimming unless the sea is completely calm without much surf. There is spectacular scenery both on the walk down and from the beach itself including a rock arch and the cliffs are covered with flowers from gorse and heather in early Autumn. On the path down and from the beach you may well see two peregrine falcons that nest on the cliffs near here. On windy days they often hang in the wind by the cliff edges.

8. The route continues towards Boscastle along the coast path until just before the knife edge headland of Voter Run at the southern end of The Strangles
9. Follow the path downhill and up some steps
10. At the top of the steps, turn left onto a path signposted "To Road" that crosses a stile into a field
11. Head across the field towards the far right-hand corner to a stile that comes out onto a lane; turn right on the lane
12. On the opposite side of the lane take the footpath to the left heading towards the barns. On the far side of the field there is a gateway onto a path into the woods
13. Follow the path out from the woods up the field to the right had corner towards Pengold Farm

If you are crossing fields with cows in:

• Do not show any threatening behaviour towards calves (approaching them closely, making loud noises or walking between a calf and its mother) as you may provoke the mother to defend her young. Generally the best plan is to walk along the hedges.
• If cows approach you, do not run away as this will encourage them to chase you. Stand your ground and stretch out your arms to increase your size.
• Avoid taking dogs in fields with cows, particularly with calves. If you must, release the dog if cows charge as the dog will outrun the cows and the cows will generally chase the dog rather than you.
14. Go through the gate and bear left following the waymark. At the corner of the wall follow the waymark to the left into the field.
15. Head over the browe of the hill to the waymark and down the field to the middle of the 3 gateways
16. Go through the gate and follow the right hedge of the next field downhill to an opening into a field below
17. Cross the next field aiming for the highest trees on the treeline, following the path into some woods where it crosses a stream
18. Head to the signpost and follow the middle path into the woods signposted to "HAVEN"

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:

• 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.
19. When the path emerges in a field, follow it along the right hedge until it enters more woods, following the river through East Wood
20. At the next signpost again head for "HAVEN" through the woods along the river
21. When you reach a bridge, cross to the other side of the stream and where the path joins another follow the sign to "Coast Path" down the valley
22. Eventually the path emerges onto a lane
23. Turn right and follow the lane back down to Crackington Haven

Crackington Haven is a pebble beach at high tide but quite a large sandy beach at low tide. There is a fairly large car park with a couple of cafes and a pub just behind the beach, and toilets by the track down onto the beach. Although it gets reasonably busy in Summer, the large beach at low tide and car park means it doesn't get too crowded.

Map of Route

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Other walks nearby

• Walks in the boscastle area
• Walks in the crackington haven area
• Walks in the the strangles area

Related walks you might be interested in

• Walks with a beach
• Circular walks
• Coastal walks
• Walks with potential for foraging
• Pub walks
• Wildlife walks
• Woodland walks