Coastal walks in North Cornwall

An easy, very short walk to a point overlooking the seal colony at Buckator near Boscastle. Bring binoculars or a big zoom lens and tripod for your camera.

This walk takes you along the coast from Tintagel's ancient church to Penhallic Point where slate was once loaded into boats from Lanterdan quarry at Trebarwith Strand. There are spectacular coastal views and in winter waves explode over Penhallic point.

This walk takes you along the coast between two of Tintagel's most famous ancient sites. There are excellent views of both the church and the castle, and over Port Isaac Bay.

The walk starts in the tiny Trebarwith Village and descends through fields and onto coastal heath alongside a stream to Backways Cove. Peregrine falcons nest nearby and you may see them flying over the cliffs. In a big winter storm, sea foam collects in the cove and is whipped into foam tornados by the wind.

The walk starts at Polzeath Beach and follows the coast path known as "The Greenaway" around past a number of small beaches with pretty purple-and-green striped rocks. There also are lots of good rockpools to explore at low tide. The route rounds Trebetherick point and descends onto the beach at Daymer Bay before heading through the sand dunes to St Enodoc Church - the burial place of Sir John Betjamen. The route then loops inland across fields and a couple of golf courses back to Polzeath.

Via a lane to Treknow, the route joins the coast path at Hole Beach and follows it past Penhallic Point to the ancient St Materiana Church. From the church the route continues on the coast path to Tintagel Castle. There are spectacular coastal views all the way. From the Castle the route (or if you prefer, the landrover service) climbs the Vale of Avalon into Tintagel. Rather than going through Tintagel, the route goes down past the vicarage through fields along the valley that runs next to Tintagel. The route then leaves Tintagel for Treven, cutting across the fields towards Trewarmett Downs and joining a lane which takes you back to Trewarmett. From the lane back there are panoramic views of Tintagel and St Materiana church.

The walk starts along a quiet lane with nice views that takes you through Trenale and along a footpath to Bossiney where Sir Francis Drake was elected a member of Parliament. The route descends to Bossiney Haven and then follows the Tintagel coastline past Willapark headland until it reaches Barras Nose - the first coastal land ever purchased by the National Trust. From here the route heads into Tintagel past the Castle Hotel and runs through the centre of Tintagel past the Old Post Office and King Arthur's Great Halls before returning to Trewarmett via some back lanes. With a tactical geocaching diversion, the route can take you past 10 geocaches.

The walk starts in Bossinney opposite Bossiney Mound where a 12th Century castle once stood and later Sir Francis Drake was elected member of Parliament for Bossiney. There are specacular views over the coastline and the beach on the way down. The sandy sheltered beach is ideal for swimming.

The walk starts at tregardock and meanders to the coast though fields before crossing a coastal heath and finally descending to the quiet beach. There are specacular views over the beach and across Port Isaac Bay on the walk down. In Autumn the heather on the hillsides are blaze of purple.

The walk starts out across fields then follows the Trevillett river down Rocky Valley though woodland and out into the canyon leading to the sea. The walk then joins the coast path, climbing up onto the headland and behind Benoath Cove and on to Bossiney. The route turns inland though farmland back to the start of the walk.

The walk runs down the valley from Middle Hendra and climbs onto the headland above Barrett's Zawn. There is tunnel to the beach through which slate used to be hauled - it's possible to crawl through to the beach though not it's recommended for the feint-hearted or without a torch. You can also get down onto the rock platform at Delabole Point (without any tunnels).

This walk takes you from Trebarwith Strand along the coastal slate quarries to Penhallic Point where slate was once loaded into boats from Lanterdan quarry at Trebarwith Strand. There are spectacular coastal views and in winter waves explode over Penhallic point.

The walk joins the coast path at Crackington Haven which runs out to Pencannow Point with nice views over the beach. The path zig-zags behind Great Barton Strand, Little Barton Strand and Orchard Strand to Castle Point where the path swings east to run alongside the north-facing stretch of coast. As the coast bends to face west again, the route heads inland up a wooded valley to St Genny's House and on to St Genny's Church. The route then climbs back over into the valley above Crackington Haven and follows the stream down through the woods to the start of the walk.

The walk starts at Millook and follows Millook Water up the valley then climbs through Trebarfoote Wood up to Trebarfoot overlooking the valley. The route then drops into the valley further upstream passing The Den and climbing through Landy Wood on the other side of the valley before heading out to the coast at Bynorth Cliff at Sharhole Point. The route joins the coast path at Cancleave Strand and crosses Millook Common passing Gull Rock and Broad Strand before reaching Millook Mouth and heading down to Millook Haven.

The walk starts with a gentle descent down a lane into Treknow followed by a footpath that leads to Trebarwith Strand. From Trebarwith Strand there is one fairly steep (but reasonably short) ascent on the coast path to the cliffs and then it's fairly flat all the way. The path across the cliffs has magnificent views of Denis Point, Trebarwith Strand, the coastal slate quarries (now colonised by birds and flowers) and Penhallic point. The walk back is through some pleasant fields and lanes.

View of Lundy Bay from the path

This circular walk goes from the beautiful inlet at Port Quin, along the backroads past the Bee Centre at Porteath and then inland towards Lundy Bay. It returns following the coastal path back to Port Quin via Trevan Point and Doyden Point.

The walk starts near the coast at the Lead Mines National Trust car park and heads out onto the coast path. The route follows the coast onto Com headland where there a stunning views of Port Issac Bay. The coast path continues to Rumps Point where you can walk through the fortifications out onto the headland. The coast path continues to Pentire Point where there are views across the Camel Estuary and on to the beach at Pentireglaze. The route finally heads inland at New Polzeath along lanes towards Pentire Farm to complete the circular walk.

The walk runs down the valley and climbs onto the headland above Barrett's Zawn. There is tunnel to the beach through which slate used to be hauled - it's possible to crawl through to the beach though not it's recommended for the feint-hearted. The walk continues along the coast to the ravine at Dannonchapel, heading inland past a ruined farm along footpaths and lanes to the start of the walk.

The walk starts by heading out onto the coast path at Crackington Haven and follows it to the headland at Cambeak passing Bray's Point and Tremoutha Haven. From Cambeak it continues past Little Strand and The Strangles to High Cliff and Voter Run where it climbs over the hill and drops down into a wooded valley. The route follows the river along the floor of the valley through woodland back to Crackington Haven.

The walk starts in Boscastle down the harbour and climbs up on the coast path to Penally Hill. The route then follows the coast passing Little Pentargon, Pentargon Sealhole and Pentargon itself where a waterfall crashes down the cliff. The path then continues along Beeny Cliff passing Seals Hole, Fire Beacon Point and the Beeny Sisters. The final point on the coast path is overlooking the Grey Seal colony at Buckator. The walk then heads inland over the headland and down some small lanes through the valley above Pentargon and down into Peter's Wood in the Valency valley and follows the river Valency down to Boscastle.

The walk starts with a climb out from Boscastle Harbour onto Forrabury Common and joins the coast path passing the medieval field system of "stitches" and the coastguard lookout. The route follows the coast path past the seabird colonies on the rock stacks of Trevalga before descending into Rocky Valley. The walk then follows the river to the top of Rocky Valley and then climbs up to Trethevy where there is a medieval chapel and well. The route from here heads across farmland to Trevalga passing the church and ancient wayside cross before reaching Forabury where there is tea and coffee available in the church before finally descending into Boscastle close to 2 pubs and an excellent bakery.

The walk follows the coast North from Widemouth Bay to Bude passing Phillip's Point Nature reserve over Efford Down up to the tower Compass Point and then along the cliff at Bude Haven to the Bude canal. The walk then follows the canal towpath up to Helebridge where it follows a pleasant route over fields to the coast.

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.

Starting at Lower Halwyn where the road ends, following the Camel Trail, the coastal path and Saint's Way via Little Petherick a quaint Cornish village, through woodland and meadow following Little Petherick Creek back to Padstow and the Camel Trail again.

From Trevone beach the route tracks that taken by many a ship following the rugged Atlantic coast to the daymark at Stepper Point, before turning up the Camel Estuary and passing the infamous Doom Bar, the beautiful sandy expanse of Hawker's and Harbour Coves and finally reaching safe harbour in Padstow. The return route goes through Padstow past the manor house at Prideaux Place along lanes and tracks back to Trevone.

Starting with a bus journey to Boscastle, this route follows the coastal path from Boscastle Harbour until it reaches the coastal slate quarries at Trebarwith Strand before turning inland through Treknow to reach the starting point in Trewarmett

The walks starts by heading out onto the coast path at Rusey Cliff. The route follows the coast path above Rusey Beach and along the top of High Cliff and behind the bizarre folded rock formations of Voter Run. The final stretch of coast path runs behind The Strangles where the walk turns inland to Trevigue. The route follows the lane back to the start of the walk.

The walk starts along the coast from Millook Haven along Penhalt Cliff towards Widemouth Bay then turns inland to Wanson and heads up the Wanson valley across fields to Poundstock where there are some impressive ancient buildings. The route then climbs out of the Wanson valley past Trevisick down into a wooded valley which it follows down to Millook.

The walk runs follows the coast path from the pretty fishing village of Port Quin to Kellan head with spectacular views over the natural harbour. The route follows the rugged coast around to Varley Head to the rocky cove at Pine Haven and on to Lobber Point where there are fantastic views of Port Isaac before descending alongside Port Isaac harbour. The return route is an easy walk through pretty woodland and fields back to Port Quin.

The walk starts at Millook Haven and heads up the valley through the woods. The route climbs out of the valley and heads out the the coast at Dizzard Point. The path skirts across the top of the ancient coastal woodland at Dizzard passing Cancleave Strand and crossing Millook Common before descending to Millook Haven.

The walk climbs up the side of Trebarwith Valley to the tiny Trebarwith Village and descends through fields and onto coastal heath alongside a stream to Backways Cove. In a big winter storm, sea foam collects in the cove and is whipped into foam tornados by the wind. The route then follows the coast path over Denis Point where there are stunning views over Trebarwith Strand and Port Isaac Bay before ending at the Port William pub.

The route descends steeply to the valley floor from Trewarmett with excellent views and climbs the other side valley (also with excellent views) until it reaches Trebarwith Village. From here is a gentle descent through the fields to Backways Cove. From Backways there is a steep ascent of Denis Point followed by an even steeper descent to Trebarwith Strand. From here the route climbs back up Trebarwith Valley to Treknow and Trewarmett.

The route heads up over the West Downs from Tregardock then heads down to the coast at Crookmoyle rock. The route then follows the coast path down a steep valley at Jacket's Point and up the very steep ridge on the other side. The path then runs behind Trerubies Cove to Tregardock Beach which you can get to at low tide. From the beach there's a short walk back uphill to the start of the route.

The walk descends steeply to the valley floor from Trewarmett with excellent views and climbs the other side valley (also with excellent views). From here there is a long gentle descent through fields and farms to Tregardock Beach. From Tregardock the route joins the coast path over "The Mountain" before a steep descent to Backways Cove. From Backways there is a gentle ascent of the valley followed by gentle descent into Trebarwith valley with nice views up the valley, to the valley floor. The final stretch takes you back up the other side of the valley through Trebarwith Valley Nature Reserve to the fields in Treknow from which there are more spectacular views across the valley in the other direction.

Starting with a bus journey to Port Isaac the route follows the coast path to Trebarwith Strand before turning inland through Treknow to reach the starting point in Trewarmett