Section: Port Isaac to Padstow

Length: 12 miles (19km)

Distance from Minehead to Port Isaac: 155.1

Distance from Padstow to Poole: 466.3

Grading: Strenuous to easy

Height gained (and also lost): 2802ft (854m)

Summary:

The Coast Path follows some truly beautiful, unspoiled sections of coast, including the remote inlet of Pine Haven and the historic promontory known as The Rumps. Views from here are spectacular. A strenuous first half to Polzeath, crossing small valleys and winding round exposed headlands, is followed by an easy walk and ferry crossing into Padstow. Once home to the composer Malcolm Arnold, Padstow is an idyllic, Cornish fishing town with beautiful surroundings and has been used as a backdrop for many films and television programmes, including the 70’s film The Eagle Has Landed, which was filmed in the sand dunes at Rock. Padstow is also home to a fine selection of cafes and restaurants such as Rick Stein’s famous seafood restaurant, making it the perfect place to end a day of walking the South West Coast Path.

Highlights along the path:

• Views from Lobber Point back over Port Isaac and Tintagel church and castle beyond.
• Portquin: a natural harbour. This little village is also referred to as ‘the village that died’ due to the disappearance of all of the men of the village sometime in the 19th century. It is thought that they all drowned at sea whilst fishing, forcing the women to abandon their homes.
• Doyden Castle: a 19th century folly built on Doyden point, now a holiday home owned by the National Trust.
• The old antimony mines at Gilson’s Cove.
• Having a snack on Lundy Beach: a beautiful sandy cove with rock pools and caves and a natural arch known as Lundy Hole.
• The spectacular views from Carnweather Point across Port Quin Bay to The Rumps and out to The Mouls.
• Standing at the Iron Age fort on Rumps Point and looking out to the offshore rocks known as Sevensouls and the Mouls. Excavations have revealed that the fort once had stone faced ramparts and circular houses at the headland, as well as pottery made from clay from the Lizard.
• Pentire Point: From here there are magnificent views of Padstow Bay to the south and west and fine examples of pillow lava leading to the Rumps behind you.
• The Doom Bar: shifting sands resulted in the formation of a sand bar at the mouth of the Camel Estuary, which makes entering the port very difficult. The Doom Bar has been responsible for hundreds of wrecks. Could it really be the result of a mermaid’s curse?.
• The views of and from the Bronze Age tumuli of Brea Hill.
• Watching the surfers at Hayle Bay.
• Taking the ferry from Rock across the river Camel to Padstow.

Worth a look (interesting places close to the path):

• Porteath Bee Centre, St Minver, is a beekeeping business with a shop, exhibition and café serving homemade produce. Tel: 01208 863718 Opening: 10-5, 7 days a week. The centre is a Big Barn member.
• 13th century St Enodoc’s Church, standing above Daymer Bay, is where Sir John Betjeman is buried.
• St Petroc’s Church above Padstow is the starting point of The Saint’s Way, which is one of Cornwall’s oldest walking routes, said to originate from the Bronze Age. There have been three churches over fourteen centuries on this site, the first built by Petroc in the 6th century.
• The National Lobster Hatchery,Padstow with resident giant lobster Dai the Claw, open 7 days a week from 10am.

Shorter option:

Polzeath (8.9 miles, 14.3 km)

Longer option:

Continue to Trevone (5.7 miles, 9.2 km)

Public transport info:

Plymouth has a mainline train station. From Plymouth you can take a train to Bodmin and then catch the Western Greyhound 555 bus on to Wadebridge. You are then able to continue on this bus to Padstow or take one of the regular buses from Wadebridge to Port Isaac. The ferry from Rock to Padstow runs on demand almost every day of the year, except Sundays in the winter. For further information visit Traveline or phone 0870 6082608.

Refreshments:

Port Isaac and Padstow have a good selection of pubs, restaurants, shops and cafes. Establishments that serve local produce include Taste of the West members The Chough Bakery on Padstow’s quayside, with its award winning pasties, and The Metropole Hotel on Station Road, Padstow, with restaurant and café/bar serving cream teas. Tel: 01841 532486. There is a tearoom at the Porteath Bee Centre (see above) and refreshments can be found in Polzeath and Rock and also in high season in Port Quin.

Nearest Car park:

Port Isaac (Postcode for Sat Navs: PL29 3RT)Port Quin, inland from Lundy Hole, Pentireglaze, Hayle Bay, Polzeath, Daymer Bay, Rock and Padstow.

Toilets:

Port Isaac, Hayle Bay, Daymer Bay, Rock and Padstow.

More information:

There is often a mobile visitor centre in the main car park above Port Isaac. Padstow Tourist Information Centre Tel: 01841 533449.

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