Section: Porthcothan to Newquay

Length: 10 miles (16km)

Distance from Minehead to Porthcothan: 180.5

Distance from Newquay to Poole: 442.3

Grading: Moderate

Height gained (and also lost): 1755ft (535m)

Summary:

This stretch of coast, with it’s vicious rocks and wild seas, was once particularly hazardous for ships and responsible for many wrecks before the lighthouse was built at Trevose Head. The Coast Path leads you in and out of little coves and headlands with generally fairly easy walking, with some steep steps to climb in places. This stretch can be quite populated, especially as you approach the busy holiday resort of Newquay, however you can also feel a sense of escape when looking out to sea from one of the many headlands, such as the windswept Park Head which also offers fantastic views of the famous Bedruthan Steps. Local legend, fed to the Victorian tourists who loved this area, told of the Cornish giant Bedruthan who used the stacks as stepping-stones to cross the bay. If you feel like a picnic break and the tide is out, you may be tempted to take the long flight of steps down to explore the stacks as well as the many pools and caves on the beach.

Highlights along the path:

• Looking out to Trescore Islands and maybe seeing bottlenose dolphins.
• Walking out to enjoy the fantastic views from Park Head: a prominent windswept, greenstone headland which is the site of an Iron Age cliff castle. You may see oystercatchers from here.
• The Bedruthan Steps, owned by the National Trust, are pillars of rock which rise from the sands of Bedruthan Beach. This was a popular holiday location during the Victorian period. One of the stacks is named The Samaritan after the cargo ship of the same name which was wrecked here in 1846, providing the locals with barrels of food and silks.
• Griffin’s Point Iron age cliff castle.
• The 3 miles of sand at Watergate Bay, backed by huge cliffs alive with bird life.
• The hillfort on Trevelgue Head with Iron Age earthworks still visible despite heavy erosion.
• Barrowfields: This stretch was clearly important to our ancient ancestors as many barrows or tumuli have been identified here.
• Enjoying refreshments at the end of your day and maybe watching the famous surfers of Fistral Beach.

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

• Mawgan Porth church: dating from the 13th century, it has many interesting features such as a beautifully carved 15th century rood screen, eight bells in the belfry, including one original medieval bell, and the stern of a rowing boat in the churchyard in memory of ten men who froze to death and drifted ashore in 1846.

Shorter option:

Mawgan Porth (4.4 miles, 7.2 km)

Longer option:

As Newquay is so busy in contrast to the earlier cliff walking you may be tempted to walk further and find somewhere quieter to stay around Pentire or Holywell.

Public transport info:

There are a number of train and bus services running between Plymouth and the Newquay area, including the direct National Express Coach service 505 and the First Great Western trains to Par and then Newquay. The Western Greyhound 556 bus service runs hourly between Porthcothan and Newquay. For details visit Traveline or phone 0870 6082608.

Refreshments:

Bre-Pen Farm Shop at Mawgan Porth is a Taste of the West member and specialises in selling local and own meat and vegetables, free-range eggs, home made cakes and jams. There is also a tearoom for cream teas and light snacks. Open 10-6 every day. Tel: 01637 860420. Newquay has numerous restaurants, shops, pubs and cafes to choose from. Establishments that serve local produce include Taste of the West members The Headland Hotel on Fistral Beach which serves locally sourced fresh produce in their Sand brasserie or restaurant, Tel: 01637 87221. Rock Island Bistro on Alexander Road, Porth, Newquay is a family run restaurant overlooking the beach, tel: 01637 877271, and Morris Pasties has an award winning Cornish pasty selection, 3 Gover Lane, Newquay.

Nearest Car park:

Porthcothan (Postcode for Sat Navs: PL28 8LW), above Bedruthan Steps, Carnewas Point, Mawgan Porth, Watergate Beach and Newquay.

Toilets:

Porthcothan, Carnewas Point, Mawgan Porth, Watergate Beach and Newquay.

More information:

Newquay Tourist Information Centre Tel: 01637 854020.

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