Section: Mevagissey to Par

Length: 11 miles (17km)

Distance from Minehead to Mevagissey: 362.1

Distance from Par to Poole: 260.3

Grading: Strenuous to easy

Height gained (and also lost): 2326ft (709M)

Summary:

The day begins in the fishing town of Mevagissey, but try not to spend too long wandering the streets and waterfront as a Path of roller coaster climbs awaits! High cliffs pass rocky coves between Pentewan and Charlestown produces dramatic scenery, but tiring walking. The inland china clay works around St Austell come in and out of view. The clay industry boomed in the 19th century, resulting in the formation of the ‘Cornish Alps’, and continues today with 80% used to make paper. There are many steps to climb along this stretch as the Path continues to rise and fall past Phoebe’s Point and Silvermine Point. Charlestown, with its beautiful historic harbour and quay, provides a welcome spot for rest and refreshment before the final stretch of the journey to Par. A diversion around china clay works at Par, where the 19th century docks still serve to export china clay, leads you to the pubs and cafes and large expanse of beach at Par Sands.

Highlights along the path:

• Stocking up on refreshments in the interesting, narrow streets of Mevagissey.
• Views of undulating fields and white stretch of Pentewan Beach beyond.
• The extensive views from Black Head: a humped, windswept promontory which is the site of an Iron Age cliff castle. There is a memorial stone here to the Cornish poet A.L. Rowse.
• Walking through the woodland which runs down to Hallane Mill Beach: a good place for a picnic.
• The woodland of Ropehaven Cliffs: a Cornwall Wildlife Trust Reserve and a good place to spot nesting fulmars. According to the CWT, fossils found in the rocks here indicate that 400 million years ago Ropehaven lay beneath tropical seas.
• Emerging from the trees at Ropehaven to fantastic views of the Path twisting around the cliffs ahead.
• Charlestown: Charlestown Harbour still remains relatively untouched by development and so has been a very important film and TV location over the years. It was used in the filming of the 1976 World War II drama The Eagle Has Landed, the 1975-77 romantic drama Poldark and the 1970s series The Onedin Line. The Shipwreck and Heritage Centre on Quay Road has many artefacts from shipwrecks and one of the largest underwater diving equipment collections in the country. Open from March to November from 10 am til 5 pm. Tel: 01726 69897.
• The National Coastwatch Station on Landrion Point.
• Exploring the dunes of Par Sands.
• Views ahead from Polmear to Gribbin Head.

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

• The Lost Gardens of Heligan:Britain's largest ever garden restoration project. Open daily Tel: 01726 845120.
• THe World famous biomes at the Eden Project
.
• The Wheal Martyn China Clay Heritage Centre
tells the history of one of Cornwall’s most important industries.

Shorter option:

Charlestown (7.3 miles, 11.7 km)

Longer option:

Fowey (an additional 6.8 miles, 10.9 km)

Public transport info:


St Austell has a mainline train station. First Cornwall 26 and 26B run regularly from St Austell to Mevagissey, as does the Western Greyhound 526 bus service. The very regular 26 bus goes from Mevagissey to Par via Pentewan and St Austell. For details visit Traveline or phone 0870 6082608.

Refreshments:


You can stock up on refreshments at the beginning of the walk in the shops of Mevagissey, otherwise you will need to make the most of the few facilities in Pentewan as walking to Charlestown can be hard work. There may be some refreshments available at Porthpean. Par has a couple of shops, pubs and cafes.

Nearest Car park:

Mevagissey (Postcode for Sat Navs: PL26 6UQ), just before Gwendra Point, Porthpean, Charlestown, inland in St Austell and Par.

Toilets:

Mevagissey, Pentewan, Charlestown and Par.

More information:

Mevagissey Tourist Information Centre tel: 01726 844857. St Austell Tourist Information Centre tel: 0845 094 0428 or 01726 879500.

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