Around the Dodman - a short walk using the South West Coast Path



Short Walks (up to one day) Suitable for Heritage Suitable for Wildlife Suitable for Scenery
Walk name: Around the Dodman
: National Trust car park at Penare
Finish location: National Trust car park at Penare
Distance: 3 miles (5km)
Grade Easy/Moderate
Terrain Mostly level with short climbs and three stiles.
Circular Walk: Yes
Free from obstacles & steep gradients: No

Walk description:

From the car park, walk up hill and take the farm track ahead of you. Follow this through the first gate and continue up the track. Just past a donations box there is what appears to be a headstone against the hedge. There are many stories about this but the most likely explanation is that it is a memorial to two children of a local coastguard officer, who died at birth.

Continue up the track and through the gate at the end. You are now standing in the ditch of an Iron Age fortification. This is the longest ditch and rampart of any cliff castle in Cornwall, stretching an impressive 900m from cliff to cliff, and raising to 6m at its highest point.

Turn right along the ditch and follow it for around ¼ of a mile. At the end of the ditch turn left onto the Coast Path. From here you should be able to see as far as Black Head on the Lizard. The cliffs around Dodman Point are being grazed by Dexter cattle to help protect the wildlife and archaeology of the site.

Ahead you will see Dodman Cross erected by the Rev. Martin of Cearhayes in 1896 as a navigational aid for boats heading for Falmouth.

A few steps beyond the cross you are at the highest point on the South Cornwall coast and magnificent views open up in all directions. On a clear day you can see as far as the Lizard to the west and Bolt Tail in South Devon away to the east. Looking northwards you will see the clay country around St. Austell, Carn Brea, the massifs of Bodmin Moor and Dartmoor and even St Agnes Beacon on the north coast. Continue along the Coast Path and crossing the next stile you enter a large field which is full of historical and wildlife interest. It contains the remains of a mediaeval strip field system and two Bronze age burial mounds. In addition it is being managed under Higher Level Stewardship as unimproved grassland, and is a good place to look for wild flowers. There is open access throughout these fields so feel free to roam (remember to leave all gates as you find them).

The Coast Path runs along the eastern side of the field and exits by a stile. In a short while you will come to a junction. To return to the start of the walk turn left, walking along the ditch of the Bulwark again. Go through a gate and turn right, then follow the lane back to the car park.

Public transport information:
For details visit Traveline or
phone 0871 200 22 33.
Toilets:
Gorran Haven
Nearest Car parks:
National Trust Car park at Penare
Postcode for Sat Nav's PL26 6NY
Nearest refreshments:
Gorran Haven
Further Information:
National Trust Coast of Cornwall leaflet number 20. Tourist Information Centre St Austell, Tel: 0870 4450244.
OS Explorer Map number: 105


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PICTURE: Approaching Dodman Point. Photographer Ted Foreman.
Approaching Dodman Point. Photographer Ted Foreman.

Click to enlarge
Click map to enlarge This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. The Countryside Agency. Licence Number: 100018881
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