Pentire's Picks of the South West Coast Path
The South West Coast Path offers some of the most spectacular hiking in the UK
and we are fortunate to have the best of it right on our doorstep here in Cornwall. Here are our best bits...
Polzeath to The Rumps around Pentire Point.
Taking in the stunning Pentire headland, this is a circular walk starting at the National Trust car park at Pentireglaze – the old lead mine – and heading out on the coast path towards the prehistoric defence site of The Rumps. Follow the coast path round to Pentire Point for glorious views over Padstow Bay and the Camel Estuary, keeping your eyes peeled for wildlife on the coastal cliffs.
Picnic spot: Take in the view towards The Mouls from The Rumps, stop at Pentire Point or head down onto the beach at Polzeath
Polzeath to St Enodoc Church
The walk starts at Polzeath beach and follows the coast path, known as "The Greenaway", around past a number of small beaches with purple-and-green pinstripe rocks and many rockpools to explore at low tide
Picnic Spot: Find a patch on Trebetherick Point and overlook the remains
Rock To St Minver
This longer route follows the dunes from Rock to Daymer Bay opposite the Doom Bar, then passes St Enodoc Church - the burial place of Sir John Betjeman - on its way inland to the pretty village of St Minver with its characteristic (and slightly wonky) church spire.
Picnic Spot: Set up on Brea beach for a sunny snack on the sand
Padstow to Harbour Cove
If you find yourself on the other side of the estuary, this walk is fantastic while still not too long. The walk starts along the harbour and then winds through Padstow's streets to reach the ancient church and Prideaux Place, once the site of St Petroc's monastery. The walk continues via Tregirls Farm to the Doom Bar where hundreds of ships have been wrecked.
Constantine Bay to Porthcothan
The route follows the coast from Constantine Bay to Treyarnon beach, then past a series of deep inlets to the sheltered, sandy beach at Porthcothan. The return route is fairly quick, via some lanes, so you can linger on the coastal stretch and explore the headlands between the inlets, or the beaches at low tide.