Walks and Accessibility

Padstow can get very busy in summer and the car parks soon fill up otherwise no problem. The obvious walk is along the Trail, but a nice alternative is to take the footpath from Dennis Cove, past Queen Victoria's monument and up Little Petherick Creek to the village of Little Petherick. Cross the bridge, back down the other side of the creek to Sea Mills. Here you have to circle inland up to Tregonce (the houses on the hill), back onto the Camel Trail, over the Iron Bridge and back to Padstow.

Alternatively you go walk the other way towards the sea to the war memorial which overlooks the outer estuary. Down to George's Well and the beach. Continue on to Tregirls beach and up eventually to Stepper Point at the mouth of the river. Walk round the headland, back along the road, down to Tregirls beach via a car park (a big field) and return to Padstow.

On the road out of Padstow towards Trevone you will see a very small turning to Crugmere on the right. Drive for about 2 miles until you see the sea on your left at a right hand bend. Here you can park, walk left down towards the sea. Keep going towards Trevone until you come to the Kittiwake colony, you can't miss it. There usually a Peregrine around as well; magnificent scenery. You could also go up onto Gunver Head and walk as far as you like towards Stepper Point before returning along the road to your motor. Alternative parking can be found further along the road towards Stepper for direct access to Stepper Point or you may wish to park in the field car park for Tregirls beach.

On the Camel Trail there are few provisions for parking. It's either Padstow, Wadebridge or Old Town Cove. Old Town Cove is not easy to find. From Wadebridge, take the Padstow road for about half a mile and take the first right. Follow the road and after about 2 miles of careful driving watch for a right turn to Old Town Cove. Keep going until you drop down a very rough track into OTC itself. There is parking for about 20 cars, watch out for thieves. I have mentioned Tregunna on other pages and I really would not advise parking there. It is a long way down a nasty track from the Quarryman pub at Edmundton, and a long way up again if up can't park there as it is only possible for two cars to squeeze in against the bridge.

Up the Trail from Wadebridge towards Bodmin there is parking at Polbrock on the bridge for 8 cars and Grogley Halt for about 15 cars, watch out for thieves.
There is a nice walk through Gaff wood especially in spring when the Bluebells are out that will lead you back on to the trail at Polbrock.

For access to Great Hustyn Downs, take the Ruthern road from Polbrock until you see a forestry road on your right. Bear in mind this is a working forest with big lorries coming down the road so watch your timing. Go in the evening when it's quiet. Walk up the zig zag road for an eternity until eventually you will be able to see all over North Cornwall. It is a lovely walk on a warm summer June night, we used to go looking for Nightjars there in the late 80s but none have been seen recently.

If you are planning to walk up the trail towards Bodmin there a lots of nice footpaths around Nanstallon to explore, I wouldn't attempt to give any directions it is more fun to just get lost.

Back on the Trail walking towards Bodmin, there is an obvious track to the right that will lead you towards Bodmin. If you take it you will find yourself at the Borough Arms at Dunmere, a welcome watering Hole. Here there is a large car park at the back of the pub for users of the Camel trail. Parking for about 100 cars.

The only other site where parking is available is at Pooleys Bridge where there is plenty of parking and not much else.

On the other side of the Estuary you will find footpaths galore, take your pick. Two worth mentioning are Pentire head and the Port Quin to Port Isaac trek.

Pentire : Head towards Polzeath from Wadebridge and then the right fork to New Polzeath. There is a National Trust car park on the left where a footpath leads down to Lundy Bay. When you reach the coast path after walking through bushes filled warblers and butterflies in spring I is worth while turning right and walking down to the beach before returning to take the left turning and walk over Pentire head with many opportunities to take short cuts back to your car.

Instead of parking in that car park alternatively proceed on towards New Polzeath and you will come to a right turn by a house. Don't worry if you miss it take the next right. Proceed until the two roads eventually meet at Pentire Farm the N.T. office. Derek Lord is the warden, a good birder and artist. Tall with a beard. Call in the office and tell him on the way back if you have seen anything interesting. Carry on past the farm to the Lead Mine car park or onwards towards Pentire Farm itself where there is room for about 20 cars. (Parking £1)

You can walk all over the many footpaths that cross Pentire head, please bear in mind it is a working farm.

If you are planning to visit Rumps Point for a sea watch it is well worth stopping at the Lead Mine car park first. Walk up (20 yds) to look out to sea overlooking Mouls Island, and from there you should be able to see the large birds passing the island. Gannets are easily seen, but you should also be able to see Scoters and just about be able to make out Manx Shearwaters. If you can't see them, forget it, the wind's in the wrong direction.

One other tip. For perfect sea watching conditions, if you are lucky to catch a sea fog off shore, this has the effect of pushing passing birds close in shore for spectacular views. I've only experienced it once, it was incredible.

Several people each year get washed into the sea during heavy seas because they have misjudged the waves and got too close to the sea. The local fisherman will go down onto the rocks during bad weather because the fish are driven inshore. What they do is to wait 30 minutes, watching where the biggest wave reaches before going down to set up above that point. Even then I have seen an occasion when a sudden wave came up from nowhere and threw them against the rocks. The best views on the Rumps are from up top out of the wind behind a rock.

Port Quin to Port Isaac : This is hard. It has a lot of ups and downs. It is only about 2 miles as the crow flies but with all the extra it feels like 6 miles. If you have access to two cars, park one at Port Isaac in the top car park, do not try to drive down into Port Isaac it's very narrow and gets very busy. Return to park in Port Quin and walk to P.Isaac. (There's no pub in Port Quin.). The turning to Port Quin is at St. Endellion. (The farm there sells fantastic ice cream). Drive down the road for about 2 miles, fork right when the road turns left and down into Port Quin. (Drive towards the sea) The road is narrow and has bad bends, take it very slow especially near Port Quin. Parking is in the N.T. car park.

The birds are not abundant on this walk until you get to Port Isaac but the views are fantastic. Sitting on top of the headlands looking out over a sunlit bay in May or June makes life worth living.

On Varley Head you will notice that there is a large colony of House Martins nesting on the cliff, something you don't often see.

In Port Isaac you drop down straight into a wonderful pub with excellent food. Big John runs the local Post office just up the hill and is a wonderful cornish character. Tall, with a waxed moustache and a great big smile on his face. He and his chums sing cornish fishing songs on the quay outside the pub on summer evenings. (Recommended). If you then wish to return from Port Isaac by the circular route inland it is quicker, but not very interesting.

Another worthwhile series of guided walks to look out for is those lead by Malcolm Lee of Gull Rock, Port Gavernne, (next to Port Isaac). Malcolm is very good on insects especially moths. He leads walks during the summer featuring all aspects a life in Port Isaac/Port Gavernne, both Natural and Local history. They are very good.

That's it, I think I hope you find this useful. All feedback welcome. lawson@btinternet.com