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Porthgwarra & St Levan Circular

Cornwall AONB Walk

Region - Cornwall AONB

County/Area - Cornwall

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 4.8 miles / 7.8 km    Ascent - 660 feet / 200 metres

Time - 3 hours 0 minutes    Grade - easy

Maps Ordnance Survey Logo Anquet Maps Logo

Ordnance Survey Explorer 102Sheet Map1:25kBUY
Anquet OS Explorer 102Digital Map1:25kBUY

Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Porthgwarra & St Levan Circular
Click image to see photo description.

Walk from Porthgwarra which lies west of Porthcurno exploring the coast and countryside. The route follows a section of the South West Coast Path between St Levan and Higher Bosistow with rugged cliffs and fine coastal scenery. The inland section of the walk uses paths and tracks across the rolling countryside in this beautiful part of Cornwall.

The walk starts from the pay and display car park at Porthgwarra (grid ref. SW371218) which is reached by a lane from the B3315 at Polgigga. After parking walk towards the sea and just before the road bends sharp left join the South West Coast Path signed on the right. After a short climb, the path undulates along the cliff tops to round Gwennap Head with the National Coastwatch observation post a prominent feature. Stay on the coast for a further two kilometres to reach the promontory of Carn Les Boel which was the site of an Iron Age Fort (grid ref. SW357232).

After exploring the remains of the fort return to the coast path and go straight across. And head in an easterly direction to a gate (grid ref. SW363232). Continue along the enclosed path soon passing a house on the right. Continue ahead to the group of buildings at Higher Bosistow. Just before the buildings turn right onto a clear track. This track is followed for just under a kilometre to a lane. Turn right along the lane and continue past Arden-Sawah Farm on your right. Continue to where the lane bends right. ignore the overgrown footpath on the left and continue for another 100 metres to the next footpath on the left (grid ref. SW373228). The well-used path heads in a southeasterly direction across fields crossing stiles along the way. To help with navigation aim for the church tower at St Levan.

Reaching a lane with the church opposite, turn right and after 100 metres fork right off the lane at a fingerpost along a track (signed to the coast path), Reaching a house on the left continue ahead to join a path. The path crosses a stream and shortly after reaches a junction (grid ref. SW379221). Keep right here and continue along the right-hand side of a field to re-join the South West Coast Path. The path soon starts to descend and leads to the sea at Porthgwarra and the end of the walk.

Other walks nearby

Walk 1226 Land's End & Sennen Cove from Porthcurnomoderate6.5 miles
Walk 2614 St Loy's Cove & Logan Rockmoderate8.5 miles
Walk 2354 Merry Maidens & Lamorna Coveeasy4.1 miles
Walk 1225 Sennen Cove & Botallack from St Justmoderate7.5 miles
Walk 2616 The moors and hills of Penwithmoderate14.0 miles
Walk 1028 Chun Quoit and Botallackmoderate8.0 miles
Walk 2205 Newlyn - a village traileasy1.0 miles
Walk 3325 Chun Quoit & Carn Kenidjack easy4.0 miles
Walk 1224 Men-an-tol & Ding Dong Mineeasy3.0 miles
Walk 2207 Penzance - a town strolleasy1.5 miles

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The South West Coast Path

The South West Coast PathGuidebook to walking the entire South West Coast Path National Trail. The route runs for 630 miles from Minehead to Poole along the north Devon, Cornish, south Devon and Dorset coastline. Divided into 45 stages, this long-distance coastal trek could be completed within 4 weeks, or walked in sections. Guide includes maps and essential information.
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South West Coast Path Map Booklet - St Ives to Plymouth

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