Polruan & Lanteglos Church from Pencarrow
Cornwall AONB Walk
Region - Cornwall AONB
County/Area - Cornwall
Author - Lou Johnson
Length - 4.3 miles / 6.9 km Ascent - 900 feet / 273 metres
Time - 3 hours 0 minutes Grade - easy/mod
Maps
Ordnance Survey Explorer 107 | Sheet Map | 1:25k | BUY |
Anquet OS Explorer 107 | Digital Map | 1:25k | BUY |
Ordnance Survey Landranger 200 | Sheet Map | 1:50k | BUY |
Anquet OS Landranger 200 | Digital Map | 1:50k | BUY |
Ordnance Survey Landranger 201 | Sheet Map | 1:50k | BUY |
Anquet OS Landranger 201 | Digital Map | 1:50k | BUY |
Walk Route Description
Click image to see photo description.
This walk combines coastal, estuary and rural walking in a short but enjoyable route. As an added bonus you visit the village of Polruan, which is situated across the River Fowey from Fowey village. Polruan unlike its opposite cousin has suffered little from commercialisation and retains much of the charm you would expect from a harbour village.
The start is the National Trust car park at Pencarrow (Grid ref. SX 149513). Exit the car park and make for the main road. Turn right along this road for 200 metres and go left over a stile. The path crosses a field heading towards Pencarrow Head. Reaching another stile you can either go straight ahead and enjoy the views from Pencarrow Head or turn right to continue on the main route. Note - should you decide to visit the headland then retrace your steps to this stile.
You are now on the South West Coast Path and like much of its route it switchbacks up and down making it much harder than the map might suggest! To your left, nearly 300 feet below, are Great Lantic Beach and Little Lantic Beach. These can be reached by a steep path, which requires plenty of energy for the climb back to the cliff tops. The coastal path leads on past Blackbottle Rock before joining a road on the southern outskirts of Polruan. Descend into the village to reach the quay where the ferry to Fowey departs.
The village has a few shops, pubs and restaurants and is a pleasant place to spend some time. From the ferry head east along the street running parallel with the shore. A signed footpath leads to "The Hills". At first it is a narrow lane but after climbing some steps on the right it leaves the houses behind and climbs steeply offering fine views of Fowey River to your left.
After entering some pleasant woodland, the path reaches a track. Turn right here for a few yards before picking up the continuation of the footpath on your left. Follow this, keeping to the upper path to reach a road. Turn left with the wall to your right and follow this path as it descends steeply down to the head of a creek to reach the road again. Turn left along the lane to locate a grassy track on your right. This climbs steeply to reach Lanteglos-by-Fowey church. Leave the churchyard and head east along the lane, which climbs gently and soon reaches the starting point of the walk.
Other walks nearby
Walk 2342 | Gribbin Head & Polkerris from Polruan | moderate | 8.5 miles |
Walk 1030 | Fowey & Gribbin Head | moderate | 8.0 miles |
Walk 3112 | Soar Mill Cove & Bolt Head from Higher Soar | easy/mod | 6.5 miles |
Walk 3606 | Berry Down from St Neot | easy/mod | 5.6 miles |
Walk 1783 | Gorran Haven & Dodman Point | easy/mod | 5.0 miles |
Walk 2247 | Draynes Bridge & Siblyback Lake | easy/mod | 5.0 miles |
Walk 1033 | Dodman Point & Gorran Haven | mod/hard | 11.0 miles |
Walk 1027 | Nare Head & Portloe | moderate | 7.0 miles |
Walk 1883 | Advent Church | easy | 5.2 miles |
Walk 1808 | Brown Willy, exploring Cornwall's highest Tors | easy/mod | 4.0 miles |
Recommended Books & eBooks
South West Coast Path Map Booklet - Minehead to St Ives
Map of the northern section of the 630 mile (1014km) South West Coast Path National Trail. Covers the trail from Minehead to St Ives along the north Devon and Cornish coastline. This convenient and compact booklet of Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps shows the route, providing all of the mapping you need to walk the trail in either direction.
More information
The South West Coast Path
Guidebook 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.
More information
Mountain Weather
Stay safe on the mountains with detailed weather forecasts - for iOS devices or for Android devices.