Independent Trails: Fact File.SCOR 2
Total distance:
76 miles (122km)
Duration: 8 nights, 7 days walking (hiking)
Minimum/maximum daily distances: 7 miles (11km)/13 miles (21km)
Average daily distance: 10 ½ miles (17km)
Waymarking: The route is very clearly waymarked with South
West Coast Path National Trail acorn waymarks and is very easy to follow.
Season: All year
Starting point of holiday: Falmouth
End of holiday: Plymouth
Code: SCOR 2
Itinerary
Day 1: Travel to Falmouth where your first nights accommodation has been booked.
Day 2: Falmouth
to Portloe. 13 miles (21km)
The tour begins by catching the ferry across Carrick Roads to St Mawes. Near
the harbour stands St Mawes Castle, which, like Pendennis Castle across the
water, was built by Henry VIII when he began to look to his Kingdom's defences
after his excommunication. Built to a clover-leaf design, with a central round
keep and three semi-circular bastions, the castle owes its excellent condition
to its early surrender during the Civil War. After visiting the castle, another
ferry takes you across the Percuil River to the start of the trail. From the
beautiful little church of St Anthony, the path winds around St Anthony Head,
with glorious views across Carrick Roads from St Mawes to Pendennis Castles,
to the pretty village of Portscatho. From Portscatho, the coast path meanders
around Gerrans Bay past Veryan Castle, the largest Bronze Age barrow in Britain,
to Nare Head, which provides sensational views across Veryan Bay to the rocky
headland of Dodman Point, notorious for its shipwrecks. After Nare Head the
path winds around secluded coves to the beautiful and unspoilt fishing village
of Portloe. Fronted by jagged black rocks that throw up fountains of spray,
its tiny harbour is very cramped - which explains why in the 17 years a lifeboat
was stationed here it did not perform a single rescue: in stormy weather the
narrow entrance was too dangerous to negotiate.
Day 3:
Portloe to Mevagissey. 12 miles (19km).
Passing the twin villages of West and East Portholland, each crouching before
a beach and in its own valley, the path continues along the cliffs to Porthluney
Cove, a beautiful sandy beach overlooked by the picturesque mansion of Caerhays
Castle. After another beautiful and secluded sandy cove, the path reaches Dodman
Point, crowned by a stark granite cross erected by a local parson as a seamark
in 1896. On the headland is an extensive Iron Age fort, defended by a great
earthwork or Baulk cutting right across the point. Skirting Vault Beach, the
path winds around Maenease Point to the harbour and old fishing village of Gorran
Haven. Pleasant walking along cliff top paths lead around Chapel Point to the
bustling fishing port of Mevagissey. Its attractive harbour, lively waterfront,
quaint shops and maze of narrow backstreets, make it a captivating place.
Day 4: Mevagissey
to Charlestown. 7 miles (11km)
From Mevagissey, the coast path winds around Penare Point to the small harbour
at Pentewan. Beyond Pentewan exhilarating walking along cliff top paths around
Black Head, a glorious viewpoint crowned with an impressive Iron Age cliff castle,
ends at the picturesque Georgian harbour of Charlestown filled with square-rigged
sailing ships. Behind the harbour is the fascinating Visitor Centre and Shipwreck
Museum.
Day 5:
Charlestown to Fowey. 10 miles (16km)
Rounding St Austell Bay, the path arrives at the charming and quite unspoilt
fishing village of Polkerris. From here cliff top paths lead around Gribbin
Head, a fine viewpoint crowned with a huge red and white candy-striped Daymark,
to the sandy coves at Polridmouth. The beach house here was the inspiration
for Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca. 'Manderley' is actually Menabilly, up the valley
from the cove, where the author lived for several years. Just before Fowey,
the path passes the ruin of St. Catherines Castle, another of Henry VIII's coastal
defences. Situated at the mouth of a deepwater inlet Fowey has a long maritime
history. In the 14th and 15th centuries, ships from Fowey, the 'Fowey Gallants',
constantly raided the French coast - and continued to do so even after Edward
IV had made peace with the French! Today, ships enter the estuary to load china
clay and the harbour throngs with yachts and cabin cruisers.
Day 6:
Fowey to Looe. 13 miles (21km)
After crossing the Fowey Estuary by ferry to the attractive village of Polruan,
which provided glorious views of the historic port, the coast path meanders
around a series of little headlands and combes to the village of Polperro. Once
heavily involved in fishing by day and smuggling by night, the village is a
picturesque jumble of tightly packed whitewashed cottages that spill down the
hillside to the quay on the inner harbour. From Polperro another outstanding
stretch of coastline ends at Looe. Looe consists of two towns, East and West
Looe, joined by a seven-arched Victorian bridge across the River Looe. West
Looe is built around the 14th century church of St. Nicholas. The tower has
a campanile belfry that contained, up to the early 19th century a 'scolds cage'
in which nagging wives were placed. St Mary's Church in East Looe has a 13th
century tower that used to be whitewashed as a landmark for ships entering the
port. The Old Guildhall Museum is a fascinating building containg prisoner's
cells, raised magistrates benches and a display of local history; outside are
the old stocks and pillory.
Day 7:
Looe to Portwrinkle. 9 miles (14.5km)
Beyond Millendreath Beach the path climbs up to the top of Bodigga Cliff to
follow a path through delightful woodland before descending to the sea at Seaton.
From here the path follows the beach past the village of Downderry, and then
zigzags up to the top of Battern Cliffs, at 461ft (141m) the highest in South
Cornwall. From here the path continues around Whitsand Bay to the pleasant little
fishing village of Portwrinkle.
Day 8: Portwrinkle
to Plymouth. 12 miles (19km)
From Portwrinkle the coast path follows the broad sweep of Whitsand Bay to the
fine viewpoint of Rame Head, which is crowned by a sturdy chapel and an Iron
Age fort, and then continues around the headland, with some fine views over
the huge breakwater in the middle of Plymouth Sound, to the attractive fishing
village of Cawsand and its neighbour, Kingsand. After meandering through the
beautiful gardens of Mount Edgcumbe House, the path arrives at Cremyll and the
ferry for Plymouth.
For more than 700 years, Plymouth's fortunes have been linked to the sea. The
Elizabethan sailors and adventurers Hawkins, Raleigh and Frobisher began their
voyages from here and Sir Francis Drake is said to have finished his game of
bowls on The Hoe before setting sail to defeat the Spanish Armada. The Pilgrim
Fathers sailed from Plymouth in 1620, as did the explorer James Cook in 1772.
Places of interest include Plymouth Hoe, a vast esplanade dotted with reminders
of the great events in the city's history; Smeaton's Tower; the Royal Citadel,
built in 1666 to intimidate the people of the only town in the southwest to
support the Parliamentarians during the Civil War; Sutton Harbour, the old town's
quay; and the Elizabethan House, a captain's house with a beautiful pole staircase.
Day 9:
Depart from Plymouth after breakfast.
Extra nights/Rest days
Portloe is one of the most attractive and unspoilt fishing villages in Cornwall.
Mevagissey is ideally placed for a visit to the outstanding Lost Gardens of
Heligan. Charlestown with its square-riggers, lively harbour and fascinating
museum is a good choice for a rest day, as is the historic port of Fowey. Plymouth,
with its vast number of historic buildings in another good choice.
What's included
Travel Information
Detailed instructions on
how to get to the start of the holiday and back from the end of it are sent
to you on booking. A summary is given below.
Most convenient International airport: London
Outward journey from London to Falmouth: There is a regular
train service to Falmouth via Truro from London Paddington (5 hours).
Return journey to London at the end of the holiday: A fast
and regular train service operates between Plymouth and London Paddington, with
a journey time of 3 ½ hours.