We began our walk from the pretty fishing village of Coverack, meandering along the sea front and up the hill, past the Church. As the road levels out and the pavement starts, cross the road and walk up the little lane at the left hand end of the grass bank. This lane is known locally as “The Gardens”, and has been used by generations of village children as a short cut to the village school at the top of hill.
Pass steps on your right, then take the right hand fork of the lane that joins the road opposite the old Wesleyan Chapel. Follow the road down hill and take the lane on the right, below the chapel that leads you in front of a row of old coastguard cottages. Stay on this lane to the top, up some steps and diagonally across a field. Spare a thought for coastguards of days gone by who did this route on foot and often in the dark! They were assisted by whitewashing stones at intervals along the path.
On joining the road, turn left in front of an old thatched farmhouse and modern bungalow. Follow the bungalow hedge, blue with flamboyant agapanthus flowers in summer. Take the path on the right, that weaves around. If you look closely you may see an old hand pump in the hedge on the right, stepping stones make it easier to cross the stream. Take the footpath immediately right over the wooden stile, head diagonally right across this field. Join the concrete road and turn right to the hamlet of Trewills, a huddle of old properties with some lovely colourful gardens. A short way past Trewillis there is a stile over the hedge on your left (you could continue on the road and take the next left). Take the footpath diagonally right across the field to the hamlet of Trelever, on joining the road turn left. Follow the road around to the right, this becomes a lane and eventually a footpath with sea views across to Lizard point, distinctive with Lizard lighthouse topping the headland.
Follow the coast path around to the left, as you emerge onto the headland if you look right you can see the sandy beaches of Kennack and Lankidden.
Ponies graze the headland to keep the foliage under control, allowing a host of wild flowers to flourish, different coloured flowers dominate depending on the season. Tiny delicate blue squill and bluebells in spring, shades of pink and purple heathers in summer to name but a few.
On the distant headland Black Head hut comes into view, when you are some way off. During the Napoleonic Wars a Naval Signal House was situated there, there is no evidence of the building’s stone walls. When WW1 coastal patrols were increasing there was no shelter on Black Head, in 1915 a purpose built Watch Hut was erected. For generations the Black Head has been used as a look out for shoals of pilchards, several spend there time carving their names and initials into the rocks. If you look closely several can still be found, dated from the 1870’s.
Once you pass Black Head you see views across Chynall’s Point, Lowland Point, Falmouth Bay and beyond. Continue along this path that runs along the cliff edge, before veering inland slightly beside the sculpture park and returning to the stepping stones across the stream used earlier in the walk. On joining the road turn right, walking downhill towards the old Headland Hotel, now apartments, take the path on the left before reaching them. Take the steps down and turn left towards Coverack, on this approach to Coverack you get good view of the Watch House perched on the cliff edge before The Paris. Strategically placed there in the late 18th century to house the local excise men to combat the smugglers. It was taken over in the 1820s by the Coastguard Service.
On joining the made up lane turn right in front of the coastguard cottages and walk down into the village, along the sea front to your starting point.
The practicalities:
Approximately 4.5 miles
Coverack has honesty box car parking – card or cash, public toilets are situated in the top car park. There are more public toilets by the harbour.
There are several lovely places to eat, including the Bay Hotel (dog friendly, set off the road above the beach with spectacular views) and The Loft, near the harbour.
The gift shops in the village sell many locally produced items and goods – The Old Mill Shop and The Seine Loft.
Cornish Hamlet Life 