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Helford to Trebah gardens using the passenger ferry

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The village of Helford, and the gardens of Trebah are both picturesque places, there’s no better way of travelling between the two than by boat across the historic river crossing between Helford and Helford Passage. Helford river is tidal, it’s worth checking the ferry times for the day as crossings are paused when the tide is very low. The service is operated by Helford River Boats between April and October.

Helford village has a large, reasonably priced pay and display car park that makes a great starting point. Leave the car park, heading down hill, cross the river and keep the river on your right, to Ferry Point. This begins as a quiet road walk, passing the village shop and Shipwrights Arms pub, as the road heads steeply up hill follow the lane in front that continues alongside the river.

The Ferry is operated from the opposite side of the river at Helford Passage, to call the ferry across open the yellow circular sign to signal that you are waiting. Take a seat, and watch the small ferry head towards towards you. Once onboard, enjoy the different vantage point from the ferry that this short journey gives you, weaving between moored boats and operating as a water taxi when required.

On arrival at Helford Passage walk up to the quiet road and head right along the road at the top of the beach (dogs are not allowed on the beach). At the far end of the beach a footpath heads uphill for a short distance, before levelling out for an easy walk towards the river mouth that can be seen in the distance. Join a road for a short distance down hill, and see Trebah gardens on your left and Trebah beach on your right, neither places can be entered from this path. Continue along the path, across a field that joins a lane after a short distance. If you head up hill a path leads to Trebah entrance, if you head down hill you arrive at the pretty beach at Durgan, passing the entrance to Glendurgan gardens.

Trebah reception provides you with the information needed to make the most of your visit. Here there is a café, gift shop and area selling plants. Dogs on short leads are welcome at Trebah.

Trebah gardens are full of interesting areas, shaded seating under tree ferns and seats on high ground overlooking the gardens with distant glimpses of Helford river. Ponds magnify the floral beauty around them, in summer the pastel coloured hydrangeas reflecting in the ponds are a stunning sight to behold. Paths through the chunky stemmed gunnera, with their giant leaves high overhead evoke the intrepid explorer feeling! The gardens are a relaxing haven to immerse yourself in the beautiful natural environment.

Before leaving the gardens it’s worth spending some time on Trebah’s private beach, a great place for a paddle or a swim. All this can be topped off with and an ice cream, available from the beach, while watching beach and river life.

Head back up through the gardens to leave near the entrance. The path back to the ferry in this direction provides views inland, you may even notice Trebah beach from a different angle. From Helford Passage there is the opportunity to enjoy The Ferry Boat Inn, before catching the ferry back to Helford and reminiscing on the sights you’ve seen.

The Practicalities

The length of the walk varies depending on how much walking you do in the gardens, a likely walk length is approximately 5 miles. The footpath from the ferry to the gardens is quite gentle and about a mile.

In Helford both Holy Mackerel and the Shipwright’s Arms offer great places to eat and are dog friendly. Helford shop offers an opportunity to restock.

The Ferry Boat Inn at Helford River Passage offers food with a great view of the river. It’s dog friendly too.

There are public toilets situated in Helford car park.

Dogs travel for free on the ferry!

A circular walk from Carne, passing through Helford with spectacular views from the recently extended footpath around Little Dennis Head.

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Situated on the Lizard Peninsula this walk takes you along the banks of Gillan Creek and the Helford River. Much of the footpath is through woodlands that hug the river edge, providing shade and shelter.

We started near the head of Gillan Creek at Carne. For many years a pair of swans has nested here and keep a careful watch of the comings and goings of the estuary life, please don’t let your dogs disturb them. We’ve noticed recently that we’ve been watched from above from a rooftop peacock, their distinctive cry can be heard periodically.

A bonus of this walk is it feels magically different depending on the tide, hightide allows mirror image reflections to grace the river surface. Low tide reveals mud flats, a feeding ground for a host of wading birds.

We started walking along the quiet road, that feels better able to manage foot steps than tyres! After a footpath joins the road from the right there are generally a few boats moored. Not long after this you can join the footpath on your right that nestles between the road and the river through flower filled woodlands. In spring beautiful bluebells, primroses and wild garlic bloom and in summer fabulous foxgloves, honeysuckles and pink champion to name but a few that brighten the footpath.

The path re-joins the road for a short distance as you approach St Anthony-in-Meneage with it’s beautiful river side church. You can walk through the church grounds and re-join the road, or continue up the road before taking the lane on the right that runs behind a large house.

If you continue through the gate and across the field you miss the newer coast hugging path around Little Dennis Head, if time allows it’s well worth taking the path to the right of the gate that reveals breath taking views. The views are initially of picturesque estuary hamlets on the opposite bank – Gillan and Flushing. You then cross Little Dennis for panoramic views across Falmouth Bay, where the white walls of St Anthony Head lighthouse are visible on the distant Roseland Peninsula.

The next stretch of path to Helford takes you alongside a few remote and sandy coves that line the Helford River, that may tempt you for a swim or paddle. Helford is entered passing the old chapel, now Holy Mackerel Cafe, that’s well worth a visit. Walk through the village, pass the Shipwrights Arms and follow the road up hill. After a short distance on the right the footpath drops down to the quiet Penarvon Cove. Turning your back on the shores, head up the road with the option to take the lane on your right with a new field footpath that re-joins the same road. At the top head right and follow the lane around to discover pretty views of the Helford River and it’s wooded shores. As you walk down hill, take the path signed on the left to Frenchman’s Creek. This quiet estuary allows you to immerse yourself in the natural landscape as white egrets, swans and herons scan the shore for their next meal.

Near the head of the estuary you can follow the lane uphill, although continuing a little further along you can join a much older stone lined lane full of ferns and moss. Join the lane and head uphill. On reaching the road, cross and pass through the ancient farmstead of Kestle Barton, continue down hill alongside a field, turn left after the field ends and follow the path through woodland. Cross a small stream and head up hill, joining an old lane that crosses a field before crossing the road and entering the village of Manaccan.

On joining the road turn right and down hill past the school. Head left through the church yard, passing the church with it’s distinctive fig tree growing from the church walls. Leave the church yard continuing straight ahead along the lane, just before the Institute turn right down hill through the wooded valley back to Carne.

The practicalities:

Approximately 7 miles

Helford village has a village shop, dog friendly pub (Shipwrights Arms), dog friendly cafe (Holy Mackerel) and public toilets in the car park that would make an alternative starting point for this circular walk. Please check business websites and facebook pages for opening times, not all are open all year around.

Kestle Barton offers seasonal gallery and garden open to the public.

Manaccan has a dog friendly pub, The New Inn.

This walk commenced from Carne, alternatively you could commence from Helford using the large pay and display carpark there.