Tag Archives: southwestcoastpath

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 Porthallow to Carne, following the river estuary through Gillan, returning on the coast path to Porthallow.

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One of the many reasons this walk is so special is that the footpath guides you through a range of habitats and landscapes. Initially through a wooded valley, then crossing fields to Carne where you walk beside the river until it meets the sea, and then follow the coast back to Porthallow. There are also a few secluded beaches only reached on foot.

Situated at the top of Porthallow beach is the mid point marker for the Southwest Coast Path. This stone structure stands tall and displays engraved metal plates, on one side capturing the flora and fauna of the Lizard Peninsula, on the other side the ‘Fading Voices‘ of Pralla, the local name for Porthallow. The ‘Fading Voices‘ creates a written record of Cornish dialect, this was and is spoken language, often written by people from outside the area so the spellings are up for debate!

The walk starts heading inland, head up the beach and join the road heading right past the phone box, continue straight ahead past old cottages on your right. Follow the road around to the left for a short distance, before heading up hill take the lane on your right, walking between a terraced row of houses and their gardens on the opposite side of the path. Walk along this valley, initially wooded, across a field before a passing through a wooded area that leads to a wooden bridge and joins a lane heading up hill.

The hamlet of Treglossick comes into view, referred to locally as Ludjack, one of the words engraved on the mid point marker on Porthallow beach. Join the road and turn left, at the T junction turn left, just before a road joins from the left is a footpath on your right up a hedge that crosses several fields. Join a lane, turning left at the top as you reach the ancient hamlet of Trewothack. The footpath weaves around Trewothack, between two large farm sheds before joining a lane that leads you to more fields.

As you cross these fields and head down hill, in the distance on your left you can see the church tower of Manaccan nestled in the trees. On your right you get glimpses of Falmouth Bay in the distance. Join the road for a short distance heading downhill, taking the footpath on your right before the small bridge over the river as you enter Carne. Immediately the path takes you through the sweeping boughs of a magnificent horse chestnut tree. With boughs sweeping out over the river reflected on to the water this is a uniquely beautiful.

This path weaves it’s way along the wooded banks of Gillan estuary, eventually across the small sandy beach of Flushing before reaching Gillan’s sandy shores. Along the way are seats with stunning views and a remote feel. As you leave Flushing the path continues to follow the estuary, looking across to the opposite bank you can see the creek side church of St Anthony. At Gillan the small low headland called The Herra offers natural shelter, seating and a small shingle beach on the far side with views across to Falmouth. Return from The Herra and follow the path alongside a large garden, alongside the estuary eventually reaching Trewarnnevas cliffs that lead on to Nare Point Coastal Lookout Station.

As you continue past Nare Head you notice a change in habitat to a coastal environment, follow the path above the sea to Porthallow.

The practicalities

Approximately 6.5 miles

Porthallow has honesty box car parking on the beach (cash or card), public toilets are on the beach.

Fat Apples is a short 300 meter walk up from the beach in Porthallow, with the sea behind you walk up the road on your left.

The New Inn, Manaccan could be a detour from Carne, rather than joining the footpath, continue along the road. Pass a road turn off to the left, after layby parking on your left there is a footpath on your right up through a wooded valley to Manaccan. On reaching the made up lane turn left, left again when you join the road. With the church on your right take the road left. Below a road off to the right is the The New Inn.

A circular walk from Tregarne along the new coast path between Porthallow and Porthoustock

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We are very lucky to be in an area of outstanding natural beauty, with recently improved public access to many areas of the coast. This has been achieved by opening several new footpaths closer to the coast, allowing us to enjoy more wildlife habitats and get new views of the dramatic countryside and coast.

These new paths also provide greater options for circular walks, in addition to the more conventional South West Coast Path.

In 2025, a new stretch of coast path was opened between Porthallow and Porthoustock.

From Tregarne, either walk the quiet road or head across the footpath to Porthallow, and join the South West Coast Path as it climbs steeply out of Porthallow on the right side of the beach as you are looking out to sea.

As you reach the top of the hill, you get sweeping views across Falmouth Bay. Now you have the option to turn left after a wooden stile and walk above the sea to Porthkerris, passing in front of The Sea Salt factory. Here, salt production is still inspired by the original methods of harvesting the goodness of the sea.  The factory is not open to the public but their products can be purchased online.

Goats sometimes accompany you along this stretch of path! The next cove you come to is Porthkerris, here there is a dive centre and beach cafe. You cross the shingle beach; the footpath climbs the cliff at the far side providing spectacular sea views all the way to the pretty cove of Porthoustock.

With the sea behind you head to the road and follow it right for a short distance. Take the footpath in front of the old terrace of houses, enjoy their flora gardens and quaint thatched roofed cottages.

After you reach the quiet road that runs through Trenoweth Mill, you follow the path beside the stream up the tranquil shaded valley, lined with beech trees and moss.

As you follow the path across fields, you will notice the spire of St Keverne Church. The graveyard includes mass graves for many shipwrecks, including The Mohegan. Keep to the right as you pass through St Keverne square, the footpath takes the lane on the right down hill pass the village hall. As you cross the stream you can see the much older stone bridge, covered in moss on the right. Follow the path up hill and cross a few fields, from here there are spectacular countryside views and distant views of Falmouth Bay.

Depending on where you join the road, either follow it a short distance to the right, or cross it and follow the quiet road signposted to Tregarne. The road crosses the stream at Tregarne Mill, pass the house and take the lane that runs behind the house on the right. From here you cross fields for the final climb up to Tregarne. It’s worth resting and looking behind you for distant views of St Keverne.

The practicalities!
This circular walk could commence at Porthallow, Porthoustock or St Keverne, all these villages have honesty box car parking (cash only in St Keverne and Porthoustock) and public toilets.

There are places to eat in St Keverne (two dog friendly pubs). Seasonally opening eateries that are dog friendly – Porthallow (Fat Apples cafe 5 minutes walk up the road past the Cellar Marine), Porthkerris Beach Cafe, Porthoustock has a food van on the beach.

Porthallow, Porthkerris and Porthoustock beaches are all dog friendly shingle beaches.

The walk is approximately 5.5 miles