SWCP Section 6, Falmouth to Plymouth

Your South West Coast Path adventure commences near St Mawes Castle on the Roseland Peninsula, beginning with ferry crossings to St Mawes and then Place. The walk continues onto the St Anthony Peninsula, passing its coastal church and lighthouse. A series of beautiful beaches, low cliffs, and small valleys leads to the charming fishing village of Portscatho for a potential lunch break. The afternoon features more stunning sands at Carne and Pendower Beaches before heading towards the wild Nare Head, flanked by the Carne Beadon Bronze Age barrow and the Gull Rock seabird sanctuary. After passing an underground Cold War bunker, the path leads through isolated coves and hidden beaches to the inspiring fishing village of Portloe, characterized by its dramatic black rocks at the harbor entrance.

After breakfast in the timeless little hamlet at Portloe you walk straight into dramatic, wild and jagged coves, the only habitation en route the isolated little hamlets of West and East Portholland where a handful of cottages, fishing sheds and lime kilns are all that stands between you and the ocean. The designated Eurobeach at Porthluney offers a fine respite from the cliffs and is perfect for a dip. Inland enjoy great views of impressive Caerhays Castle and its gardens, built by John Nash who was also responsible for Buckingham Palace. If you are lucky the grounds, surrounded by woods leading to its own sandy beach, will be open for a visit. The day continues with a challenging climb up to the granite cross at dramatic Dodman Point, the boundary of East and West Cornwall. On a good day you can see over 100 miles of coastline from here, back to the Lizard but more significantly forward to the end of Cornwall and the end of our trails many days ahead! On towards Mevagissey you pass the old fishing village of Gorran Haven, tucked tightly into the hillside above Little Perhaver Point, and the stunning former nunnery at Chapel Point. As isolated as you can get and certainly with heavenly views across St Austell Bay to Gribbin Head, 2 days walk away. You enter Mevagissey via the former boat building cove at Portmellon with the well placed Rising Sun Inn and its a short walk onto an overnight in the fascinating working fishing village of Mevagissey with its maze of narrow backstreets, restaurants, pubs and harbourside to explore.

Today you enter two days of walking around the golden beaches and towering cliffs that make up St Austell Bay. Leaving Mevagissey harbour you climb Penare Point, passing the overgrown ruins of the old pilchard cellars, all that is left of the abandoned hamlet at Portgiskey. The village of Pentewan is the only place with facilities on today's walk at The Ship Inn and the Pixie Cove Cream Tea Shop. Having crossed the golden sands at Pentewan Bay, the village makes for an interesting distraction from the coastline with its inland harbour built in the 18C now marooned from the sea after shifting sands blocked the channel. Your route now enters very dramatic cliff and cove walking as you start an ascent to the rugged Black Head Promontory, site of a former Iron Age cliff castle, and with stunning views across the Bay you can see why. The little beach at Halane makes an excellent lunch stop on the way up with its refreshing waterfall crashing to the sands behind a window rock arch. Heading inland now towards the back of St Austell Bay the walking takes you through the Cornwall Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve at mighty Ropehaven cliffs through a memorable descent/ascent back to sea level at Silvermine Point, passing the natural rock arch at Phoebe's Point. The day ends with a return to habitation at the historical harbour at Charlestown where you will spend the night in the peaceful company of the harbours tall ships. Overnight stops at Charlestown on the South West Coast Path Information about the nearby Eden Project - a great rest day option only 2 miles walk away

Heading towards Fowey you round the huge china clay works and skirt the wide and spacious Par Sands before entering wild and remote Gribbin Head with its memorable red and white striped Daymark Tower. A commanding spot, the tower does the location justice, standing 84 feet above the cliffs. It was built in 1832 to enable mariners to recognise and avoid this wild and entrancing headland from the sea. On your way up to the Gribbin enjoy the chance to stop in the beautiful pilchard fishing cove and Rashleigh Inn at stunning Polkerris, with its well preserved little quay and pilchard cellars tucked into a wooded valley above a fine beach with sands, cliffs and rockpools - a favourite for scrambling and exploring. You are now entering the breath taking Daphne Du Maurier coastline, location for so many of her novels, and of huge inspiration to the writer and indeed to all who pass through its wild beauty. Rebecca, The Birds, the Kings General and The House on the Strand were all faithfully based on this landscape. At Polridmouth an enchanting hidden beach opens up to reveal the Boathouse from Rebecca, Manderlay, the infamous house which was once the writers home, hidden inland in the wooded coombes. The route onto Fowey is now a joy, with a series of smuggling coves infamous for landing brandy to be whisked away to the remote farms that can be spotted inland as the path rises and falls from shingle beach to low clifftop. Just before entering Fowey, a final delight is King Henry VIII clifftop castle at St Catherine's, you can access it from the coast path and freely wander its compact ramparts for the most stunning introduction and panorama's to tonight's stay in Fowey. Fowey is, without doubt, the most stunning location on this section of coast. Make the most of its restaurants, bars and panoramic natural harbour, recently voted the most desirable place to live in the UK.

Today's adventure begins with catching a tiny passenger ferry across the harbour to Fowey's neighbouring village of Polruan. Make sure you pause to view the remains of the medieval blockhouse which was used to stretch a chain across the harbour entrance to Fowey in an attempt to keep out the Spanish and French. It's a stiff climb out of Polruan, finally reaching the remains of St Saviours Chapel high above the cliffs before leaving habitation once again. You now join a remote and wild coastline with some steep and impressive cliff paths to negotiate on the South West Coast Path to Looe. High above the golden sands of Lantic Bay you will gaze down with wild grazing ponies for company onto South Cornwall's most unspoilt beach. With the sun out and the clear azure sea, its more reminiscent of the mediterranean than the coast of England. Protected by having no road access, if you can make the climb down to the beach you won't forget it - a sensational spot, truly unspoilt, unchanged and unaffected by ugly side of the modern world. The Cornish Coast Path rises and falls along a classic section of coastline with not one house between you and Polperro. Lansallos Cove is another perfect inlet where farmers in the 18C cut an impressive passage way to the beach through the rocks to get carts down to the sands. Climb past the white Daymark tower and negotiate your way down Raphael Cliff before Polperro harbour suddenly emerges from a ravine, making a convenient refreshment stop on the route to Looe. Overnight stops at the fishing village of Polperro on The South West Coast Path En route to Looe the path become more relaxed passing through pretty Talland Bay, a great place for a cream tea at the Beach Cafe - you can even hire a kayak here for an hour or so and paddle around this beautiful bay. A final few miles passing waterfalls and rolling pasture land that includes the remains of the Chapel of Lamanna built by the Glastonbury monks, and these days, for coast path walkers, marking the entrance into Looe. The final mile is along the seawall at West Looe but with great views out to dominating St Georges Island just offshore, a fascinating place, now uninhabited, that was home to the Atkins sisters who documented life on the island in several books. You can visit the island by boat from Looe - further away if visibility is good enough you might even catch site of the infamous Eddystone Lighthouse 14 miles out.

Walking on from Looe you need to pass through the holiday parks at Millendreath to return to the path proper which makes an early climb above Whitsand Bay and over Bodigga Cliffs. Some pleasant beaches and delightful coastal woodlands accompany the walker, while looking out to sea you can take in the whole vista of Whitsand Bay. Descend steps to the beach at Seaton with a handy beach cafe just off the sands. If the tide is out you can choose to make your own route by taking the beach route below the village of Downderry in preparation for the zigzagging climb to Batten Heights, the highest point, at 462 feet, on the whole of the South Cornwall Coast Path. Up here watch out of the ruins of St Germans Hut, which was built as a shooting lodge for the Earl of St Germans and is now almost vanishing into the undergrowth. Below the huge cliffs and out to sea is the Long Stone and the Brawn, two pinnacles which are home to hundreds of seabirds. Following the long line of Whitsand bay, and looking ahead, you will start to see more glimpses of Devon, Plymouth and high up, mysterious Dartmoor. Its a satisfying walk along the South West Coast Path onwards to the tiny harbour at Portwrinkle and the end of todays section.

This day really is one of variety - woodland and cliffs taking you around impressive Rame Head, passing its forts and into the pretty bay at Kingsand and Cawsand and a last encounter with the tiny streets and lanes of a Cornish coastal village. Keeping up high above Whitsand Bay this morning the route gives outstanding views and takes you past the massive Tregantle Fort, an imposing structure built in the 1860's to protect Plymouth from the sea. Near the hamlet of Freathy you can drop to the beach for a break at Sharrow Grotto, a cave hewn out of the cliff face by Lieutenant Lugger who was an ex Naval Purser over 200 years ago, and created as a cure for his gout... which apparently worked! The next landmark is the breath taking headland of Rame Head - if you have been walking from Falmouth you will have first sighted this many days ago. Steps lead up to a rocky hillock which formed part of the Iron Age fort that was situated here. Right on the edge is a lonely chapel built over 600 years ago and still commanding itself over the scenery. After dropping through some coastal Woodland you find yourself at the twin villages of Kingsand and Cawsand, which are handy for lunch stops, with several pubs and cafes by the beach. These pretty villages have changed hands between Devon and Cornwall several times throughout history and both were notorious for smuggling. Finally, after passing through the rather unsettling Dark Trees woodlands, you now enter wonderful country estate at Mount Edgcumbe. This huge country estate brings a final set of surprises for the weary walker. The path joins a cliffside carriage way (Earls Drive) on an unforgettable romp through the estate's ornate gardens, follies, ruins and fountains, guiding you into Plymouth Sound and the very western end of Cornwall separated only by a short ferry ride from the maritime city of Plymouth. Stop and watch for the arrival of the Cremyll Ferry and your river crossing link to Devon - its pretty reliable as it's run for over 1000 years ! For those staying overnight you will usually be based on the waterfront at Plymouth Hoe and the last 2 miles from the ferry once you have landed in Devon follow the excellent Plymouth Waterfront Walkway packed with maritime history, sculpture and intrigue as it leads you through these well trodden streets to the Hoe Overnight stops in Plymouth at the end of your South West Coast Path walking holiday