Walk of the Month: Trevose Head

We’re fast approaching the end of the month and that can only mean one thing, it’s time for February’s installment of Walk of the Month! In this edition, we’re heading south to the coastal county of Cornwall, where we’ll be taking on the South West Coast Path. As the whole 630 mile walk was a bit too much for us to handle, we’ve decided to break the route down and focus on the beautiful Trevose Head circular walk instead.

“Trevose Head, North Cornwall” taken by Darren Shilson – CC 2.0

Trevose Head is a fantastic section of coastline located in North Cornwall. The area is widely known for its fantastic wildlife, great hiking, birdwatching spots and picturesque lighthouse. During this circular walk, you’ll be able to take in all of these fantastic sights as well as sensational views of the Cornish coast.

The Walk

The circular route around Trevose Head covers 6.1 miles and should take experienced walkers just over an hour and a half to complete. The walk has an easy gradient so isn’t too difficult for beginners, but we would advise wearing trainers or walking shoes. You can stop off for food in Constantine Bay or stock up on picnic supplies at the local shop before heading out.

The Route

Start at the Constantine car park and walk down towards the beach, turn right and walk along the back of the beach until you reach the steps at the far end. Walk up the steps and follow the cliff behind Bobby’s Bay until the path meets some tracks that head inland.

Keep left along the coastal path until you come across some kissing gates. Go through the kissing gates and bear left to keep on the coastal path. Follow the path onto the headland; you’ll pass a stile which you can walk past before coming to a huge collapsed cave on the right. Take some time to marvel at the cave before continuing along the path, you will soon come across a second stile which you will need to cross.

Once you’ve crossed the stile, keep following the path until you come across a track. Bear left onto the track and follow it down into the quarry. Dinas Head is located on the left so you could take a detour to explore the area before coming back to the quarry. Cross the quarry and follow the path along the other side and up the steps towards to road.

Image taken by Mike Knapp – CC 2.0

Turn left and walk down the side of the road towards the lighthouse. When you reach a path turning right, follow it up the steps and onto the coast path around Trevose Head. When the path reaches the corner of a wall and forks at a waymark, follow the path to the left to a cairn between the two benches on the skyline.

From the cairn, bear right to a stile in the corner and cross the stile to the lane that leads to the lifeboat station. Cross the stile opposite onto a path and follow it until you reach another stile. Cross the stile onto a track and turn left, then immediately right over the stile which is indicated by the coast path sign. Follow this path until it comes out at a waymark on a track next to Mother Ivy’s Cottage.

At the waymark, pass the path to the beach and head on towards the gate for Mother Ivy’s Cottage. Go through the kissing gate which is on the right of the cottage gate and follow the path until you reach the main track onto the beach at the holiday park. When you reach the track, turn immediately right and up the steps, following the coast path until you reach another gate.

Go through the gate and follow the path until you reach the track. Cross the track and continue along the path opposite the coast path and around the headline, until you reach a stile in front of a house at Onjohn Cove. Cross the stile and keep left on the path, walking past the house to a kissing gate.

Go through the kissing gate and take the second path leading left (avoid the first path which leads to the beach), follow the coast path until you reach a waymark at Haryln Bay. Turn left at the waymark, go down the steps and follow the path onto the beach. Once on the beach, turn right and hug the cliff until it brings you out onto a lane at the side of the bridge.

At this lane, turn right and follow it until it brings you to a junction. Turn right at the junction and follow the lane around the bend until you reach another junction signposted to the lifeboat station. Continue ahead at the junction and stay on the lane as it crosses the Trevose Head golf course.

At the junction by the club house, turn right and follow the public footpath signposted to the coast path. Follow this footpath until you reach the top of a flight of steps from the dunes to the beach. Instead of taking the path down the steps, turn left and follow the path along the edge of the dunes until you reach the track to the car park.

To view the route map please click here.

Rent a cottage in Cornwall with Sykes Cottages

If you feel like trying this walk or any of the walks listed on the South West Coast Path website then why not team your activity with a stay in one of our Cornish cottages? With over 320 properties in Cornwall to choose from, you’ll be sure to find a property to accommodate your needs.