Section: Portreath to Hayle

Length: 12 miles (19km)

Distance from Minehead to Portreath: 215.9

Distance from Hayle to Poole: 405.4

Grading: Moderate

Height gained (and also lost): 1371ft (418m)

Summary:

After leaving Portreath the Coast Path follows the cliffs with some beautiful views of rocky coves, such as the wonderfully named Ralph’s Cupboard, apparently a favoured smugglers spot for stashing loot. After just a couple of steep climbs the Path soon levels and walking becomes fairly straightforward. As you follow the sheer cliffs, surrounded by brightly coloured spring and summertime flowers, such as blue sheep’s bit, primroses and yellow rattle, look down to the contrastingly raw, jagged reefs below. Seals are a common sight around the waters of Godrevy and Gwithian and sunfish and basking sharks have been spotted from the North Cliffs. The dunes behind the spectacular beach which stretches from Godrevy Point to the entrance of the Hayle estuary are also rich with wildlife.

Highlights along the path:

• The views from the top of Western Hill down to the harbour of Portreath and to Western Cove and the cliff paths ahead.
• The contorted rock strata of Greenbank Cove.
• Crane Castle: standing on the site of an Iron Age cliff castle, almost entirely lost to erosion, you look out to Crane Islands and to the Path ahead along the Reskajaege Downs, which are covered in swathes of wildflowers and heather in spring and summer.
• The overwhelming mass of cliff and sheer drop to the sea at Hell’s Mouth.
• Seal spotting from Navax Point, which is covered in wild flowers, pink heather and gorse in the summer months.
• The National Trust have brought in a small herd of Shetland Ponies to graze at the Knavocks and help maintain the habitat favoured by small birds and butterflies.
• Godrevy Island and octagonal lighthouse (now solar-powered) is three and a half miles across St Ives Bay, and is thought to have been inspiration for Virginia Woolf’s novel To The Lighthouse. The island is covered in bright flowers in springtime.
• Spotting the guillemots, razorbills, fulmars and cormorants from the North Cliffs.
• The Red River which once carried the red iron oxide residue from the tin mines up the valley out to the sea at Gwithian.
• Gwithian and Hayle Towans: the second largest dune system in Cornwall is home to hundreds of different species of plants, butterflies, moths and glow-worms. Apparently, St Gothian's Chapel has been buried three times under the shifting sands.
• The 100 year-old swing bridge at the entrance to Hayle harbour.
• The birds of Hayle estuary.

Worth a look (interesting places close to the path):

• There are 250 acres of woodland and lakes to explore in Tehidy Country Park.

Shorter option:

Walk to Gwithian (7.6 miles, 12.2 km).

Longer option:

Continue to Carbis Bay (an additional 4.5 miles, 7 km) or St Ives (an additional 6.1 miles, 9.8 km)

Public transport info:

First Great Western trains run directly from the mainline station in Plymouth to Hayle. From here you can take another train to Redruth and catch the T7 bus to Portreath or take the Western Greyhound bus service 501 from Hayle to Portreath. This service roughly follows the coast and stops in Gwithian. For details visit Traveline or phone 0870 6082608.

Refreshments:

Portreath has a small selection of shops and cafes. There are cafes at Hell’s Mouth and Gwithian as well as a selection of pubs, shops, restaurants and cafes in Hayle. For local produce try The Foundry Bar and Restaurant in Foundry Square, Hayle, tel: 01736 753334.

Nearest Car park:

Portreath, (Postcode for Sat Navs: TR16 4LN) Crane Castle, North Cliffs, Godrevy Point, Gwithian, The Towans and Hayle.

Toilets:

Portreath, Godrevy Point, Gwithian and Hayle.

More information:

Hayle Tourist Information Centre Tel: 01736 754399 Email: hayle.library@cornwall.gov.uk

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