Section: Polperro to Portwrinkle

Length: 13 miles (20km)

Distance from Minehead to Polperro: 386.8

Distance from Portwrinkle to Poole: 233.6

Grading: Moderate to strenuous

Height gained (and also lost): 2277ft (755M)

Summary:

The South West Coast Path leads you along a fantastically varied journey of high cliff paths, urban landscapes, shady woodland, passing rocky coves and through wide open fields, resulting in a mixture of easy strolling and some more strenuous walking. After Looe, the Path passes through the holiday village of Millendreath and opens up again on Bodigga cliffs, where the views open out to the Path ahead and Rame Head in the distance. In some places the Path twists and climbs to heights with spectacular views, especially on the approach to Battern Cliffs, which is one of the highest points on the south coast of Cornwall at 462 feet, (141 metres). From here you enjoy some truly fantastic cliff walking to the fishing village of Portwrinkle with views of the 4 mile expanse of Whitsand Bay beyond.

Highlights along the path:

• The First World War granite cross memorial at Downend Point.
• Talland Bay, with its dramatically positioned, ancient church dedicated to St Tallanus.
• Views from Hendersick, above the Hore Stone, out to St George’s Island (also known as Looe Island.
• The fantastic names, such as Aesop’s Bed, Samphire Beach, Chimney Rock, and Eglarooze Cliff.
• West and East Looe. You can easily travel between the two halves of Looe by keeping to the quayside and crossing the river over the arched bridge, or if you are walking in peak summer season and particularly enjoy boats you can take a ferry across the mouth of the harbour. West Looe is comparatively sleepy and has a good selection of inns around the harbour. There are plenty of refreshments, galleries and shops in East Looe, which can be very busy, and the Old Guildhall Gaol and Museum on Higher Market Street contains a wealth of information about Looe’s fishing and shipbuilding history. Tel: 01503 263709.
• Exploring the many rock pools of Downderry Beach exposed at low tide.
• Battern Cliffs and views of the seabirds around the Long Stone stack.
• Views of the tiny harbour of Portwrinkle from Britain Point.
• The walls of the 17th century pilchard fishing cellars still standing above Portwrinkle harbour.

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

• Polperro Heritage Museum of Smuggling and Fishing. Open 10.30 to 17.30 from March to October. Tel: 01503 272423.
• Taking a trip to St George’s Island. A Benedictine chapel once stood here and local legend tells of Joseph of Arimethea landing here with Jesus as a child.
• Walking up the river valley from Seaton. The Seaton Valley Countryside Park was once a derelict caravan park, but has been transformed into a nature reserve, home to wildlife such as otters, fritillary butterflies and kingfishers.

Shorter option:

Seaton (8.8 miles, 14.2 km) and Downderry (9.9 miles, 15.9 km)

Longer option:

The next village on the path with accommodation is Kingsand, 9.8 miles (15.8km) beyond Portwrinkle

Public transport info:

Liskeard has a mainline train station. From Liskeard you can take the hourly Western Greyhound bus service number 573 to Crumplehorn, just above Polperro. This service also goes to Looe. There is also a First Great Western rail service between Liskeard and Looe. From West Looe the 572 bus goes to Shortacross on the A387 where you can change and take the First Cornwall 181 to Portwrinkle. For details visit Traveline or phone 0870 6082608.

Refreshments:

After Polperro you may find seasonal refreshments in Talland. Further on there are refreshments available in Millendreath, Looe, Seaton and Downderry. Looe has a wide range of shops, restaurants, pubs and cafes. Establishments that serve local produce include the Big Barn and Taste of the West member Truly Cornish which describes itself as ‘a deli that cares about food miles’, found on Bullers Street, East Looe, tel: 01503 262696, Taste of the West member Squid Ink restaurant on Lower Chapel Street in East Looe, tel: 01503 262674, or try the harbourside restaurant Trawlers on the Quay, tel: 01503 263593. There are a few facilities at the end of the day in Portwrinkle and a good inn half a mile inland at Crafthole.

Nearest Car park:

Polperro (Post code for Sat Navs: PL13 2QR), Talland Bay, inland near Hendersick Farm, Looe, above Millendreath Beach, Seaton, Downderry and Portwrinkle.

Toilets:

Polperro, Talland Bay, Looe, Seaton, Downderry and Portwrinkle

More information:

Looe Tourist Information Centre or tel: 01503 262072.

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