Helford - St Mawes - Fowey

This is a mixture of official coastal path walking and interesting local additions along a part of the coastal path that includes fabulous views across bays, rivers and inlets that constitute Cornwall's best sailing areas.

The walk starts in Helford and gives you time to explore some of the exquisite local gardens as well as walks on the banks of the Helford river and round Frenchman's creek. The walk then follows the coastal path to Fowey, except day 4, which takes you on a fabulous route around the great natural inlet of Carrick roads. It involves 2 ferry rides and a visit to one of Cornwall's most famous pubs.

Wandern in Cornwall

Prices
Accommodation and Guide Book only (8 nights)   £575
plus an extra night                          £45 (St Mawes £55)
single supplement                           £20 (per night)
 
ITINERARY

Day 1: Travel to Mawnan Smith where your first night's accommodation has been booked.

Day 2:    Visit your choice of Gardens Trebah, Glendurgh and or Carwinion. 
We suggest you lunch at the Ferryboat Inn at Helford Passage (famous for its local oysters).  In the afternoon you take the ferry to Helford and do a circular walk to Manaccan and Frenchman’s Creek and then return via the ferry to Mawnan Smith for your second night.

Day 3: Mawnan Smith to Falmouth. 10 miles (16km)
Take the road down to Helford Passage.  The coastal path starts here, it goes around the bottom of Trebah Gardens to Durgan and then along through the magical woods around Toll point and then onto the Rosemullion Head.  The views here south towards Manacle Point and north east towards the distinctive white lighthouse of St Anthony are truly magnificent.  Continue on to Maenporth and then along the cliffs past Pennance Point and Pendennis Point to reach the busy port of Falmouth

Day 4: Falmouth to St Mawes (via Restronget) 12.5 miles (20km)
Catch the  Ferry from the Prince of Wales quay to the village of Flushing opposite Falmouth.  Flushing was originally named Nankersey but renamed by Dutch engineers who were brought there to try and create a port to rival Falmouth.  Walk down the tiny picturesque high street and down the back of the huge houses built for the “Packet” (Postal Ship) captains, who lived in Flushing to escape the boisterous Falmouth and made their fortunes by supplementing their wages smuggling goods into the country on their ships (Spanish practices in the postal system – nothing changes!).  Proceed on the coastal path around Trefusis Point, with panoramic views of Falmouth Bay and St Anthony lighthouse, to Mylor.  From Mylor turn inland to walk around the top of Mylor creek and then around the headland to the Famous Pandora Inn.  Here you will be met by a water taxi and taken across the bottom of Carrick roads and landed at Turnaware Point (a beach used by the US Infantry to disembark prior to the D-Day landings on Omaha beach).  The path leads over the headland to St Just-in-Roseland, where it is worth taking some time to walk around the semi-tropical gardens of the ancient church.  The path now follows the coast to your nights stop in the beautiful fishing and sailing village of St Mawes.

Day 5: St Mawes  to Portloe. 13 miles (21km)
The day starts with a small ferry ride across St Mawes bay and the Percuil River to the beginning of the trail. From the beautiful little church of behind Place Manor, the path winds around St Anthony Head, with glorious views down Carrick Roads and across to St Mawes and then out across Falmouth bay towards Helford and The Lizard, to the old fishing village of Portscatho. The coast path continues around Gerrans Bay past Veryan castle, a small iron age fort and Carne Beacon, one of the largest stone age barrows (burial grounds) in Britain to Nare Head, which provides sensational views across Veryan Bay to the imposing headland of Dodman Point, notorious for its shipwrecks. After Nare Head the path winds around secluded coves to the beautiful and unspoilt fishing village of Portloe. Its tiny harbour, at the start of the twentieth century home to 50 fishing boats, is now home to three mainly catching crab and lobster.

Day 6: Portloe to Mevagissey. 12 miles (19km).
You pass the twin villages of West and East Portholland, each in their own valley and with their own beach. You then continue along the cliffs to Porthluney Cove, a beautiful sandy beach overlooked by the picturesque mansion of Caerhays Castle. The path continues up to Greeb Point then the secluded Hemmick Beach before reaching Dodman Point. In 1896 a local parson had a granite cross erected to act as a landmark for shipping on the point. However this failed to save two war ships in the following year. More recently the pleasure boat Darlwin sank with all passengers in 1966. On the headland is an extensive Iron Age fort, defended by a great earthwork or Baulk cutting right across the point. Skirting Vault Beach, the path winds around Maenease Point to the harbour and old fishing village of Gorran Haven. Pleasant walking along cliff top paths lead around Chapel Point to the busy fishing port of Mevagissey. Named after two Irish saints at the end of the 17th century, St Meva and St Issey. Its main sources of income  were pilchard fishing and smuggling and the village had at least ten inns, of which two (the Fountain and the Ship) still remain.

Day 7: Mevagissey to Charlestown. 7 miles (11km)
From Mevagissey you take the path which winds around Penare Point to the small harbour at Pentewan. Beyond Pentewan there is exhilarating walking along cliff top paths around Black Head, a glorious viewpoint crowned with an impressive Iron Age cliff castle.  You arrive at the picturesque Georgian harbour of Charlestown filled with square-rigged sailing ships. Behind the harbour is the fascinating Visitor Centre and ShipwreckMuseum.

Day 8: Charlestown to Fowey. 10 miles (16km)
Round St Austell Bay and you arrive at the charming and quite unspoilt fishing village of Polkerris. From here folow the cliff top path around Gribbin Head, a fine viewpoint crowned with a huge red and white candy-striped Daymark (to help shipping to find the entrance to the Fowey river) , to the sandy coves at Polridmouth. Just before Fowey you pass the ruin of St. Catherines Castle, another of Henry VIII's coastal defences. Situated at the mouth of a deepwater inlet Fowey has a long maritime history. In the 14th and 15th centuries, ships from Fowey, the 'Fowey Gallants', constantly raided the French coast - and continued to do so even after Edward IV had made peace with the French! Today, ships enter the estuary to load china clay and the harbour throngs with yachts and dinghies and other leisure craft.

Day 9: Depart from Fowey after breakfast.

Extra nights/Rest days

St Mawes is a beautiful fishing and sailing village.  A day out kayaking or on a fishing boat could be pre-booked here.
Mevagissey is ideally placed for a visit to the outstanding Lost Gardens of Heligan. Charlestown is about 4 miles from the world famous “Eden Project” and has a fabulous harbour sheltering several tall ships.

 WHAT WE PROVIDE (All walks)

OPTIONS

Wandern in Cornwall