Cornwall

Carne Beach to Nare Head circular walk

This walk takes in a wooded valley and offers views from the tip of Nare Head and from the South West Coast Path. Things to look out for on the way include a Bronze Age barrow, an Iron Age earthwork and a Second World War decoy bunker.

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Total steps: 14

Start point

Carne Beach car park. Grid ref: SW906383. Postcode: TR2 5PF

Step 1

In the right-hand corner of the car park go over the wooden stile into a field, walking along the base of the valley away from the car park. Bear right up the hill (not over the footbridge).

Step 2

At the brow of the hill you'll see a large, flat area. Continue on from this, cross the stone stile and follow the hedgeline down the right hand side of the field.

Step 3

At the end of the field go through the kissing gate, then turn right to follow a short section of minor road.

Step 4

As the road bends to the right, cross the double stile in front of you, following the footpath across the field. The small but distinctive hill in the middle of the field is Carne Beacon.

Step 5

Climb the short way to the top of the beacon.

Carne Beacon

There are panoramic views from this Bronze Age barrow, including St Agnes Beacon on the north coast and the wide expanse of Gerrans Bay to the south. Legend has it that Gerent, King of Cornwall, was buried here about AD 590, his body having been carried across Gerrans Bay in a golden boat powered by silver oars, which were buried with the king. An excavation in 1855 failed to verify this story of buried treasure, but a stone burial chest was discovered containing ashes and charcoal.

Step 6

Exit the field via the stone step stile, coming out onto a minor road. Bear left along the road, towards the houses of Carne village.

Step 7

Walk through Carne village, bearing right and following the public footpath signs.

Step 8

The road ends at an intersection of grassy footpaths. Take the left-hand path and Nare Head will soon come into view.

Step 9

Stay on the coast path, crossing the footbridge at the base of the valley. Go past the remains of Mallet's Cottage up to the right. Turn left opposite the cottage, heading inland through Paradoe Valley woods. Come out of the woods, through the kissing gate and bear left along edge of the field hedge line. During rainy periods the slopes near here can be a bit slippery and muddy, so extra care may be needed.

Mallet's Cottage

This stone and cob cottage was built by a fisherman called Mallet. He married a woman from Veryan but lived here at his cliff-side cottage, returning at weekends with his catch. He kept a boat in the inlet beneath his home, hauling it up clear of the waves when not in use. In the 1840s he emigrated to Australia, leaving his wife behind. About 120 years later, his great-granddaughter, Tina Mallet, came to visit her roots. Hitchhiking from Bristol, by coincidence, the driver who gave her a lift was the National Trust tenant farmer for Nare Head.

Step 10

Go through a kissing gate past Kiberick car park, cross the road and go through the next kissing gate into a field. Follow the path down towards Kiberick Cove. Bear right, keeping the sea on your left.

Step 11

Cross the wooden stile into the next field. The path is close to the cliff edge, so please keep children and dogs under close control. Continue along the path and over another wooden stile.

Gull Rock

This sparse, rocky island is uninhabited by people, but it provides a welcome home and breeding site to seabirds. Herring gulls, black-backed gulls and shags can be seen regularly. During their breeding season, guillemots and razorbills can also be spotted (a good pair of binoculars helps). South of Gull Rock is a reef called the Whelps, a few pinnacles of which break the surface at low tide. Viewed from the right angle, and with imagination, the island looks like a sleeping dragon with a long tail trailing behind him.

Step 12

Go through this field, which has a Second World War decoy bunker and early-warning Royal Observer Corps (ROC) observation post in it. Continue ahead, keeping the sea on your left, towards Nare Head.

Veryan ROC post

The underground Royal Observer Corps post was built in 1963. It was opened in July of that year with the role of taking observations of nuclear bursts and monitoring radioactive fallout. Above ground you can see the access hatch and ventilator turret. The Royal Observer Corps was stood down in 1991, making this and all ROC posts redundant. However, the bunker is now opened a few times a year, giving a rare opportunity to see a fully restored Cold War observation post.

Step 13

At the waymark, turn left towards Nare Head. Follow the path downhill, back past Mallet's Cottage, and continue along towards Carne Beach.

Step 14

Stay on the South West Coast Path around Gerrans Bay. The path comes out onto the road above Carne Beach. Bear left downhill, following the road back into Carne car park.

End point

Carne Beach car park. Grid ref: SW906383. Postcode: TR2 5PF

Trail map

A map of the Carne Beach to Nare Head circular walk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

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Carne beach, Veryan, Truro, Cornwall, TR2 5PF

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carne@nationaltrust.org.uk

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