View of bay with clear blue sea and grassy headland beyond — The coast path at Lantivet Bay, Cornwall | © National Trust Images/Sue Brackenbury

Cornwall

Lantivet Bay circular walk

This walk takes in the beautiful bays of Lantivet and Lantic. Clamber over clifftops, spend some time on the beach and to discover a landscape with a rich fishing and smuggling heritage.

Dangerous cliffs

Be aware of cliff edges and unstable cliffs. Keep children and dogs supervised.

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Total steps: 5

Start point

Lantivet Bay car park, grid ref: SX156518

Step 1

Leave the National Trust car park, cross over the road and go through the gate marked 'Lantivet Bay'. Follow the path, cross a second road and go through the large gate opposite. At the end of this lane bear left and follow the path, crossing a stream and descending a slope to arrive on the cliffs above Palace Cove.

Step 2

From Palace Cove, walk west along the coast path. Passing Lantivet beach below, where sand and seaweed was once taken by cart for use on Frogmore farm fields.

Step 3

Continue west along the coast path above the Watch House to Pencarrow Head.

Pencarrow Head

A mix of rock, plant life, insects and birds, together with far-reaching views, makes Pencarrow Head a place to linger. In spring the ledges are decked with sea campion and thrift, ox-eye daisies and sheep's-bit scabious and gorse and bracken have been cleared, establishing new areas of grassland. On a clear day you can see Bolt Head in Devon to the east and the Lizard to the west – 70 miles apart. In medieval times, Pencarrow Head was a warren where rabbits were encouraged to breed, and then culled for meat. Now, Dexter cattle and Dartmoor ponies graze the clifftops.

Two dark brown ponies grazing in a clifftop field with small bay in background — Dartmoor ponies at Pencarrow Head, Cornwall | © National Trust Images/John Millar

Step 4

At this point you can either turn northwards up the spine of the headland, or continue along the coast path above Lantic Bay. If you decide not to explore the beach, follow the coast path to arrive at a fork in the path; turn inland and up to join the path across the fields to the road.

Step 5

Turn right just before you reach the road, and follow the path until you reach Lantic car park. Then continue along the road with care. After passing Triggabrowne the road drops back down and round to Lantivet Bay car park.

End point

Lantivet Bay car park, grid ref: SX156518

Trail map

Lantivet Bay circular walk, Cornwall map — Lantivet Bay circular walk, Cornwall | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

Lantivet Bay, near Frogmore Farm, Lanteglos by Fowey, Cornwall, PL23 1NP

01726870146

lantivetbay@nationaltrust.org.uk

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