Cornwall

Lundy Bay walk

Just a mile or so before you reach New Polzeath, there is a sheltered valley where light woodland and scrub lead to a gem of a rocky bay, with sandy coves at low tide. The walk has flower-rich meadows and wet grassland on the way, and many birds and butterflies in season. Add to this the drama of the clifftop views, the chance to peer down into a collapsed sea cave and to enjoy some rock-pooling and beach exploring at low tide – and this is a great little walk.

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Total steps: 5

Start point

Lundy Bay National Trust car park, grid ref: SW953795

Step 1

Cross the road with care, and enter through the gate opposite. Walk alongside the open meadows and through the light woodland.

Step 2

At the first cove, Markhams Quay, there is a view down to the cove and the path splits. Take the lower route.

Wildflowers and birds

Wild flowers such as yellow iris, meadowsweet and common fleabane grow in the wet grasslands, sheltered in the valley behind Lundy Bay, while knapweed, pale flax and common dog-violet flourish on drier ground. Late summer cutting and light stock grazing keep these areas free of encroaching scrub. The surrounding willow, gorse and blackthorn is a habitat for breeding birds. Blackcap, willow warbler and whitecap can be heard marking territories in spring. Later in the summer, purple heathers flower among yellow gorse to the east of the bay.

Step 3

Continue down to find the back of the cove. There are wooden stairs to the beach if the tide is low enough to explore.

Lundy Hole

The massive chasm you can see from the upper path at the western end of the bay is called Lundy Hole. This was once a sea cave scoured out by wave action, which widened and deepened a line of natural weakness in the bed rock. Eventually the cave roof collapsed leaving a deep pit and natural arch. This is one of a series of sea caves and other natural erosion features that can be seen along this stretch of coast.

Step 4

Turn around and return by the higher path to your right. A stone wall protects the drop into a stunning collapsed sea cave.

Step 5

Rejoin the previous path and walk the valley back up to the car park.

End point

Lundy Bay National Trust car park, grid ref: SW953795

Trail map

Map route for Lundy Bay walk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

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01208863046

pentire@nationaltrust.org.uk

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Lundy Bay walk

Total steps: 5