Padstow to Trevone Circular Walk

The route

Numbers in circles match the points on the route map and the waypoint table below. Distances are approximate and measured between points.

Main walk – Padstow, Stepper Point, Trevone and Crugmeer (about 7½ miles)

1. North Quay to the war memorial

   1 2 About 550 m (⅓ mile) North, gently uphill

   From the northern side of Padstow harbour walk along North Quay, with the harbour on your right, past the landing steps used by the ferry from Rock. Look for the acorn waymarks of the South West Coast Path – they will guide you all the way to Trevone. Follow the wide tarmac path up the ramp and through the park to the granite war memorial on St Saviour’s Point, ignoring steps that climb to the left. This first stretch is level or gently sloping and suitable for pushchairs, with fine views up and across the Camel Estuary to Rock.

   Point 2: Padstow War Memorial, St Saviour’s Point – 50.54727, -4.93506 (SW 92158 76060)

2. Above the beaches to St George’s Cove

   2 3 About 500 m (⅓ mile) North

   Carry on along the coast path above the sandy estuary beaches, keeping to the main path where smaller tracks lead off through the dunes. Steps drop down on the right to St George’s Cove; the little spring of St George’s Well is hidden in the vegetation just above the beach. At a really low tide you can short-cut across the sands towards Hawker’s Cove, but the tide comes in quickly over the wide flats at the mouth of the Camel – check tide times and do not get cut off.

   Point 3: St George’s Cove – 50.55082, -4.93871 (SW 9191 7646)

3. Gun Point and round Harbour Cove

   3 4 About 900 m (½ mile) North, then west round the cove

   The path continues past Gun Point, where the concrete platforms and magazine of an old coastal gun battery survive, then swings inland around the edge of Harbour Cove. Where a small inlet meets a track coming in from the left (this track leads back to Padstow via Tregirls if you want to cut the walk short), turn right towards the beach for a few metres and look for the acorn waymark half-hidden in the bushes. Follow the narrow path through the scrub and out onto the shoreline path.

   Point 4: Harbour Cove – 50.55548, -4.94677 (SW 9136 7700)

4. Along the shore to Hawker’s Cove

   4 5 About 600 m (0.4 mile) North

   Walk north along the edge of the estuary, with the water on your right, to the hamlet of Hawker’s Cove. The old lifeboat station and its slipway were home to the Padstow lifeboat until silting forced it to move to Trevose Head in 1967; the terrace of former coastguard houses stands above the cove. Ignore the road on the left and follow the waymarks along the path between the houses.

   Point 5: Hawker’s Cove and the old lifeboat station – 50.56029, -4.94848 (SW 9126 7754)

5. Up to Stepper Point and the Daymark

   5 6 7 About 1 km (⅔ mile) North, then west, climbing

   The path climbs steadily towards Stepper Point, with Polzeath, Pentire Point and the notorious Doom Bar sandbank in view across the estuary mouth. At the old quarry ignore the path to the left and keep climbing round the headland to the Daymark, a tall stone tower probably built in the early 19th century to guide ships into the Camel. It is a superb viewpoint in every direction. Keep dogs on leads here in spring and early summer, when seabirds are nesting on the cliffs.

   Point 7: The Daymark, Stepper Point – 50.56808, -4.95255 (SW 91011 78422)

6. Pepper Hole and Butter Hole

   7 8 About 450 m (¼ mile) South-west, along the cliff top

   From the Daymark follow the coast path south-west along the cliff top, with the open sea now on your right. You soon pass Pepper Hole, a deep shaft by the cliff edge that opens into the sea at its base, and then the rocky inlet of Butter Hole, with Gulland Rock standing out to sea. The cliff edges and the Pepper Hole are unfenced – stay on the path and keep children and dogs close.

   Point 8: Pepper Hole – 50.56511, -4.95535 (SW 908 781 (approx.))

7. The high cliffs to Gunver Head

   8 9 About 1.9 km (1¼ miles) South-west

   The path now hugs the high cliffs for over a mile, past rocky islets where seals are sometimes seen. Ignore paths heading inland to the left. Approaching Gunver Head the path turns inland and drops steeply into a narrow valley, crosses a stile and the stream, then zig-zags up the far side past small waterfalls – on a sunny, blustery day look for rainbows in the spray. Climbing out, there are views of the Merope Islands just offshore. Cross a tall slate stile (awkward for small dogs) and continue along the broad grassy path, set back a little from the cliff edge.

   Point 9: Gunver Head – 50.55646, -4.97344 (SW 894 771 (approx.))

8. Round Hole and down to Trevone

   9 10 11 About 1.6 km (1 mile) South, gently downhill

   The walking is easier now, through open pasture towards Trevone, with layers of slate and limestone showing in the cliffs. Just inland of the path at Roundhole Point is the Round Hole, a collapsed sea cave some 40 m across and about 25 m deep, with the sea surging in at the bottom. The Round Hole has no fence – admire it from well back from the edge. Cross a stone stile and go down the concrete steps to the lane at Trevone. Turn right for the beach, car park, toilets and café.

   Point 11: Trevone beach car park and café (PL28 8QY) – 50.54475, -4.97705 (SW 89172 75898)

9. Trevone to Crugmeer

   11 12 About 1.3 km (¾ mile) North-east, steeply uphill then level

   From the beach walk back up the lane past the foot of the steps you came down. The lane bends right above the beach and climbs steeply. Where it levels out, keep right at the junction (a track goes off to the left), pass through a gap and follow the surfaced lane across open fields, ignoring other turnings, into the hamlet of Crugmeer. There is no pavement on the lane – walk in single file and watch for traffic.

   Point 12: Crugmeer – 50.55095, -4.96364 (SW 901 765 (approx.))

10. Across the fields from Crugmeer

    12 13 About 1.3 km (¾ mile) East

    At Crugmeer turn right, then left by a post box. After about 100 m the footpath leaves the lane on the right over a hedge and heads east across a series of fields, crossing each one diagonally from stile to stile. Follow it for about 1 km (⅔ mile) until it comes out on a narrow tarmac lane just south of Tregirls Farm. Turn right. Keep dogs on leads through the fields, which may hold livestock or crops.

    Point 13: Tregirls Farm – 50.54998, -4.94903 (SW 9118 7640)

11. Down past Prideaux Place

    13 14 About 950 m (0.6 mile) South, downhill

    Follow the lane south towards Padstow, passing under a stone bridge that links the grounds of Prideaux Place. The deer park is beside the lane, so look out for deer grazing under the trees. Continue down to the castellated entrance gateway of Prideaux Place, the Elizabethan home of the Prideaux family for over 400 years. The lane is narrow with no pavement.

    Point 14: Prideaux Place entrance gate – 50.54268, -4.94536 (SW 91408 75578)

12. Back to the harbour

    14 1 About 700 m (0.4 mile) East, downhill

    Carry on downhill as the lane becomes Church Street, passing St Petroc’s Church, then turn right down Duke Street into the centre of town. Any of the streets leading downhill on your left from here bring you back to the harbour and North Quay.

    Point 1: North Quay, Padstow harbour – 50.54282, -4.93660 (SW 92029 75570)

All information is given in good faith and for guidance only. Always carry the OS map and check the South West Coast Path website for diversions.

Highlights along the way

Nearby

Photos

Route map and waypoints

Latitude and longitude (WGS84, as used by phones and sat-navs) with OS grid references. The markers show key points only – follow the waymarked paths between them.

Frequently asked questions