Trebarwith Strand & Tintagel 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 – Trebarwith Strand, Glebe Cliff church and Treknow (about 3½ miles)

1. Car park to the beach

   1 2 About 450 m (¼ mile) West, downhill

   From the Cornwall Council car park turn right out of the entrance and walk down the narrow valley lane towards the sea. There is no pavement, so keep to the side and watch for cars. At the foot of the lane the Port William pub stands above you on the left, and the slipway leads down onto the beach. The sand is only uncovered around low tide and the incoming tide cuts people off below the cliffs every year – check tide times before going onto the beach.

   Point 2: Foot of the lane at Trebarwith Strand, below the Port William – 50.64424, -4.76101 (SX 04889 86367)

2. Up onto the cliffs to Lanterdan

   2 3 About 900 m (½ mile) North, steep climb then level

   At the bottom of the lane look for the South West Coast Path acorn sign on the right (north side of the valley), signed to Tintagel. The path climbs steadily up steps and a zigzag onto the cliff top, with Gull Rock out to sea behind you. Once on top the path levels out along old quarry tracks. After about half a mile you reach Lanterdan Quarry, where a tall slate pinnacle stands on its own in the middle of the cliff workings – the quarrymen left it because the rock was too poor for roofing slate. The quarry edges are sheer and unfenced: keep to the path and keep dogs and children close.

   Point 3: Lanterdan Quarry and pinnacle – 50.65025, -4.75922 (SX 050 870 (approx.))

3. Bagalow Cliff above Hole Beach

   3 4 About 400 m (¼ mile) North-west

   Keep on the coast path north past the quarry. Below on your left is Hole Beach, named after a cave cut by the quarrymen in the cliff face; at low tide it joins up with Trebarwith Strand. Pass the National Trust sign for Bagalow, cross a stile and go through a gap in the old wall on Bagalow Cliff. Ignore the path on the right heading inland across the fields to Trevillick and keep straight on along the coast.

   Point 4: Hole Beach and Bagalow Cliff – 50.65307, -4.76165 (SX 048 873 (approx.))

4. Round Penhallic Point

   4 5 About 500 m (⅓ mile) West, then north round the headland

   Bear left over another stile and follow the path round Lower and Higher Penhallic Point. On the grassy slope below you can make out the zigzag track that donkeys and carts used to take slate down to boats at Penhallick Wharf. There are wide views back south over Hole Beach, Trebarwith Strand and on towards Port Isaac.

   Point 5: Lower Penhallic Point – 50.65504, -4.76587 (SX 0459 8758)

5. Along the quarry cliffs to the Youth Hostel

   5 6 About 600 m (⅓ mile) North

   Continue north along the cliffs past the Gull Point and Lambshouse quarry workings. The path joins a broad track which leads to Tintagel Youth Hostel, a former quarry office in a spectacular spot above Dunderhole Point. When there is a big swell running, waves boom and spout in the inlet below.

   Point 6: Tintagel Youth Hostel, Dunderhole Point – 50.65979, -4.76406 (SX 04738 88104)

6. Glebe Cliff and St Materiana’s church

   6 7 About 550 m (⅓ mile) North-east

   Walk past the hostel and stay on the coast path across the open National Trust land of Glebe Cliff, with Tintagel Island and the castle ruins coming into view ahead. Where the church appears on your right, bear right to it. St Materiana’s dates from the late 11th and early 12th centuries and sits alone in its windswept churchyard. For the longer walk with Tintagel Castle and the village, follow “Longer walk via Tintagel Castle” below and rejoin here.

   Point 7: St Materiana’s Church, Glebe Cliff – 50.66303, -4.75967 (SX 05061 88452)

7. Church lane to the B3263 at Tregatta

   7 8 About 800 m (½ mile) South-east, inland

   From the church gate follow the lane inland. Leave Vicarage Hill (which runs into Tintagel village) to your left and keep on the lane heading south-east, past the houses at Trevillick, for about half a mile until it meets the main B3263 road at Tregatta, just by Trewethen Barn.

   Point 8: Lane end on the B3263 at Tregatta (by Trewethen Barn) – 50.65462, -4.75322 (SX 05482 87500)

8. Through Treknow

   8 9 About 900 m (½ mile) Right along the B3263, then south

   Turn right along the B3263 for about 60 m (200 ft) – there is no pavement, so walk in single file facing the traffic – then take the first road on the right, signed to Treknow. Follow this quiet road south for about half a mile into Treknow, past the village hall.

   Point 9: Treknow village – 50.64922, -4.75124 (SX 056 869 (approx.))

9. Treknow back to Trebarwith Strand

   9 1 About 700 m (½ mile) South, then south-west downhill

   Keep south on the road through Treknow and bear right where it forks. A short way on, take the signed public footpath on the right, which drops south-west down the side of the valley to the car park at Trebarwith Strand. If the tide is out, walk on down to the beach to finish; the Port William and the beach café are close by.

   Point 1: Trebarwith Strand car park (PL34 0HB) – 50.64483, -4.75519 (SX 05302 86417)

Option Longer walk via Tintagel Castle and village (about 4¾ miles)

Follow the main walk to St Materiana’s church (step 6), then:

1. Glebe Cliff down to Tintagel Castle

   7 A1 About 700 m (½ mile) North, steeply downhill

   From the church go back to the coast path and turn right along the seaward wall of the churchyard. Cross a stile and follow the coast path north as it drops steeply down the cliff side, past old earthwork defences, to the valley bottom at Tintagel Haven by the castle entrance and English Heritage visitor centre. The footbridge (opened in 2019) crosses to the island, where the castle ruins date from the 13th century but the site was a major stronghold centuries earlier. Castle admission is charged; booking is advised in busy periods. The paths on the island are steep with many steps. At low tide you can see Merlin’s Cave from the beach.

   Point A1: Tintagel Castle entrance and visitor centre, Tintagel Haven – 50.66800, -4.75800 (SX 05200 89000)

2. Up the castle track to Tintagel village

   A1 A2 About 750 m (½ mile) East, uphill

   From the visitor centre walk up the steep tarmac track (the private road used by the castle Land Rover service) that climbs the valley side into Tintagel. It comes out at the western end of Fore Street; turn right along the street for the National Trust’s Old Post Office, a 14th-century stone house, with pubs, cafés and shops around it.

   Point A2: Tintagel Old Post Office, Fore Street – 50.66335, -4.75168 (SX 05627 88467)

3. Vicarage Hill back to the church

   A2 7 About 650 m (⅓ mile) West

   Walk back along Fore Street and turn left down Vicarage Hill beside the Cornishman Inn, signed “Parish Church – Glebe Cliff”. Follow this lane west out of the village for about a third of a mile back to St Materiana’s church. Continue from step 7 of the main walk (“Church lane to the B3263 at Tregatta”) – you meet the lane to Tregatta just before the church.

   Point 7: St Materiana’s Church, Glebe Cliff – 50.66303, -4.75967 (SX 05061 88452)

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