Creeks & Cliffs Walk
Creeks & Cliffs Walk
Take a magical journey around the Roseland Peninsula...
Follow the coast path from Place to Porthbeor Beach as in the Roseland Ramble.
When you arrive at Porthbeor, you will see this magnificent beach with coarse golden sand and rock pools. The beach itself is only accessible from the water, but it is worth stopping to take in the spectacle. From Porthbeor, continue along the coast path towards Portscatho, turning inland at Towan Beach towards Porth.
Crossing the road, follow the signs that will take you along the shores of Porth Creek to North Hill Point.
From here, you turn and follow the path that runs alongside the Percuil River and back to Place Creek.
Starting Point: Place Ferry landing
Distance: 6 miles
Duration: 4 hours
Grading: Moderate to hard
End Point: Circular walk
On the way: Get there on the St Mawes Ferry and then the Place Ferry. Great views of the world's third deepest natural harbour, unspoilt beaches and tranquil creeks. The walk takes you past St Anthony's Lighthouse. This really is a walk that has everything.
Walk Map
Detailed walk information
Car drivers park in Porth car park (868328) and follow the instructions from the paragraph starting “At Porth car park”. The walk details below start from Place.
From the Place ferry, turn right, and after 200 metres at the gate, turn right to get a great view of Place House.
Place House and the church hidden behind which you shall visit have been an Augustine monastery, Tudor house, and Victorian mansion and are linked with the important local Spry family. The church founded in the 12th Century by the Bishops of Exeter was given as a gift to the Priory in Plympton in Devon. Rebuilt in Victorian times, it is now under the stewardship of the Churches Trust.
Walk up the road to the left of Place House and take the first path after 100 metres into the churchyard to your right. The church doors are always open, and they welcome visitors. Go through the Norman door made of Caen stone (Jurassic limestone from North West France). With the door behind you, climb the steps in front of you, which bear right, and follow the path right to the top. Place House can be seen to your right. This path takes you to Cellars Beach. Walk uphill to Amsterdam Point, and once through the kissing gate, inspiring views of Falmouth and St Mawes await you. Head diagonally downhill (not immediately left along the ridge), heading for Carricknath Point along the coast path. The path now leads to St. Anthony's head via Great Molunan Beach (which can be reached by a small path to the right before the wooden bridge). At the bridge, turn right (not up the long set of steps uphill) again, following the coast. Through a white gate and past the old lighthouse fuel store, take the steep path uphill at the railings. One can visit the perimeter of the lighthouse by going straight ahead.
Near the top of the path to the right is a long path that leads to a bird hide and old gun emplacement. It is worth taking this short diversion as you could be rewarded with a view of a peregrine falcon nesting. St. Anthony's is a site of a military battery used extensively in the 2nd World War but has a much older significant strategic history. Returning to the uphill path, take the steps to the top and turn left for refreshments and right for the toilets and magnificent viewpoint. From there, the Lizard peninsula, Helford River, Falmouth, St Mawes, and up the river Fal can all be seen on a clear day.
The path now follows the coastline to Porthbeor Beach for 2kms. There is a descent and ascent before it levels out in a field. Two hundred metres after the granite stile, there is a footpath sign and steps down to the beach, which, for safety reasons, are no longer accessible. You will be rewarded at this point with a magnificent view of a quiet, sandy beach with a few caves. Porthbeor and Towan beaches are two of the Roseland's most popular beaches; a day trip just here is not a wasted one. Continue along the path over Killigerran Head and around to Towan Beach, which is more accessible and popular as Porth car park is only 300 metres inland. At the beach, take the path left inland to the car park and toilets.
At Porth Car Park, take the lane downhill next to the cottage (not the main road) and follow the sign at the bottom, taking you right into the woods parallel to the road. There is a bridge to the left. Walk over it, turn right, and follow the path along Porth Creek, which leads through a gate into the woodland area of Drawler Plantation. The creek joins the Percuil River, and one gets views after the Plantation of the Fal River, Falmouth and St Mawes, which is on the opposite bank of the Percuil River. Eventually, one comes out at the Place ferry.
Public transport information
Place has a short ferry ride from St Mawes followed by a 20-minute ferry ride from Falmouth.
Nearest Toilets and Nearest Accessible Toilets
Falmouth and St Mawes quays. Also, at St Anthony's Head and at the National Trust Porth Car Park.
Nearest Car parks and Nearest Car Parks with disabled provision
Alternatively, start at the Porth NT car park or at St Anthony's Head, which has very limited space at Place.
Nearest refreshments
Café on St Anthony's Head – not all year round.