Pendennis Headland Walk
Pendennis Headland Walk
Walk around the historic Pendennis Headland where you'll be rewarded with fantastic views across Falmouth Harbour and along the Cornish coast.
From Custom House Quay head east towards the Maritime Museum along the road, cross the first mini roundabout and follow Bar Road past the entrance to the docks, under the railway bridge.
After crossing the roundabout you will start to climb Castle Drive and can enjoy the fantastic views across the harbour and into the active dockyard below.
A short distance after the docks you will find the entrance for Pendennis Castle.
Explore this prominent castle and enjoy its breathtaking views. Continuing along Castle Drive you will come to Pendennis Point where you can explore the headland and enjoy an ice cream.
From Pendennis Point you continue along Castle Drive until you reach a fork. Bear right and pick up Castle Hill which will take you back to the roundabout next to Falmouth Docks.
From the roundabout follow your original track back into town.
You can extend this walk by strolling down the sea front to Gyllyngvase Beach with its beachside cafe, golden sand and crystal clear waters.
Starting Point: Events Square
Distance: 2.5 miles
Duration: 1.5 hours plus time for shopping and food
Grading: Easy
End Point: Circular walk
On the way: Maritime heritage. Falmouth's top attractions. Views over the harbour. Cafe culture and great shops.
Walk Map
Detailed walk information
Falmouth town is multifaceted with regards to its history. Although its history is more recent than its close neighbours Penryn and Truro it is nonetheless full of stories that help understand the DNA of Cornwall.
Whilst this is a short walk it is full of areas to explore further and views of walks to investigate. It is a great first walk to explore the options and to see the area of the Fal River.
Starting at the National Maritime Museum with your back to the entrance walk towards the gates and the pointy obelisk. This is the Killigrew monument built by Martin Lister Killigrew in 1737 and contains no inscription or date. The Killigrews were an infamous family who would promote and aid the development of the town through their links with royalty in equal measure to their responsibility for piracy and building up large personal debts. Over the road is what remains of their original house Arwenack house which gives the road its name.
Turn left and walk up Marine Crescent bearing right at the entrance to the docks. Go under the bridge and at the small roundabout go ahead at Castle hill and then left following the 'scenic sign'. This takes you to where you can overlook the wharves and buildings of the Falmouth docks. The photo above gives a short history of the scene you are looking at.
Walking up the hill the entrance to Ships and Castles is on your right followed by the entrance to Pendennis Castle built by Henry 8th in the 1540’s. Keeping to the left hand side of the road there are intermittent views through the trees of the Carrick Roads. There will probably be ships anchored off shore awaiting servicing and orders before they set off somewhere around the world. Falmouth is an important hub for the worlds shipping.
At the car park at Pendennis point walk to the end and one can walk down to the remains of the old Block House. Looking out to sea, one can see down to the Lizard peninsula and the Manacle Rocks to the right, scene of many a shipwreck. St Mawes and the St Anthony’s Head lighthouse is across the water to the left.
To the right along the coast is Gyllyngvase beach which leads onto Swanpool, Maenporth beach and the Helford River.
With your back to the sea, in front of you just below Pendennis castle is the RNLI look out. Carry on to your left down Castle Drive towards the imposing Falmouth Hotel built in 1865 with the coming of the railways.
On reaching the fork in the road. The right fork takes you back to the roundabout and Falmouth town centre. The left fork takes you to the Falmouth hotel, Gyllyngvase beach and just 3 minutes away public toilets on the seafront at Castle Beach Café. One can walk through the grounds of the Falmouth Hotel and stop for refreshments or retrace ones steps back to the fork in the road and turn left back to the centre of town.
Public transport information
Ferries from St Mawes, train stations at Falmouth Town and Falmouth Docks and numerous buses.
Nearest Toilets and Nearest Disabled Toilets
At the entrance to the Car park opposite Grove place at entrance to Events square.
Nearest Car parks and Nearest Car Parks with disabled provision
Events Square car park.
Nearest refreshments
Falmouth town centre has many refreshment stops.
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