Roseland Ramble Walk
Roseland Ramble Walk
A beautiful walk on the Roseland that takes in some of the finest scenery Cornwall has to offer from unspoilt beaches and dramatic cliff tops to pristine waters and wooded vales.
This walk is guaranteed to blow away the cobwebs whilst taking in the spectacular scenery of the Roseland Peninsula.
You'll need to head to St Mawes to begin the walk in order to catch the Place Ferry which leaves the quay ever 30 minutes for the short hop across St Mawes harbour to Place.
From Falmouth or Truro, the best way to get to St Mawes is either on the St Mawes Ferry (from Falmouth) or an Enterprise Boat (from Truro, Trelissick Gardens and Falmouth).
After jumping off the ferry at Place follow the South West Coast Path which will take you along the shore line to St Anthony Head.
At the southern most tip of the Roseland Peninsula the headland overlooks the spectacular entrance to one of the world’s largest natural harbours.
Take some time to enjoy the view and explore the newly revealed remains from centuries of defensive fortifications.
After rounding the headland follow the coastal path until you reach Porthbeor beach, then turn inland across the field and return to Place creek on the road then catch the ferry back to St Mawes.
Starting Point: Place Ferry landing
Distance: 3.5 miles
Duration: 2 hours plus ferry travel time
Grading: Easy
End Point: Circular walk
On the way: The walk will take you across the historic harbour of St Mawes and around St Anthony Head. Look out for Fraggle Rock and if it's a nice day, take a detour to the stunning Porthbeor beach.
Walk Map
Buy ferry tickets
Combined ticket for the St Mawes Ferry & Place Ferry (starting from Falmouth).
Detailed walk information
Starting from Place ferry when you arrive at Place turn right, which takes you to Place House. If you turn left up into the woodlands you will be rewarded with old oaks, hazel, sweet chestnut and many ferns. Returning to the path to Place House a small diversion is to take the gate on your right to the small quay and turn left walking up past the gates of Place House. At the first footpath on your right go into the churchyard. The church, founded in the 12th Century, is always open for a visit. There is an old granite coffin in the churchyard and the entrance is made of Jurassic limestone from Caen, Normandy.
The Spry family (presently the Spry Grant-Dalton family) have historic links to the house and church. Originally an Augustine monastery in the 11th Century the House has been a Tudor and Victorian mansion, ransacked with the stone being used in the formation of the St Mawes’ sea wall.
Take the steps in front of the church door up and it veers to the right. At the top of the steps look left for some beehives. Turn right and follow the path with Place House now on your right. The path takes you around to Cellars Beach and the houses along this path have private entrances. Walk up hill with two lone trees in the field to your left. Go through the kissing gate at the top. This takes you to Amsterdam Point with wonderful views of St Mawes and Falmouth with Pendennis castle and St Mawes castle visible.
Take the path diagonally down to the left and not the path along the top of the field immediately left. This is Carricknath Point where the pinewood begins. The path undulates up and down and follows the edge of the entrance to the Carrick Roads. Great views across to Falmouth. As the path flattens out into a field there is a path that runs down to the edge of the field. This is the way down to Great Molunan beach. If you get to the bridge then you have gone too far. The beach is sandy and best visited at low tide.
From the beach retrace your steps to the path and head right towards the St Anthony’s lighthouse. Walk up the steep slope to your left and after 50 metres at the first path that leads to the right decide whether you want to take this to visit the bird hide, where peregrine falcons nest on the opposite cliff face, and the sheltered look out/ex gun emplacement or carry on up to the car park and café. Turn right to get to the toilets and St Anthony’s head look out where one can see the Lizard peninsula, over to Falmouth, up the River Fal and the entrance to the Helford River.
The path now follows the coastline to Porthbeor Beach for 2kms. There is a descent and ascent before it levels out in a field. 200 metres after the granite stile there is a footpath sign. There are 109 steps (count them) down to the beach. For all the effort you will be rewarded, especially if the tide is out, by a quiet, sandy beach with a few caves. Porthbeor and Towan beaches are two of the most popular beaches on the Roseland and a day trip just here is not a wasted one.
With the steps behind you walk up to the stile at the hedgerow behind which is the road. Turn left and walk onto the T-junction, which will take you uphill to the left to St Anthony’s Head or right down to Place House and the Ferry.
Public transport information
Ferry from St Mawes to Place.
Nearest Toilets and Nearest Disabled Toilets
Toilets on St Anthony’s Head.
Nearest Car parks and Nearest Car Parks with disabled provision
On St Anthony’s Head, restricted at Place.
Nearest refreshments
Café on St Anthony’s Head –seasonal.
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