Bossiney, Rocky Valley, Cornwall

We did this walk a few years ago, but it still remains in my top 3 for most memorable walks! The scenery, varied terrain, waterfalls and atmosphere on a lovely sunny day make this a gem of a walk!

Start from: Bossiney car park
Parking: Bossiney car park at postcode PL340AY.

The walk starts from Bossiney, heading out across fields to the hamlet of Halgabron then down into the woods of St Nectan's Glen. After circling the Glen the walk follows the lane to Rocky Valley and then follows the Trevillett river as it winds through ancient woodland out into a canyon leading to the sea. The route then joins the coast path, climbing up onto the headland and behind Benoath Cove and finally on to Bossiney Haven.

Highlights:
Woodland walk through St Nectan's Glen
Pretty waterfall at St Nectan's Kieve
Labyrinthine stone carvings in the ancient woodland of Rocky Valley
Secluded sandy beaches at Benoath Cove and Bossiney Haven

From the car park, cross the main road, turn right and follow the road towards Tintagel until you reach the Ocean Cove holiday park on the right.

At the junction opposite the Ocean Cove holiday park, turn left in the direction indicated by the public footpath sign. Cross the tarmac to a path between fences and follow this to a road in the holiday park.
Bear right onto the road and keep right at the junctions to follow it downhill until you reach a signpost at the top of some steps.
At the signpost, bear right down the steps to a footbridge and cross the bridge and the stile into the field. Bear left slightly up the field, heading between the telegraph pole by the barn and the one to the right of it, to a waymarked stile.
Climb the stile and cross the next field in the direction of the telegraph pole to the waymarked stile opposite.
Cross the stile and follow the right hedge to a gate on the far side of the field.
Go through the gate and turn left on the lane; follow it downhill until it meets a road.
Go through the gate and turn left onto the lane. Follow it to a bend with a public footpath sign on the right.
Take the public footpath to the right over a slate stile. Bear left slightly across the middle of a field, to an iron kissing gate.
Go through the kissing gate and follow the path into the wooded valley until you reach a footbridge.
Cross the footbridge and turn right onto the path along St Nectan's Glen. Follow this path upstream. Cross the footbridge next to the notice board. Follow the path over another footbridge and onwards to a wooden walkway leading to a flight of steps.
Follow the path along the walkways, up the steps and past some derelict buildings until you reach the Welcome sign for St Nectan's Kieve waterfall, until you reach a noticeboard by a footbridge.
Cross the footbridge next to the notice board. Follow the path over another footbridge and onwards to a wooden walkway leading to a flight of steps.
Follow the path along the walkways, up the steps and past some derelict buildings until you reach the Welcome sign for St Nectan's Kieve waterfall.

(St Nectan's Glen is a 60ft waterfall known as St Nectan's Kieve (there is an admission fee to the waterfall, but imo well worth the experience while you are there). According to local legend, St Nectan is supposed to be buried under the waterfall, along with the treasure he collected. Pilgrims visiting St. Nectan's Shrine have used the Glen path since 500AD.)
For more info - https://www.st-nectansglen.co.uk/

From the Welcome sign, turn left and follow the steps towards the toilets. Then follow the track uphill. Continue for about half a mile until you reach a junction with a chapel on the left
.At the junction with the well and chapel, turn left, signposted to the waterfall. Follow the track down to the bottom of the hill where a small concrete path departs to the right.
Bear right onto the small path and follow this along the river to reach the footbridge that you crossed to enter St Nectan's Glen.
Cross the bridge on the right and follow the path back up through the woods to the waymarked pedestrian gate.
Go through the pedestrian gate and continue ahead up the field until the stile comes into view, then make for this.
Cross the stile and turn right onto the lane. Follow it down the hill until it ends in a junction.
Cross the road and head for Trevillett Mill on the other side, in the direction indicated by the public footpath sign. Walk down the drive (which is a public right of way) until you reach a small footbridge on the right.
Cross the footbridge and follow the path along the fence to a footbridge over the main river.
Cross the footbridge and turn left, following the path along the river to a waymark next to the ruins of Trevillett Mill.
From the waymark, follow the path between the buildings and around to the right to a footbridge. Cross the footbridge and follow the path downriver until you reach a waymark above another footbridge. On the rockface beside the waymark are some prehistoric stone carvings.
At the waymark, bear left and follow the path up the left side of the valley to where a path departs from the right, just past an overhanging rock.
Keep left at the fork and follow the path up the steps to the top of the headland.
At the top of the steps, turn left and follow the coast path until you descend steps into a gulley to reach a waymark signposted to Tintagel.
From the waymark at the bottom of the steps you can turn right along the gully to explore the beach of Bossiney Haven and return here to continue the walk. To complete the walk, follow the track uphill, waymarked to Bossiney, which ends at a gate into the car park.