A woodland walk around Trelissick, near Truro


A picture of a lake near Truro in Cornwall.

Trelissick has always been one of my favourite NT estates. I love the woodland walks at any time of year and the view from the front of the house down the Fal out to sea has to be one of the best in Cornwall.

The house has recently been placed in the care of the National Trust and together with beautiful gardens running down to the tidal estuary, an excellent cafe, gallery and acres of parkland, it summons me in almost every week!

It is also the meeting place for my Nordic Walking group Walk Kernowย and today I took up my poles and set off to explore some local footpaths on the north side of the estuary.

I turned right at the park entrance and headed across the field past the Old Lodge and over the road zigzagging down the north woodland walk to the head of Lamouth creek.

Here I took a left fork to soon cross over the bridge towards Roundwood Quay. Keeping the creek on my right I turned off to the left on a permissive path across South Kestle field to a Tarmac road, turning left uphill to the next T junction and turned right.

A short walk brought me down into the pretty little hamlet at the head of Cowlands Creek.

September and October are often the best months for walking in Cornwall

I crossed the creek and turned immediately right onto the public footpath, keeping the creek on my right. I noticed lots of Kea plums along this path – remnants of orchards on the Tregothnan estate – they only grow here in this valley and in past years were harvested by villagers and taken to Truro by boat for sale. They make excellent jam.

When the path emerges from the woods, keep right to walk by the side of the creek until you reach the village of Coombe.

Take the road out of the village and turn left at the top. After a short distance you will see a sign for Purdy’s farmhouse tea room. Manna from heaven! Lynne and Tim have just opened up their Little Lanner Farm as a garden tea room (indoors if wet!) and it is a beautiful tranquil spot, open on Saturdays and Sundays at the moment. Check out their Facebook page if you plan to visit and I can promise a warm welcome.

Carry on up the hill to the next T junction and turn left down the hill past Higher Lanner farm to find yourself back at Cowlands Creek. Walk up the hill and past the lane you came out from last time to the next left where you head down a steep hill. Just as you start to rise, open the gate on your left to follow a stream on your left and reach the north woodland walk where you left it heading for Roundwood Quay.

This time keep straight on with Lamouth creek on your left and exit just above the King Harry ferry. If you cross the road and go straight on, you could do the south woodland walk for another 1.5 miles. I turned left up the hill and left again at the Water Tower to re-enter Trelissick grounds.

  • The walk was 6.75 miles and finished off with a delicious, well-earned cone of Callestick ice cream. Yum!
  • You can park for free as a NT member, otherwise there is a charge by meter.

Weโ€™d love to hear about any walks you would like to recommend. Leave a comment below, post on our Facebook page or tweet @ActionNan.

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