Walking Cornwall: Exploring the Roseland Peninsula


Landscape shot of the Roseland Peninsular on a grey day

The Roseland Peninsula is one of Cornwall’s hidden gems. Less discovered than the rest of Cornwall, it offers a huge variety of options for a day out. For walkers, this area is really something special. Whether you’re looking for a challenging all-day walk or a gentle afternoon ramble, there are plenty of walks to choose from.

One of our favourites is the Cliffs and Creeks walk, which takes you around the tip of the peninsula at St Anthony Head, following the coast path, then cuts through woodland and fields beside the Percuil River.

It’s a circular route, approximately six miles long. This walk is lovely at any time of the year, but it’s beautiful in spring when the gorse, wild garlic and bluebells are out.

Starting in St Mawes, hop on the Place Ferry, a 10-minute journey which will take you across the water to the start of the walk. Once you’re back on dry land, follow the South West Coast Path which will take you along the shoreline to St Anthony Head. The views along this stretch of the walk are simply spectacular – the headland overlooks the entrance to one of the world’s largest natural harbours, the Carrick Roads, and you can see both St Mawes Castle and Pendennis Castle.

The path takes you round to St Anthony’s Lighthouse, which was used in the popular 80s children’s TV series, Fraggle Rock.

Further along the route you’ll find the artillery battery which was built in the 19th century and used in WWI and WWII. It’s now looked after by the National Trust, and it’s a fascinating place to explore and discover how these coastal defences helped to protect the country during wartime.

The walk continues along the coast path to Porthbeor beach where you can enjoy stunning views across the cliffs and the opportunity to spot a variety of sea birds. The climb down to Porthbeor is a steep one, but it’s definitely worth the trouble. With coarse golden sand and rock pools, it’s a good place to stop for a picnic and a paddle if it’s warm.

Carry on along the coast path towards Portscatho. When you reach Towan Beach, turn left across the field towards Porth. You’ll need to cross the road and walk through the farm to pick up the path that will take you along the shores of Porth Creek to North Hill Point. From here, it’s a gentle stroll beside the Percuil River back to Place Creek.

Getting there
St Mawes is approximately 35 mins by car from Bosinver. Alternatively, you could take the bus to Truro, then cruise down the river on the Enterprise Boat to St Mawes.

The Place Ferry runs between St Mawes and Place Creek seven days a week (March – October). The crossing takes approximately 10 minutes and there’s a discount if you book online in advance. Well-behaved dogs are free.

More walks on the Roseland Peninusula

To find out more about walking the Roseland Peninsula, visit the Fal River website, where you can details of a variety of walks in this area. For a great family friendly walk, try the Porthbeor Circular, an easy two-mile walk which starts in Place and will take you down to the fantastic sandy beach, where you’ll also find caves to explore…

We recommend picking up a copy of the Fal River Guide (we usually have them at reception at Bosinver), or you can order one online. Although the route is generally well signposted, you might also find it useful to take a copy of the Fal River Map or an Ordnance Survey map of the area.

Have you enjoyed walking on the Roseland Peninsula? Share your top tips for how to make the most of the experience below, post on our Facebook page or tweet @Bosinver – we’d love to hear your thoughts. If you would like to know more about booking a holiday here at Bosinver, please email reception@bosinver.co.uk or call 01726 72128.

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Action Nan and the rest of the team are always busy writing posts that we think you’ll like – from top tips on where to take the kids, to what’s likely to be going on in the local area when you stay – we’ve got it all in our blog!