3 Walks: Tintagel

OUR regular guide to local walks gives you the choice of three walks (a stroll, a stagger and a stride), from one starting point. This time we travel to the cliff paths around Tintagel - just one hour’s drive from Exeter or Plymouth, but which will provide a full day out. Be sure to linger till sunset. Ced Renison is your guide.


Directions
Approach Camelford from Launceston on the A395, then follow signs to Tintagel. From the High Street take the road left, downhill, signposted Glebe Cliffs and Church of St. Materiana, where there is a quiet spot to park and enjoy the views, and to picnic.

Stroll - cliffs, surf and slate
Allow two hours for this walk along the turfy coastal path to Port William and Trebarwith Strand. There is one steep climb, and a total distance of three miles.

From the car park, follow the cliff path south, away from the church, and you quickly find evidence of slate, which was hewed from the cliffs and lowered to flat bottomed barges. Look out for sloping tracks and semi-circular stone wall crane supports, and take great care with children when passing the precipitous quarry edges. Soon you will see Port William below, though the port itself has been washed away and only the stables remain, now a foody pub, from which the dramatic views have been used in several recent films, including Twelfth Night.

Return by the same route.

Stagger - castle, monastery, Merlin's cave, art
Allow two hours for this two mile walk.
Follow the cliff path past the church, down to the castle, and cross the bridge to the island remains of England's oldest monastery (entrance charges apply). Walk down to the stony beach and visit Merlin's cave. Continue past the café and climb to the imposing Arthurian Camelot Castle Hotel, illuminated by the enormous and colourful paintings by resident artist Ted Stourton (there is a display of his work in East Devon - ring 01395 579441 to view).

You may return to the church through the town.


Stride - waves, peaceful valley, bronze age carving and waterfall
Take some food and drink, and allow three hours for the five mile walk.

Continue the stagger route from the hotel along the coast for one mile, heading east to the mouth of Rocky Valley, where the sea surges are threatening: hold firmly onto children. Now walk south, inland, by the stream to cross a bridge and find the bronze age carving, a modern day shrine. Continue past the Trevillet Mill café, and turn left on the road for a third of a mile, then right, following the sign post to St Nectan's Kieve, where a small torrent cascades to a natural rock basin (kieve = tub) and you can clamber on a rocky ledge halfway up the waterfall.

Return by the footpath signposted Bossiney up the valley side through the woods, and from Bossiney turn left on the road to Tintagel.