Cornwall in Focus

Walking Port Quin to Port Isaac - 3.2 miles

OS Explorer 106: grid reference SW971806 to SW996808

Walk Duration: 2 hours

For this walk, walkers are faced with a choice of a SEVERE walk around Kellan Head and Reedy Cliff, passing Scarnor Point, Greengarden Cove, Varley Head, the steps at Pine Haven, Lobber Point before dropping down into Port Isaac or a much SIMPLER inland walk. We have chosen to do the inland route, in reverse, parking at Port Isaac, then walking to and from Doyden Castle via Port Quin.

Doyden Castle

Park your vehicle at the large Castle Rock Car Park at Port Isaac. From the car park head seaward to pick up the coastpath. Bear left heading down towards the harbour. Shortly you enter Canadian Terrace as the coastpath joins a narrow road down to the beach and harbour. Pass by the harbour, taking the first right turn up Roscarrock Hill passing toilets. Continue climbing up the tarmac lane to the group of houses above the village. The house named 'Hathaway' is a guest house offering bed and breakfast and could be used as a base for walks in the area. You now have a choice: either to walk along the coastpath proper as far as the picturesque Pine Haven and then turn inland or head up behind the car park to the houses following a footpath sign. We chose the former. Climb up several granite fronted steps to a seat, looking right (east) to see Tregardock, Trebarwith and Tintagel Island arcing away into the distance. At the wooden Pine Haven signpost ignore the stile to bear left instead walking up the valley floor away from the sea. After about 10 minutes walking beside a stream, the track ends at a slate stile with a wooden footbridge leading over. Take the footbridge and bear right as the narrow path climbs up through trees. At a second stile, cross into a field, the path now levelling out as you proceed along the right hand field boundary. At a pair of wide wooden farmgates (open) bear right down along a wide track as it runs parallel to the coast. Shortly Doyden House and Castle come into view through a gap in the hedge. Amble along the wide slaty track following it as it bears gently left through a pair of wide metal gates.

Kellan Head from Doyden Castle

Port Quin from Doyden Castle

Cross a stile at the next pair of gates keeping to the left field boundary. Cross yet another stile following the narrow path straight ahead down through a field. Meet a white wooden gate with a stile on its left and cross to pass Varley Cottage and Howards Cottage. Join the road passing a public footpath sign stating that you have just walked 2 miles from Port Isaac. Continue heading west along the road noting what appears to be a ruined 'wall' on your right. These are actually the remains of a set of ruined fishermen's cottages. Arrive at Port Quin some 80 minutes after leaving Port Isaac for the second time. Take time out for a picnic on the beach or to explore the rock pools and foreshore - grid reference SW971805. Refreshed follow the coastpath sign west up the road initially, before entering the NT property of Doyden over a stile. Return to Port Isaac for your vehicle.

Port Quin