Walk up to Willapark Lookout
Walk details
- Distance: Approximately 1.5 miles (out and back).
- Terrain: Moderate to strenuous; includes steep, uneven coastal paths and grassy headland.
- Start/Finish: Boscastle Harbour / Willapark Lookout.
- Website: National Coastwatch – Boscastle
- Google Maps: Willapark Lookout
This walk takes you from the heart of Boscastle village, following the river as it meets the sea along the dramatic, winding harbour.
As you leave the sheltered quay behind, the route joins the South West Coast Path, ascending toward the 317-foot-high Willapark headland.
The climb is bracing and offers expansive views of the Atlantic, eventually leading you to the iconic Willapark Lookout; a whitewashed, castellated Victorian tower that has stood watch over the harbour entrance since the 1800s.
Keep an eye out for the semi-wild ponies that graze these cliffs; they are essential for the local ecosystem, keeping the gorse in check to allow wildflowers to flourish.
If you time your walk for the late afternoon, the headland is one of the premier spots in North Cornwall to witness a winter sunset, with the sky turning vibrant shades of orange and pink behind the silhouette of the lookout tower. Learn more about the wild ponies here.