The Falmouth to Portloe walk follows the South West Coast Path for approximately 27.1km. It is a one way route rather than a circular walk, maintained as part of the National Trails network.
Falmouth harbour is reputed to be the third largest natural harbour in the world, and was once the second busiest port in the entire British Empire. Leaving it behind, the path crosses towards the Roseland Peninsula, one of Cornwall’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with wide views back across the Fal from the exposed stretches around Carricknath Point and St Anthony Head. Walking stays fairly gentle until Nare Head, after which the path becomes considerably more strenuous, twisting through wooded valleys and across open fields before the final descent into Portloe.
Near the start of the route stands St Mawes Castle, built in 1538 as one of Henry VIII’s coastal defences against a feared invasion from the combined forces of the Pope, Spain, and France. Unlike most Tudor forts, it was built in the shape of a clover leaf, and much of its original design survives today. Not far beyond it, St Anthony’s Lighthouse has stood since 1835 and once held the largest bell in Cornwall, before it was replaced by a foghorn in 1954.
The cliffs around St Anthony Head and Zone Point are good places to watch for kittiwakes, gannets, fulmars, shags, and cormorants, along with grey seals in the water below. Further along, Dartmoor ponies graze the cliffs at Treluggan, brought in deliberately to keep the scrub and bracken down so other plants and wildlife can thrive. The little village of Portscatho, once known for its pilchard fishing, later found unexpected fame as a filming location for the television series The Chamomile Lawn.
Near Pendower and Carne, two National Trust beaches join into one long stretch of sand at low tide, with a pair of Second World War pillboxes still standing near the car park behind them. From the crags of Nare Head, keep an eye on Gull Rock offshore for its resident seabirds. The walk ends with the approach into Portloe itself, a small, unspoilt fishing village tucked around a tiny natural harbour.
Ferries run from Falmouth across to St Mawes and on to Place at the start of the route, though the second leg only operates between Good Friday and the end of October. Outside that window, an alternative is either a bus for part of the journey or an additional eight mile walk around the head of the Percuil River.
Those wanting a shorter day can stop at Portscatho, roughly ten kilometres in. The route is difficult to extend further, since accommodation options thin out considerably beyond that point.
Parking is available at Falmouth, St Mawes, St Anthony Head, above Towan Beach, Gerrans, Portscatho, Porthcurnick, Pendower Beach, Carne Beach, inland from Kiberick Cove, near Manare Point, and at Portloe itself.
Take A Walk Around Falmouth
Weather
Plan The Walk
Places along this walk
Places to stay
- Idle Rocks
- Broom Parc
- The Old Fire Station
- Ship & Castle Hotel
- Nare Hotel
- The Lugger
Where to park
- Pendower Beach
- Portscatho
- St Anthony Head
- The Quay Car Park
- Porth Farm
- New Road Car Park
- Porth Farm
- Portscatho Square
Pubs
- Prince of Wales
- Finn M'Coul's
- Plume of Feathers
- The Rising Sun
- The Grapes Inn
- Jacob's Ladder
- The Victory Inn
- Hand
- St Mawes Hotel
- Beerwolf Books
- The Ship Inn
Cafes
- Boo Koos
- The Boathouse
- The Chintz
- 33 Old High Street
- The Pier Cafe
- Cafe Chandlers
- The Watch House
- The St Mawes Bakery Shop
- Star and Garter
- The View
- Ukrainian Soul
- Caffè Nero
- The Natural Store
- Beacon Coffee
- Star Glazers Pottery Painting Cafe
- Shallikabooky Beach Hut
- Costa
- Sandy's Deli
- Pizza Jockeys
- Palacio Lounge Cafe Bar
- Jam
- Curry Corner
- Indiedog
- The Quarterdeck
- Rising Dragon
- The Mulberry
- Ragamuffins Café
- Mine
- Tide & Thyme
- The Hidden Hut
- The Thirstea Co
Attractions
- Killigerran Head
- The Flagstaff
- Gwithti an Pyrst A Cabinet of Folklore and Magic
- Kernow Escape
- Fitness & Performance Gym
Shops
- Spar
- Rowe's Cornish Bakers
- Warrens Bakery
- Porthscatho Stores
- New Gallery
- The Harbour Gallery
- Greenbank Books
- 49
- Card Factory
- Trespass
- Mr Scorse Gourmet Deli & Wines
- Stones
- Inspire Makers
- Out West
- Will Pearson Boomerangs
- Jezebel
- The Cherry Tree
- The Square Gallery
- Fudge & More
- Waterside Gallery
- 4 @ the arcade
- Da Bara Bakery
- St Mawes Gallery
- Cornish Cream
- Mountain Warehouse
- SoSweet
- Tarquin's
- Flapjackery
- Whirligig Studio Cards
- The Sea Garden
- Curgurrell Farm Shop
- Tesco Express
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