North Cornwall Coast

Cornwall's Dramatic Northern Coast

5 or 6 nights - From £380 (5 nights) - 4 or 5 days walking between guest house

This independent walking holiday follows a dramatic and beautiful section of the South West Coastal Trail between Bude and Pastow in Cornwall, with a possible extension. The walking is varied and challenging with towering cliffs, priminent headlands and secluded bays and inlets harbouring well preserved small fishing ports and villages such as Port Isaac, Tintagel and Boscastle.

North Cornwall, England

North Cornwall's Atlantic coast is a dramatic and beautiful section of the south west peninsula of England. The rugged and sheer cliffs, as well as the picturesque fishing villages makes this one of the most enjoyable sections of the South West coast path. Our self guided walking holiday follows a particularly interesting and challenging section between Bude and Padstow, with a possible extension.

The walking is varied, each day enjoying new experiences from beautiful sandy bays to secluded inlets harbouring quaint villages and from exposed rocky headlands to sand dunes and the wide Camel Estuary. Your self guided walking holiday starts at the bustling seaside resort of Bude before embarking on a journey through wild coastal scenery. Highlights of your walking holiday include some towering sheer cliffs including High Cliff, which at 223m is the highest coastal cliff in Cornwall; a number of well-preserved small fishing ports and villages, such as Port Isaac and Boscastle, located in secluded bays of sinuous inlets, away from the fury of the Atlantic ocean. Their white-washed cottages with slate roofs, line attractive, twisty lanes climbing the narrow coves, making for an idyllic scene. Either side of the attractive and busy medieval fishing port of Padstow on the Camel Estuary is a series of dramatic headlands which provide great views along the coast. Some of these sites such as the Rumps are the sites of Iron Age forts and other historic monuments.

If you choose the option with five walking days you can decide whether to catch a bus to the bustling surf capital of Newquay or return to Padstow for your final night's accommodation. This walk can be enjoyed out of season thanks to the mild Cornish climate, when the tourists have disappeared and you can enjoy the beautiful villages and sites by yourselves.

Your independent walking holiday passes over a number of dramatic high cliffs and hills, such as the magnificent cliffs at Phillip’s Point Nature Reserve, where you can try and spot grey seals, Pencannow and Castle Point providing magnificent views along the coast as well as inland as far as the Tors of Dartmoor, and of course the highest cliff in Cornwall: High Cliff, at over 700ft (223 metres). Sometimes you will stay up high, whilst at other times a series of ascents and descents follow one after the other. The undulating nature of this rugged coastline is well illustrated by your climb from sea level to the top of Dennis Point (300ft, 90m), where you can take in the views before dropping straight back down to sea level. These towering cliffs make a great place to bird watch with birds of prey such as Falcons and Kestrels and sea birds including puffins, guillemots and razorbills. In addition, the grazing sheep and goats help to maintain a rich flora which a number of important wild flowers.

There are a number of sandy beaches and bays which you will discover from above and below such as the isolated beaches of the Strangles and their rocky shelves and promontories, as well as the beautiful beaches at Trebarwith Strand with their turquoise waters, lovely sandy beaches, rock pools and sheltering cliffs.

Some of these bays and inlets are home to traditional Cornish fishing villages. Your self guided walking holiday will explore the tiny villages of Crackington Haven, Port Quin and Port Gaverne, all once important fishing ports. Boscastle, with its ancient harbour, is a beautiful fishing village in the bottom of a rugged, steep sided valley, which is especially remembered for the devastating flash flood in August 2004. Port Isaac is a wonderful village surrounding a picturesque bay with a network of alleyways lined by white-washed historic cottages, including one narrow lane called ‘Squeeze-ee-belly’, whilst the historic port of Padstow has a bustling harbour and medieval buildings. Your walking trail along the south west coast path will also pass through Tintagel, its rocky promontory being the site of a Roman settlement and a Celtic fortress, with its castle ruins dating from the 13th century and being the reputed birthplace of King Arthur. The pretty village includes a 14th century building used as a post office since the 19th century.

Other interesting features of this independent walking holiday include Dizzard forest, the remnants from the prehistoric wood that once covered the entire country; Pentargon inlet where an impressive waterfall plummets 40m into the sea; historic interest with the remnants of fishing and quarrying industries, such donkey tracks around Backway’s Cove and an incredible rock pinnacle left by the quarryman behind Hole Beach. In addition there is the historic promontory, known as The Rumps, with its Iron Age fort. On this wonderful day the Cornish coastal path winds it way around a number of spectacular headlands which offer stunning panoramas, as well as traversing several valleys where you'll find pretty coves. Other highlights of this section include the spectacular views from Carnweather Point towards the Rumps and from Pentire Point across the Camel Estuary, as well as the beautiful Lundy Beach, the sandy beaches of Daymer Bay and the 13th century St Enodoc's Church.

Take a look at more details of our self guided walking holiday in north Cornwall, England: North Cornwall's Dramatic Coast

Take a look at the full list of locations of our walking holidays in England