Amazing beach walk at Holywell
This walk takes you across the stunning sandy beach of Holywell, before returning through the towering dune system behind. It also offers fantastic views of the Penhale and Kelseys headlands, as well as the twin offshore islands of Carter’s Rocks.
Map
Start:
Holywell National Trust car park, grid ref: SW766587
1
From the car park, cross the road and follow the path to the beach.
A holy well at Holywell
Holywell gets its name from St Cubert's (or St. Cuthbert's) Well which is in a cave a little above high water mark. Man-made steps lead you 6m up to a series of whitish, calcareous basins into which clear water runs. This area has a reputation for healing.
2
Wade through the shallow stream if youre feeling adventurous. If not, cross a nearby footbridge to access the dunes.
Holywell dunes
The dunes at Holywell rise to over 65ft (20m) to form part of a massive sand dune system that extends 5 miles (8km) from Perranporth to Crantock. These mobile dunes are constantly being reshaped by the wind, and large areas of bare sand feature. Where there is growth, stiff leaves of marram grass dominate. Other plants include wildflowers, prickly-leaved sea holly and the large yellow flowers of evening primrose - a non-native plant that has widely naturalized in such sparsely vegetated places.
3
Keeping left of the dunes, stay on the level part of the beach and follow round to the main beach. You will pass the Surf Life Saving Club building, which was once dressed up for the Bond movie Die Another Day.
James Bond connection
In more recent history, Holywell became a foreign country when the beach hut was dressed up to look like a military bunker on the coast of Korea, for the opening sequence of the James Bond film Die Another Day.
4
Continue along the beach for a few hundred metres before cutting inland up into the dunes where you see some wooden steps.
5
This will take you to the line of the coast path. Follow this wider path, marked with wooden posts, back to the start.
End:
Holywell National Trust car park, grid ref: SW766587
