Cornwall

Gunwalloe kiosk to The Stables cafe

Take in a long, leisurely coastal walk from the kiosk at Gunwalloe along the rugged coastline towards Loe Bar and through the woodland at Penrose to The Stables cafe. This is an out & back route with The Stables cafe at the half way point.

Near to

Gunwalloe

Start point

Gunwalloe car park, grid ref: 50.041282143273776, -5.2702886202360615 or postcode TR12 7QE or what3words:///shook.bonus.choppy

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 8.5 (km: 13.6)

Duration3 hours 180 mins

Dog friendly***

*Undulating terrain along the coast path. For further details please see terrain section.
**For further details, please see section marked Access
***Suitable for dogs. Be aware of cliff edges along the coast path. For further details, please see section marked Facilities.

Beware cliff edges

Stay away from the edge of cliff tops. No swimming from Fishing Cove to Loe Bar, beware dangerous currents.

Toilet
Toilets, including an accessible facility, available at both Gunwalloe & The Stables cafe.
Café
Sat in the heart of the estate in an 1780s stable block, serving take away hot drinks, sandwiches, paninis, bacon butties, cakes & biscuits with outdoor seating in the courtyard and a new indoor seating area with a small second-hand bookshop. The walled garden sits behind the cafe and visitors are welcome to enjoy this space in the warmer months.
Kiosk
At Gunwalloe the kiosk is open daily from Monday 18 March 10am - 5pm for hot & cold drinks, ice cream, cakes, sandwiches, hot pasties & sausage rolls, until Thursday 31 October.
Total stages: 6
Total stages: 6
Start point
Gunwalloe car park, grid ref: 50.041282143273776, -5.2702886202360615 or postcode TR12 7QE or what3words:///shook.bonus.choppy
Stage 1
Starting at Gunwalloe car park, take the short footpath near the hut and follow the toilets & kiosk buildings. Opposite the kiosk, take the stone steps up the wall to join the coast path. Follow the coast path to the right, heading north, with the sea on your left.
Gunwalloe toilets, kiosk & beach access. | © Katie Reynolds
Stage 2
Continue following the coast path to Pedngwinian Point, a small headland approximately half a mile from the start, for stunning & dramatic scenery. Be aware of high cliff edges. For their safety, we recommend dogs stay on a lead along this stretch of coast path.
Stage 3
The coast path eventually drops down in to Fishing Cove / Gunwalloe Beach. You'll see evidence of the areas pilchard fishing industry, including old fish cellars & rusty winches. The beach is mostly flint pebbles, washed in from off-shore chalk deposits.
Stage 4
The coast path continues above the beach, following the cliff edge along towards Loe Bar.
Anson Memorial
The 44-gun frigate Anson left Falmouth on Christmas Eves 1807 to join the blockade of Brest, but a fierce storm forced her to turn back. On 29 December she was beached on Loe Bar with 100 drowned. Local resident Henry Trengrouse witnessed the tragedy and was so horrified he went away and developed a rocket-fired line apparatus for future rescues – an early form of the ‘Breeches Buoy’, which is still in maritime use today. The memorial was erected in 1949 and is looked after by the National Trust with support from local volunteers from RNAS Culdrose and the wider community.
Anson memorial above Loe Bar | © Mike Hardy
Stage 5
The coath path will eventually unite with Loe Bar, a dramatic shingle dam across the River Cober on the edge of Penrose.
A view across Loe Pool at Penrose, Cornwall | © National Trust Images
Stage 6
Walking across Loe Bar, follow the path up the slope towards the 100 year old Bar Lodge, built by Captain John Peverell Rogers of Penrose (now a National Trust holiday let) and the original entrance to the Penrose estate. The path will do a hair-pin turn back to overlook Loe Bar. Follow the now wider track, with Loe Pool on your right, through the woodland at Penrose for just over a mile to The Stables cafe. Once refreshed, return along the route you just followed back to Gunwalloe.
Visitors enjoying a coffee at a picnic bench in the courtyard of The Stables at Penrose | © James B
End point
The Stables cafe, grid ref: 50.083941629038456, -5.297193855741478 or what3words:///classmate.meals.shifts Return along the route you just followed back to Gunwalloe.
Trail map
Gunwalloe kiosk to The Stables cafe | © Geographic Information System
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