Cornwall

Whitsand Bay circular walk

A loop with an optional shortcut, exploring Cornwall's ‘forgotten corner’. Coming inland from the South West Coast Path, walk high above Whitsand Bay between Tregantle and Crafthole, along ancient routes and medieval green lanes, through woods and heath, past wetland and a reservoir full of wildlife.

Near to

Lansallos

Start point

Freathy car park, grid ref: SX395523

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 6.5 (km: 10.4)

Duration3 hours

Dog friendly

*Stretches of ascent and descent, none very steep. For further details, please see Terrain section.

Military firing range

The trail passes through the MOD training area at Tregantle. If the red flags are flying, do not enter the area but follow the diversions described below. Get details of firing practice times by phoning 01752 822516 or search ‘Tregantle firing times’ online.

Address
Freathy car park, Sharrow Point, near Torpoint, Cornwall, PL10 1JW
Directions via Google Maps
By train
Nearest station at St Germans, 3 miles (4.8km).
National Rail
On foot
The route is on the South West Coast Path, a long distance trail.
South West Coast Path
By bus
From Plymouth and Liskeard.
traveline sw
By road
From A38, head for A374, then turn right before Sheviock onto the B3247 signed to Millbrook, continue through Crafthole and take turning to Freathy past Tregantle Fort. Car park on the left before entering Freathy. Satnav: PL10 1JW.
Total stages: 8
Total stages: 8
Start point
Freathy car park, grid ref: SX395523
Stage 1
From the car park, walk across the road and join the South West Coast Path heading west (right). As you near Tregantle Fort there's a junction on the coast path. No flags flying: follow the path straight on, keeping right until you get to the big gates at Step 2. From here, leave the range and follow signs for the permanent route. Red flags flying: join the road on a sharp bend signposted to Portwrinkle. Please take care when walking along the roads as they can be busy.
Tregantle Fort
Tregantle is one of more than 20 forts and batteries ringing Plymouth. They were built for £11m in response to Napoleon III's 1859 launch of the first armour-plated battleship, La Gloire. By the time the forts were complete, fears of the French threat proved ill-founded and advances in technology made many of them unsuitable. They became known as Palmerston Follies. Tregantle was designed for 35 guns and 2,000 men, but only one 32-pounder was installed, for just six men.
Stage 2
If the red flags are not flying, exit the coast path through the gates onto the road and rejoin the permanent route, following the signs that take you alongside the B3247 towards Crafthole and a small lane junction.
Stage 3
Turn right off the main road, heading north downhill towards Blerrick Farm. When you reach the junction at Lower Blerrick, turn left towards Kerslake. (Shorter option: if there are no flags flying there is an option of a shorter walk. Instead of turning right towards Blerrick Farm, continue along the road and join the permanent route for the South West Coast Path. Follow the footpath until it meets up at the MOD gate to rejoin the return route at Step 8.)
Stage 4
Passing the ponds at Kerslake, bear right up the lane towards Trethill House. At the road junction in between several barns and a house, turn right and follow this sunken lane down towards the A374.
Stage 5
Just before reaching the main road (A374), a footpath is signposted on your left that leads you up a valley towards Crafthole. Follow this path along the edge of several fields, across a wooden footbridge, through woodland and up past Crafthole Reservoir.
Crafthole Reservoir
The natural reservoir above Crafthole has provided a plentiful supply of fish for the local population since medieval times, and it is still used by anglers today. The nearby wetlands are teeming with wildlife. In spring, wild flowers carpet the woodland, the edge of the pastureland and are dotted around the heathland and coast. The banks of coconut-scented gorse bushes are a riot of colour. Listen out for their seed pods popping on a hot summer day.
Stage 6
As the footpath nears the top it joins the main road (B3247). Turn left towards the roundabout and then right towards Portwrinkle, passing the Finnygook Inn – a good chance for a break. Continue along the road following signs to Portwrinkle on your left. After a short walk down the hill, take the footpath through the golf course until you rejoin the South West Coast Path.
Finnygook
Below the golf course is Finnygook Beach, named after a notorious local smuggler, Silas Finny. He and his fellow 18th-century 'free traders' failed to agree over where to land a cargo of illicit goods. The argument became so heated that a disgruntled Finny tipped off the excise men to the operation. Smugglers who escaped the penalty exacted an awful revenge on Finny, whose ghost (or 'gook') is said to haunt the 15th-century Finnygook Inn to this day.
Stage 7
When you reach the South West Coast Path past Skinners Ball, turn left (heading east) back towards Tregantle Fort. You will continue through the golf course and enter land in our care at Trethill. Continue along the path until you reach the gate entering the MOD range.
The beach below Tregantle Cliff in Whitsand Bay | © National Trust Images/Sue Brackenbury
Stage 8
No flags flying: follow the waymarked path through the range, respecting the areas where public access is prohibited. Going through the gate at the end of the range, follow the waymarks through the field above Kerslake Cliff and rejoin the return route at Step 2. Flags flying: follow the footpath round Tregantle Fort and take the footpath that leads out towards the road. Continue on the footpath that runs alongside the road until you rejoin the return route at Step 3.
End point
Freathy car park, grid ref: SX395523
Trail map
Map of Whitsand Bay circular walk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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Lansallos, Looe, Cornwall, PL13 2PX

01726870146

southeastcornwall@nationaltrust.org.uk

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