Cornwall

Blackbottle Rock picnic walk

Take in sweeping views of Gribbin Head and, on a clear day, see the coast all the way down to the Lizard. The walk's halfway point is a perfect place to pause for a picnic, look out over to Blackbottle Rock and watch the boats come in and out of Fowey.

Near to

Lantic Bay

Start point

Polruan public car park, grid ref: SX132507

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 1 (km: 1.6)

Duration 30 mins

Dog friendly***

*Gently undulating natural paths on uneven ground. For further details, please see Terrain section.
**Naturally uneven paths with some steps. For further details, please see section marked Access.
***Dogs welcome under close control. For further details, please see section marked Facilities.

Address
Polruan, Cornwall, PL23 1QL
Directions via Google Maps
By train
Looe, 9 miles (14.4km) away.
By bus
Start point is less than 10 minutes' walk from either of the two bus stops in Polruan.
By road
A38 from Plymouth, bypass Liskeard and after 2 miles (3.2km) turn left at roundabout onto A390, go through village of East Taphouse and turn left onto B3359. Travel for approximately 4 miles (6.4km) and turn right signposted Lansallos. Follow signs to Lansallos, 6 miles (9.6km), then signs to Polruan. Start point is from the first car park as you enter Polruan.
Total stages: 6
Total stages: 6
Start point
Polruan public car park, grid ref: SX132507
Stage 1
Exit the car park via the left-hand gate and walk diagonally across the field until you meet the South West Coast Path. Turn left and follow the path through the small pedestrian gate.
South West Coast Path
Stretching from Minehead to Poole Harbour this National Trail is 630 miles (1014km) long. There are 15 of these National Trails in England and Wales, and four in Scotland. They all provide continuous walking routes through fine scenery and are maintained to a high standard with their own guidebooks. The South West Trail is especially beautiful and passes through five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, 17 Heritage Coasts, a National Park, two World Heritage sites, a UNESCO Geopark and Britain's first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Stage 2
Continue straight on and go through a gate. Then, where the path forks at the bench and moneybox, take the left-hand path.
Wildlife along the way
The walk takes you through fields that are reverting to wildflower meadows from farmland, as well as a section of scrubby cliff land. The tiny sand crocus grows on a rocky outcrop in the first field. This is a southern European species that was thought to be confined in Britain to Dawlish Warren in Devon, until it was found by botanists holidaying in this area a few years ago. Birds such as the whitethroat, yellowhammer and stonechat nest in the scrubby cliff land. Skylarks can be seen in the fields above and you might see peregrine falcons, which nest on nearby Pencarrow Cliffs, hunting overhead.
Stage 3
Continue through another gate onto the plateau, a perfect spot for a picnic.
Coastal archaeology
The cliff above Blackbottle Rock offers panoramic views from east to west. If you look carefully you'll see lots of low mounds. These are the remains of Bronze Age barrows (tombs), their elevated position possibly reflecting the importance attributed to ancestors. Over 2000 years later these prominent positions were used for a very different purpose – the cliff-top field holds the scattered remains of a Second World War radar station. All that survives of the main station are its earthwork platforms, but many of the concrete blocks have been reused in neighbouring field hedges.
Stage 4
To continue your walk, you can either retrace your steps back along the coast or walk the circular route and follow the path inland, along the field margin, for views towards Caradon Hill.
Stage 5
At the gate, turn left to follow the road back to Polruan. Please be careful as this is a public road.
Stage 6
Finally, turn left into the car park.
End point
Polruan public car park, grid ref: SX132507
Trail map
Map route for Blackbottle Rock picnic walk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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