Cornwall

Pencarrow Head short walk

This is a short walk that has some beautiful views, taking you round the rocky outcrop of Pencarrow Head, overlooking Lantic Bay, and across open farmland. There's some leg-stretching climbing too.

Near to

Lantic Bay

Start point

Pencarrow car park, grid ref: SX149513

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 1.5 (km: 2.4)

Duration 45 mins

Dog friendly**

*Some steep climbs, rocky outcrops and step-stiles. For further details, please see Terrain section.
**Dogs are welcome. For further details, please see section marked Facilities.

Total stages: 4
Total stages: 4
Start point
Pencarrow car park, grid ref: SX149513
Stage 1
Head south out of the car park, walk up the lane and cross over the road and onto the footpath. Bear right along the path, through the gate at the end and turn left onto the footpath through the field, bearing left.
Stage 2
Carry on along the footpath until you come to a gate. You can detour down to Lantic Bay here, or carry on down towards the headland.
Stage 3
Go through the gate and follow the footpath out to the headland where you can stop and take in the views.
Pencarrow Head
In spring the ledges are decked with sea campion and thrift, ox-eye daisies and sheep's-bit scabious. On a clear day you can see Bolt Head in Devon to the east and the Lizard to the west – 70 miles (113km) apart. Although today you'll see Dexter cattle and Dartmoor ponies graze the cliff-tops, in the medieval period, when rabbit meat was eaten more, Pencarrow Head was used as a rabbit warren.
Stage 4
You can return either way; east along the path towards Lantivet Bay before turning left, or west looking out over Lantic Bay. Both paths join back onto the footpath you came down on. Then retrace your steps up the field, back along the footpath next to the road and down the lane into Pencarrow car park.
End point
Pencarrow car park, grid ref: SX149513
Trail map
Map route for Pencarrow Head short walk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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