Cornwall

Messack creek and woodland walk on the Roseland

Sunset over Falmouth and the Carrick Roads estuary, with silhouettes of pine trees at Messack Point in the foreground — Sunset over Messack Point and the Carrick Roads, on Cornwall's Roseland peninsula | © National Trust Images/Harry Davies

Starting from the magical waterside churchyard at St Just in Roseland (Betjeman's 'most beautiful churchyard on earth'), explore the peninsula's winding wooded creeks, farmland and coast paths. From Messack Point, your reward for the climb will be far-reaching views across the Carrick Roads, including Pendennis Castle, Falmouth, Mylor and Restronguet.

Near to

Porth

Start point

St Just in Roseland church car park (not NT), TR2 5JD. Grid ref: SW849356.

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 3.8 (km: 6.08)

Duration2 hours 30 mins

Dog friendly***

*Steep climbs and uneven, water's-edge paths. For more details, please see Terrain section.
**Route unsuitable for wheelchairs. For more details, please see Access section.
***Dogs welcome under close control. For more details, please see Facilities section.

Planning your walk

Please note that this trail starts at St Just in Roseland, about a 15-minute drive (5 miles) from Porth.

Address
St Just in Roseland church, Roseland, TR2 5JD
Directions via Google Maps
On foot
South West Coast Path to St Mawes, then continue north on the coastal path to St Just in Roseland church, where this walk starts.
By ferry
King Harry Ferry connects Trelissick (near Truro) and Tregony (on the Roseland). Then follow road directions. Open to cars, bicycles and foot passengers.
King Harry Ferry
Cycling
See directions by road. Cyclists are welcome on the King Harry Ferry.
By bus
Bus no. 50 (Truro to St Mawes via Probus, Tregony, Portscatho).
Go Cornwall Bus journey planner
By road
From Tregony: take the A3078 signposted towards St Mawes, follow the road until it leads into St Just in Roseland, take the right-hand turn signposted to the church, Miss V’s, and Pasco’s Boatyard.
From King Harry Ferry: follow the B3289 from the ferry until it meets the A3078. Turn right onto the A3078, then turn immediately right signposted to the church.
Total stages: 7
Total stages: 7
Start point
St Just in Roseland church car park (not NT), TR2 5JD. Grid ref: SW849356.
Stage 1
From the car park, head towards the church and go through the lower lychgate. When you reach the creek, turn right and follow the path with the creek on your left-hand side. Continue along the footpath and at the fork take the lower creekside path. Continue along, crossing a stream and a private drive, bearing left to follow the waymarked path emerging above St Just Creek.
St Just in Roseland church | © National Trust / Chris Lacey
Stage 2
Continue up the creek with the water on your left. The head of the creek marks the start of Messack farmland. From the stile bear slightly right (waymarked to Turnaware Point), following the footpath up through the trees.
Stage 3
At the top of the slope, bear right again, following the path along the edge of the field, through the kissing gate. Cross over the drive and take the path ahead, continuing through the next two fields, ignoring the gate to the 'upper path' and taking the 'waterside path' to the right. Go through the gate on your left and down into the valley.
Stage 4
When you reach the water, turn left and head south along the path by the shoreline, through a wooded area. Continue along the waterside path.
Old oak tree in Messack wood, Cornwall | © Lucy Honeychurch
Stage 5
Just before Messack Point, walk up the slope behind the pine trees, through the gate and continue up the steep field to the summit.
Stage 6
Bear right behind Messack House, signposted 'St Just via creekside path'. Go through a small gate beside a farm gate, following the fenced hedge on the right and on through the field. Go over the driveway and through the next field. Continue downhill until you cross a stream in a marshy glade.
Stage 7
Emerge from the trees and follow the hedge around the field, continuing through more fields until you meet the head of St Just Creek. From here, retrace your steps back down the path to the church and to your starting point.
End point
St Just in Roseland church car park (not NT), TR2 5JD. Grid ref: SW849356.
Trail map
Map of the Messack creek and woodland walk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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Image shows a wooden waymarker signposting the Riverside Footpath at Porth, with green foliage in the background and blue skies above.

Trail

Porth circular coast and woodland walk

Enjoy this circular walk along the coastal path at Porth, Roseland, passing through farmland and woodland, with long-reaching views and clifftop vistas.