Cornwall

Morwenstow circular walk

The view from Hawker's Hut, on the coast near Morwenstow. — The Reverend Hawker would often enjoy this view from his clifftop hut | © National Trust / George Taylor

Explore the most northerly area we look after in Cornwall in a parish made famous by the eccentric Reverend R S Hawker of Morwenstow. This is a walk of contrasts with dramatic, towering cliffs, sheltered wooded valleys, wildlife-friendly organic farmland and the opportunity to visit one of the smallest buildings in our care.

Near to

Sandymouth

Start point

Rectory Farm Tearooms, Morwenstow, grid ref: SS205153

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 3 (km: 4.8)

Duration1 hour 30 mins

Dog friendly**

*Varied terrain including steep slopes and unfenced cliff edges. For further details, please see Terrain section.
**Dogs are welcome. For further details, please see section marked Facilities.

Total stages: 8
Total stages: 8
Start point
Rectory Farm Tearooms, Morwenstow, grid ref: SS205153
Stage 1
From the Rectory Farm Tearooms, pass through the lychgate into the churchyard. Taking the path to the right of the vicarage, descend into Morwenna Valley.
Morwenstow church and vicarage
The ancient Church of St John the Baptist and St Morwenna is dedicated to saints of both Saxon and Celtic culture. Its most famous incumbent, Reverend Hawker, was the vicar from 1834 to 1874. Hawker built his rectory below the church in Victorian Gothic style and, rather uniquely, had the chimneys built to imitate other church towers. It's now privately owned, but look out for the figurehead of the Caledonia, in the churchyard, which was wrecked in 1842. The figurehead marks the mass grave of its crew.
Stage 2
Turn left along the valley at the waymarker signed Coast Path. This path was opened to the public under the farm's Countryside Stewardship scheme. Continue along the length of the valley, walking through woodland, scrub and then open grassland to reach Vicarage Cliff and the coast path.
Stage 3
Turn left at the path and ascend the cliff path to the farmland plateau above.
Stage 4
On reaching a kissing gate there's an option to turn left and return to the tea-room (dashed line on the map), or continue along the clifftop until you reach a walled entrance marked Hawker's Hut. The hut is just below you, down some slate steps.
Hawker's hut, Morwenstow, where Reverend Hawker would smoke opium and write poetry | © National Trust
Stage 5
Continue on the coast path, passing another gate into the next valley: Tidna Shute. Alternatively, for a slightly shorter route, take the path to the left (dashed line on the map) to jump to step 8 and return to the tea-room.
Stage 6
Turn inland at the base of the hill. The farmland and valleys of maritime heathland are important areas for a number of rare species. See farmland birds and butterflies in the hedges and heath and look out for grey seals in the water far below, while kestrels and peregrines hover around the cliffs. The farm has recently undergone conversion to organic status.
Stage 7
Turn left at the waymarker and enjoy a walk through the Tidna Valley and woodlands until you reach a waymarker directing you back uphill towards Rectory Farm.
Stage 8
Crossing several stiles and a farm track you will see a sign for the tea-room where you started.
End point
Rectory Farm Tearooms, Morwenstow, grid ref: SS205153
Trail map
Map route for Bude to Morwenstow Reverend Hawker country walk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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Hawker's hut, Morwenstow, where Reverend Hawker would smoke opium and write poetry

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