Fantastic Scenic Walks Around Fowey and Polruan
Fowey Hall Walk
Approx. 4 Miles. Moderately difficult because of the steepness of the climbs in some places but there are viewing points with benches along the way.
- From Marners Rock turn left and walk down through the town to Caffa Mill Pill to get the car ferry across to Boddinck. From the slipway, walk up the steep lane past The Old Ferry Inn. Partway up the lane is a narrow footpath on the right signposted Hall Walk.
- Follow the path to the Q Memorial. There is a steep path down to the water’s edge at Penleath Point which can be a diversionary route.
- From the Q Memorial, the path runs along the top bank of Pont Pill. When you reach the end of the wooded section there is a stile and kissing gate, continue along the field fence line on your right for a short distance before taking the right-hand gate back into the woods.
- This path drops steeply and is rocky. There is a junction, turn right and continue down to the little hamlet of Pont across the wooden bridge to Pont Pill, onwards up the path past some cottages on your right, take the first path signed Polruan.
- Follow the path uphill and through a gate to some fields. Continue along the top and through another gate into woodland taking the lower path down to Polruan. There is a pedestrian ferry that runs from Polruan Quay to Fowey. Once back in Fowey turn left on Esplanade or Fore Street (Ferry landing place is dependent on the time of year and time of day) and make your way back along the Esplanade or through the town back to Marners Rock.
Gribben Head
Approx. 6 ½ Miles. Moderately challenging due to steep walks in some areas.
- Leave Marners Rock turning right towards Readymoney Road. You may spot signs for both the Saints Way and the Coastal Path walks as they share the same route here. Walk past Readymoney Cove and head up the lane by the blue and white house.
- Walk up into the woods following the Coast Path signs to the left and head up to St Catherine’s Castle and return to the NH signpost where you turn right, back the way you came and then turn and almost immediately turn sharp left going up a short, steep path to the Rashleigh Mausoleum.
- Once you have finished looking around go back down the path, then turn left towards a wooden gate. You are now back on the Coastal Path.
- You will see in the distance the Gribben Daymark – a large red and white tower. After you pass Coombe Haven you will go through a gate warning about cattle. The coast path now runs inland towards the woods and sharply downhill to Polridmouth Beach.
Continuing down you will see a house by a large lake. This was the inspiration for the boathouse in ‘Rebecca’ by Daphne du Maurier.
- Leaving Polridmouth Beach the path starts to climb up to Gribben Daymark, this is the most challenging part of the walk.
The Daymark is sometimes open to the public and you can climb up to the top.
Carrying on along the Coast Path, it is high here and at times very close to the edge of the cliff so please take extra care. The path eventually leads inland above Polkerris.
- You will leave the coastal path where it turns sharp left and downhill towards Polkerris, instead follow the path across the middle of a field towards the telegraph pole. You have now re-joined the Saints Way.
- At the road turn right, walk 100m along the road and turn left at Tregaminion Church and walk down the lane into the farmyard, which is clearly marked, and the path goes through the middle of the farmyard.
- From here head into the field through the gate on your left. Walk down to the footbridge and cross over it into another field. Follow the path and just after crossing another rickety footbridge you go up a large flight of steps.
- The path comes to a sheep stile and crosses a small lane, go straight over and continue along the path between the buildings; keep walking until you reach another sheep stile. Go down the old lane under a bridge, through a kissing gate and over a small stream.
- The path leads to the right and uphill until you reach Prickly Post Lane. Turn right and follow this road all the way to the entrance of the National Heritage car park at Coombe Farm.
- Turn left and continue onto the road and you will see the signpost to Coombe Haven, follow the footpath. At the end of the lane go through the large 5 bar gate into a field, taking the more distinctive path veering left. Then take the left path across the top of Covington Woods where it joins the Saints Way and Love Lane. Turn right back down to Readymoney Beach and onwards to Marners Rock.
Fowey to Par and back
5 ½ Miles one way, 11 Miles round trip. Moderately challenging.
- Leave Marners Rock turning right towards Readymoney Road. You may spot signs for both the Saints Way and the Coastal Path walks as they share the same route here. Walk past Readymoney Cove and head up the lane by the blue and white house.
- Walk up into the woods following the Coast Path signs to the left and head up to St Catherine’s Castle and return to the NH signpost where you turn right, back the way you came and then turn and almost immediately turn sharp left going up a short, steep path to the Rashleigh Mausoleum.
- Once you have finished looking around go back down the path, then turn left towards a wooden gate. You are now back on the Coastal Path.
- You will see in the distance the Gribben Daymark – a large red and white tower. After you pass Coombe Haven you will go through a gate warning about cattle. The coast path now runs inland towards the woods and sharply downhill to Polridmouth Beach.
Continuing down you will see a house by a large lake. This was the inspiration for the boathouse in ‘Rebecca’ by Daphne du Maurier.
- Leaving Polridmouth Beach the path starts to climb up to Gribben Daymark, this is the most challenging part of the walk.
The Daymark is sometimes open to the public and you can climb up to the top.
Carrying on along the Coast Path, it is high here and at times very close to the edge of the cliff so please take extra care. The path eventually leads inland above Polkerris and down through the trees.
- The path continues behind the Rashleigh Inn car park and up numerous steps until you get to the top of the woods and into more fields. As you continue the path leads downhill passing Booley Beach reaching the Par Sands into a large car park.
- At this point you have walked 5.5 miles. There are good bus links back to Fowey on the main road by the Ship Inn. Approx. 1 per hour. To walk back to Marners Rock just retrace your steps. Avoid walking back via the road as it is narrow and unsafe.
Lankelly Loop
3 Miles approx. Moderately challenging as it is steep in places.
- Turn right out of Marners Rock down Readymoney Road to Readymoney Beach. Follow the Saints Way sign post up Love Lane to a split in the path take the path on the left almost turning back on yourself, keep walking up hill until you see the foundations of an old building on your right and the English Heritage Signpost to St Catherine’s Castle.
- Once you have (if you wish to) explored the castle return to the signpost. Start up the hill and immediately turn a sharp left climbing up a short steep path to the Rashleigh Mausoleum.
- When you are done looking around head back down the path and turn left walking up to a wooden gate. This is now the costal path which you will follow for the next mile. You will see in the distance a large red and white tower called Gribben Daymark. You will walk towards it but not actually to it.
- Go past Combe Haven and follow the path leading up to a gate warning about cattle. The path heads inland away from the cliff and into the trees, sharply downhill to Polridmouth Beach.
You will see a house by an ornamental lake. This was the inspiration for the boathouse in Daphne du Maurier’s ‘Rebecca’.
- As you reach Polridmouth Beach you take the right-hand footpath up hill. When you reach the top go through the gate and turn right. Following the right-hand edge of the field, turn left at the corner towards the wooden gate and continue until you reach the National Trust Coombe Farm car park.
- Continue onto the road and you will see the signpost to Coombe Haven, follow the footpath. At the end of the lane go through the large gate into a field, taking the more distinctive path veering left. Then take the left path across the top of Covington Woods where it joins the Saints Way and Love Lane. Turn right back down to Readymoney Beach and onwards to Marners Rock.