Polruan from Lantic Bay

Description

Park your car at Lantic Bay, National Trust car park.

(D/A) From the car park, head to the main road, then past the gate, follow the path along the road. Walk along the hedge entering the open field until you reach Lantic Beach signpost (pink arrow).

(1) Ignore it, go straight past the gate and follow the path leading to a nice rocky viewpoint. You can admire both Lantivet and Lantic bay! Continue straight until you reach a signpost ''coast path Polperro 4 1/2m" in front of a gate. Turn right to the opposite way heading to Lantic beach path overlooking the beach. At the next junction, climb the steep path on your right (except if you want to go down to the beach!) and turn at the top taking the coastal path. You follow this path for 2 miles (notice Gribbin Head with distinctive white and red lighthouse during clear days) ignoring one path on your right until you reach Crossroads and Wherry Place. Bear left following "Village Halle car park" sign, go past Polruan Academy and turn left to the "No Entry" road.

(2) Close to the National Coastwatch Institution and St Saviour's chapel ruins, you can enjoy the view over the mouth of the River Fowey, Polruan harbour below and Fowey in front of you on the other side of the river. Past the car park on your right, follow the path along properties ignoring the way going down towards the rocky peak but turn right still going along theses houses until you reach a junction. Go straight ahead along Battery Lane which bends right. Continue down this lane heading to West Street, including a yellow house (ignoring two lanes on your right).

(3) Turn left for a quick way and return if you want to see Polruan Castle erected in the 15th century for the defence of the harbour. Notice St Catherine's castle on the other side of the mouth protecting Fowey side! Go back to the yellow house, continue down West Street heading to crossroads.

(4) Turn left to the Quay. This harbour has always been the heart of Polruan (coal unloaded, fishermen, ferry link with Fowey, shipbuilding..). Go back to crossroads, turn left (dead-end signpost), then climb a few steps and bear right following "Hall Wall " sign. Continue up the stairs, then turn left taking the same signpost's direction.

(5) Go past a wooden signpost, then National Trust North Downs sign and finally a black bench. Always go straight onto the main path (follow "Pont 1 1/4mile") until you reach another nice viewpoint over Fowey. From this point, the path crosses over a road (yellow arrow). Ignore "Pont Creek" way, still following "Pont and Bodinnick" at the next two forks ("Pont 2/3m" then another one "Pont 1/2m").

(6) When you finally reach a few steps down at a junction, you need to bear right following "Lanteglos Church 350 yards" heading to a road. Cross over this road, go past a gate following the public footpath "Lantic Bay car park and Lanteglos Church". Ascent this pretty steep path leading to the church (cast a glance at the church of St Wyllow). Turn left onto the road, go straight ahead for 500 metres, leave the road on your left and you are back to the car park.(D/A)