North Cornwall

Brace yourself for calf-busting walks in the remote and rugged coastal territory of North Cornwall. Here, the land is alive with flora and fauna, as well as the myths and legends from its past.

With over 2,500m of ascent, this section is not for the feint hearted. There are some challenging ups and downs and most of it faces prevailing westerly winds from across the Atlantic Ocean. Nevertheless, its exposed setting makes for a rugged, wild and uplifting experience - and for those with a sense of adventure – you’ll find it here on the Coast of Legends.

You’ll be in water sports heaven when you arrive in Cornwall’s northern-most surf town of Bude. Here you can take a bracing dip in the town’s sea pool, try and catch your own Atlantic Ocean wave with a surf lesson and climb to Compass Point before a sundowner and seafood feast in a surfside bistro.

Moving on from Bude, revel in a sense of remoteness on this quiet stretch, feeling dwarfed by the immense cliffs that eventually lead you through Crackington Haven and on to Boscastle. Discover how this beautiful village overcame the terrible floods of 2004 and marvel at the dramatic coastal vistas that are seen after climbing the steep winding path to the top of the cliffs.

Tintagel. Photo courtesy of English Heritage

The next place of note is Tintagel. A quaint coastal village that is home to the world-famous legend of King Arthur. Get lost in stories about Lancelot and Guinevere, Merlin the magician and the Knights of the Roundtable. Follow in the footsteps of Tintagel’s medieval inhabitants by crossing the newly constructed bridge that joins Tintagel island to the mainland as it would have been centuries ago.

Highlights beyond this include: the iconic twin-headland of The Rumps; the stunning wildflower display of West Pentire during the summer months; the charming fishing port and famous foodie destination of Padstow and some of the country’s best beaches at Polzeath, Harlyn Bay, Watergate Bay and Newquay.

How we're helping to look after this stretch

Path surface improvements at Glebe Cliff, near Tintagel

A 45m section of SWCP is suffering erosion from water and visitor pressure. There are two sets of steps, which are too narrow and high, leading to walkers not using the steps and walking off the line of the path. This has created a wide, slippery, eroded corridor that is difficult to walk down and actively eroding. This project will replace the 15 narrow steps with 30 wider steps, making the height of each step less. This will make the path easier to use and allow the habitat on the edge of the path to re-establish. 3 slate cross drains are also being installed to prevent future erosion from water runoff. Total Cost £3,248 SWCPA Contribution £1,624.