Walk - Tintagel to Port Isaac

9.1 miles (14.6 km)

Tintagel Port Isaac

Challenging - Severe

The relatively easy walk out of Tintagel allows you to enjoy some of the spectacular views from this section of the North Cornwall coast before commencing a particularly challenging walk to Port Isaac. The path between Trebarwith Strand and Port Isaac is especially long and difficult, with some steep descents into valleys and tough climbs up to the cliff tops again, especially beyond Bounds Cliff.

Historically this area was significant for fishing and fish processing as well as slate extraction and there are remnants of these trades to be seen on the Coast Path. This stretch is designated both Heritage Coast status and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty so it is worth persevering along the harder stretches.

Port Isaac is a real reward at the end of this strenuous walk, with its beautiful alleyways, many listed buildings and harbourside cafes and pubs. You may well recognise Port Isaac from the TV series Doc Martin, as it is the village he lives in (renamed as Portwenn in the series).

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There are a range of wonderful places to lay your head near the Coast Path for a well-earned sleep. From large and luxurious hotels, to small and personable B&B's, as well as self-catering options and campsites. The businesses that support the Path, where you've chosen to visit, are listed here.

Trewetha Cottage B&B

01208 880877

Stunning location, Cornish cottage B&B furnished to a high standard. Single night stays.Pick up/drop to the Path

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The Slipway

01208 880264
The Slipway, overlooking the sea front is a Terraced Bar & Restaurant with a B&B above, in the centre of Port Isaac.
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Cabin Beaver

01840 770378
A beautiful sheperd's hut located 2 fields from the SWCP. Containing a double bed, kitchenette, patio & a separate bathroom/utility/laundry.
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Beaver Cottages

01840 770378

2 dog friendly self catering cottages (sleeping up to 4 and 6) with enclosed gardens, close to SWCP, Tintagel and Trebarwith Strand beach. 0.25 miles from Coast Path. WiFi and car parking available. Also offering one night stays for walkers.

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Tom's Cottage Cornwall

07917 628414

Idyllic rural cottage perfect to explore the Boscastle to Padstow coast. Woodburner, private parking/garden/EV charger. Highlights: Port Isaac, Tintagel Castle & Polzeath

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Dolphins Backpackers

01840 779053 / 07740 976326

We are a friendly, comfortable, affordable backpackers hostel with 10 person dorm. Bar & Kitchen available. Minutes from the Path. Call or Text WhatsApp

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Bosayne Guest House

01840 770514

Bosayne B&B in legendary Tintagel, offers 8-guest bedrooms, a self-catering cottage and is only 300 metres from the sea. A warm welcome awaits guests in our comfortable home.

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Home By The Sea

07814 370650 / 07837 849009
No frills accommodation - but comfortable warm welcome, allowing people to walk the path and explore port Isaac on a budget. Call 07814 370650/07837 849009 or email [email protected] for walkers rates
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Seascape Hideaways at Port Isaac

07887 604295

Perched above Port Isaac harbour, The Fo’C’sle is an enchanting Grade II listed fisherman’s cottage hugging the headland to the SWCP and this beautiful stretch of coast.

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Little Clifden Campsite

07901 604755

Basic facilities with amazing views on Cornish Dairy Farm.

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Chandlers Lodge B&B

01840 554449 / 07486893279

A fresh, modern and cosy B&B situated in the Heart of North Cornwall. The perfect base for exploring! Supper available.

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You'll be spoilt for choice for where to eat and drink along the Path. With lots of local seasonal food on offer, fresh from the farm, field and waters. Try our local ales, ciders, wines and spirits, increasing in variety by the year, as you sit in a cosy pub, fine dining restaurant or chilled café on the beach. The businesses that support the Path, where you've chosen to visit, are listed here.

Vega - Feed Your Soul

07871 089719

Vegan cafe serving hearty, healthy, homemade food. Fully licensed & dog friendly. 5 minutes walk from the coast path. Open for lunch/dinner Easter til end October.

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Pengenna Pasties Tintagel

01840 770223

Delicous home-made pasties including ncluding vegan & gluten free (pre-order by phone). order by phone). Take-away and restaurant. Open all year round

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The Golden Lion

01208 822345

In in the heart of Port Issac we are a traditional pub with beautiful sea views. With open fires and terraces, we have the perfect spot to sit, eat and drink anytime of the year

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What is on your list of things to do when you visit the Path? From walking companies, to help you tailor your visit, with itineraries and experts to enhance your visit, to baggage transfer companies and visitor attractions there are lots to people and places to help you decide what you'd like to do. The businesses that support the Path, where you've chosen to visit, are listed here.

Tintagel Visitor Centre

01840 779084

All the information you need about where to stay, eat and drink and visit in the Tintagel area.

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Sunset at Tregardock Beach Photographer James Uglow Port Quinn Photographer Peter Batson (2012 Photo Competition entry) The path to Port Isaac. Taken from the path near St Illickswell Gug. Photographer Steve Tew, Leics. Towards Ranie Point. Jennifer Rowlandson, Tiverton Trebarwith Strand. Photographer S Curtis Near Delabole Point. Photographer Jennifer Rowlandson, Tiverton The sea at Trebarwith Strand. Photographer Dan Martin, Saltash Trebarwith Strand. Photographer Jennifer Rowlandson, Tiverton Some friends watch the sea at Trebawith Strand. Photographer Felicity Ramsden, Watford. Treligga Cliff. Photographer Jennifer Rowlandson, Tiverton. Port Isaac. Photographer Jennifer Rowlandson, Tiverton 'Frozen Landscape' Trebarwith Strand near Tintagel. Photographer Emily Rookley, Buckingham. Port Isaac Photographer Monika Rasch (2013 Photo Competition entry) Trebarwith Strand Photographer Thomas Wright (2012 Photo Competition entry) Port Issac. Photographer Ray and Dot Culmer, Bournemouth A visitor to Port Isaac who luckily didn't need a parking space! Photographer Matthew McVeigh, Sheffield. Between Delabole Point and Crookmoyle Rock, looking north Photographer David Hoyle (2012 Photo Competition entry) Tintagel. Photographer Paul Jenner, Devon. Tintagel Old Post office. Photographer Ted Forman Tintagel Myths and Legends. Photographer Theresa Cooke, Leeds. Overlooking Tintagel Island. Photographer Rosie Phillips, Devon. Penhallic Point. Photographer Dan Martin, Saltash Port Isaac, Cornwall Photographer Steve Rumming (2013 Photo Competition entry) The stunning beauty of North Cornwall's coast, Tintagel. Photographer Louise Scott Jacket's Point overlooking Crookmoyle Rock. Jennifer Rowlandson, Tiverton Tregardock Cliff. Photographer Jennifer Rowlandson, Tiverton Port Isaac Photographer Bob Small (2013 Photo Competition entry) Fire & Ice at Trebarwith Strand Photographer Kingsley Scott (2012 Photo Competition entry) Hazy Sunset at Trebarwith Strand Photographer James Uglow (2012 Photo Competition entry) Sunset from Trebawith Strand. Photographer Felicity Ramsden, Watford. From Treligga Cliff with Gull Rock in the distance. Photographer Jennifer Rowlandson, Tiverton. LEAVING PORT ISAAC Photographer PETER DOVEY (2012 Photo Competition entry) CLIMBING OUT OF PORT ISAAC Photographer PETER DOVEY (2012 Photo Competition entry) Looking back at Port Issac. Photographer Jennifer Rowlandson, Tiverton. tintagel Photographer martyn smith (2012 Photo Competition entry) 'Foxglove sunset'. Taken at Tintagel. Photographer Julia Furguson, Exeter. Backways mirror finish Photographer James Uglow Seagull enjoying the view, Tintagel. Photographer Louise Jeffery Tregardock beach. Photographer Tim Knight Towards the Rumps, above Pengirt Cove. Photographer Andrew Bolton, London. Tintagel's legendary coastline. Photographer David Curry, St Albans. Backways Cove. Photographer Jennifer Rowlandson, Tiverton Tintagel. Photographer Rosie Phillips, Devon. Trebarwith Dawn Photographer Mike Pettett (2012 Photo Competition entry) Port Gaverne - The Headlands viewed from Port Isaac Photographer Phil Robinson (2012 Photo Competition entry) Still a long way to go. Photographer: Ann Armstrong Trebarwith Strand Photographer Tom Hill (2012 Photo Competition entry) Rocky ledge at Tintagel, enjoying the sun and view with the coast path below. Photographer Roger Hollingsworth, Perranwell station, Truro. ‘Tintagel Castle and Church.’ Taken from Barras Nose. Photographer Michael Murray, Nottingham. Toilet and tea brak at Port Isaac Photographer Phil Robinson (2012 Photo Competition entry) St Materiana's Church, Tintagel. Photographer Ted Forman. Taken between Tintagel Church and Trebarwith Strand. Photographer James Uglow, Cornwall. Tintagel, North Cornwall. Photographer Miles Wolstenholme, Devon.

Interactive Elevation

Highlights

  • Tintagel Church of St Materiana’s with its Norman font and windows and a Roman milestone situated in the south transept.
  • Standing on Glebe Cliff: thought to be the site of a royal cemetery which served the dynasty of Tintagel headland.
  • Stunning Trebarwith Sands.
  • Climbing from sea level to the top of Dennis Point (300ft, 90m), taking in the views and preparing to climb back down to sea level again on the other side!
  • The remains of slate quarry buildings and donkey tracks around Backway’s Cove, now a haven for butterflies and coastal flowers.
  • Birdwatching on Bounds Cliff (420ft). This is a good place to spot peregrines and nesting guillemots and kittewakes in the summer.
  • The cob walled fishing cellars of Port Gaverne, which once handled 1.5 million fish a week.
  • Exploring the beautiful fishing village of Port Isaac, with its network of alleyways, including one especially narrow one called ‘Squeeze-ee-belly’. This unspoilt village has frequently been used as a TV and film set and can be seen in Doc Martin, Poldark and Saving Grace.

Shorter option

You could stop in Port Gaverne, just before Port Isaac (8.3 miles, 13.4 km).

Longer option

Once past Port Isaac there is very little accommodation close to the Path until you reach Polzeath (8.9 miles, 14.3 km) further on.

Public transport

The nearest train station is Bodmin parkway. From here you can catch a bus to Wadebridge, where you change for buses onto Port Isaac and Tintagel - the bus journey will take about 2 hours. For timetable information, zoom in on the interactive map and click on the bus stops, visit Traveline or phone 0871 200 22 33.

Parking

Tintagel (Postcode for Sat Navs: PL34 0DB), inland from Trebarwith Strand, Port Gaverne and Port Isaac.

Section 13: Tintagel to Port Isaac

Starts 145 miles (234 km) from Minehead

Ends 478 miles (769 km) to Poole

Previous section in South West Coast Path Crackington Haven to Tintagel

Next section in South West Coast Path Port Isaac to Padstow

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