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

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

The Slipway

The Slipway, overlooking the sea front, is a terraced bar, restaurant & hotel in the centre of Port Isaac.

Bosayne Guest House

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.

Tregardock Farm

01840 213300 / 07775 828131

The Laos hut is a traditional design, small double bed, woodstove and solar light plus a separate hut with shower & kitchen. Totally private

The Cabin At Beaver Cottages

Well-equipped cosy shepherd's hut with double bed, kitchenette, patio, private bathroom & laundry in a separate outbuilding. Peaceful with countryside views. Walking distance to Tintagel, pubs & beach.

Beaver Cottages

2 dog friendly cottages (sleeping up to 4 - 6) with enclosed gardens, plus a 2-person cosy shepherd's hut close to SWCP Tintagel & Trebarwith Strand beach

Tom's Cottage Cornwall

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

Silver Spray

Perfectly positioned with spectacular views overlooking Port Gaverne and Port Isaac, a stunning clifftop holiday home which sleeps up to fourteen guests.

Cornish Tipi Holidays

Secluded woodland valley just 5 mins drive from Port Issac. Wild meadow camping, luxury tipis, spring fed lake, campfires & cafe on-site.

Bryn Trevor

A beautiful private room and ensuite bathroom. Sleeps two people. Close to Tintagel facilities.

Seascape Hideaways at Port Isaac

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.

Little Clifden Campsite

Basic facilities with amazing views on Cornish Dairy Farm.

Chandlers Lodge B&B

A fresh, modern and cosy B&B situated in the Heart of North Cornwall. The perfect base for exploring! Two bus stops a short walk away. Supper available.

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.

Port William

Nautical-themed rooms in a laid-back inn with free breakfast & Wi-Fi, plus sea views & dining.

Port Gaverne

Rustic charm of a traditional pub with modern comforts. Enjoy hearty, locally-sourced meals, perfect award-winning ales and a cosy atmosphere

St Nectan's Glen Waterfall

Award-winning café. Homemade food, dog-friendly, perfect Coast Path pit stop. Open year-round.

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

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

Tintagel Castle

The legendary clifftop castle linked to King Arthur, where dramatic sea views and centuries of history await.

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

Tintagel - Temporary Path Closure and Diversion - 18th December 2025 - The path near Tintagel castle has been washed away due to severe flooding from the recent rainfall. More details.

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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