Walk - Boscastle & Pentargon Waterfall

1.7 miles (2.7 km)

Boscastle Harbour - PL35 0HE Boscastle Harbour

Easy - Generally flat but with one short uphill climb at the start and a more gentle descent back down to the harbour.

A short walk climbing out of Boscastle Harbour towards Pentargon Waterfall and returning via inland paths and the ‘Private Lane’. Visit at low tide, when water cascades in a booming torrent from the harbour blowhole (children will love it) - and allow time for the witchcraft museum! A brilliant walk in springtime, when the waterfall is especially powerful after the winter's rain and dazzling in the bright sunlight. There is blossom on the thorn bushes and flowers on the gorse, and violets and primroses in the hedges. Also good in autumn, when the leaves start to turn and the berries on the bushes are raided by the birds.

Dogs on the coastpath

Report a problem

Safety advice

Printable map

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.

YHA Boscastle

01840250928

Private and shared rooms available, self-catering kitchen available.

Visit website

The Hayloft, Boscastle

07770930027

Lovely 3-bedroom cottage in Boscastle, less than 5 mins walk from coast path and 2 great pubs. A luxurious retreat with comfy beds, woodburner, washer/dryer and parking.

Visit website

Lower Pennycrocker Farm Campsite

07967605392

Lower Pennycrocker Farm Campsite is 700 yards from the South West Coast Path with stunning Coastal Scenery.

Visit website

Little Clifden Campsite

07901 604755

Basic facilities with amazing views on Cornish Dairy Farm.

Visit website

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.

Visit website

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

Visit website

Trevigue Farm

07534937817

16th century farm on the cliffs of North Cornwall between Crackington Haven and Boscastle

Visit website

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.
Visit website

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.

Visit website
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.

St Nectan's Glen Waterfall

01840779538

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

Visit website

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.

Visit website

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

Visit website
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.

Boscastle Tourist Information Centre

01840 250010

The Boscastle Visitor Centre has been incorporated into the National Trust Shop and Pilchard Cellar cafe.

Visit website

NCI Boscastle

01840 250965
Visit website

Tintagel Visitor Centre

01840 779084

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

Visit website
After Boscastle. Photographer Jaap Gaasenbeek Boscastle. Photographer Ted Forman. Thrift at Boscastle Photographer Andrew Ray (2012 Photo Competition entry) The Daily Catch at Boscastle Harbour. Photographer Theresa Cooke, Leeds. Boscastle - Old Road Boscastle Harbour Boscastle. Photographer Jennifer Rowlandson, Tiverton. The National Trust cutting the grass on the coast path above Boscastle. Photographer Cathryn McVeigh, Sheffield. Pentargon Cove looking out to sea Looking towards Boscastle from Fire Beacon Point. Photographer Jennifer Rowlandson, Tiverton. 'Heather covered hillside' taken near Boscastle. Photographer Rebecca Jolly, Oxford. Penally Point, Boscastle Photographer Daryl Hutchinson (2012 Photo Competition entry) Boscastle harbour. Photographer Jennifer Rowlandson, Tiverton. Boscastle harbour. Photographer Jennifer Rowlandson, Tiverton.

Interactive Elevation

Route Description

  1. Follow the Coast Path from the north side of the Harbour, climb the hill and continue along the clifftops to Pentargon.

On the opposite side of the harbour to the south lie the Forrabury Stitches, an ancient strip field farming system dating back to the 4th century.

The path runs betweene a stone hedge, covered in the lichen Sea Ivory, and the open maritime grassland topping the cliffs. This grassland is one of our rarest habitats and includes colourful flowers such as Dyers Greenweed and Saw-wort.

  1. Just before a traditional stone stile you will see the view of Pentargon Waterfall for the first time. After crossing the stile the walk runs inland towards a road and then alongside the hedge through a kissing gate and then through a white field gate to follow the ‘Private Lane’.

This lane was cut out of the rock to enable people to get to the harbour without payng the toll on the main road.

  1. The lane returns you to the harbour and gives great views over the lower village.

Public transport

For timetable information, zoom in on the interactive map and click on the bus stops, visit Traveline or phone 0871 200 22 33.

Parking

Boscastle Village (Postcode for Sat Navs: PL35 0HE).

Local maps and publications

Nearby Walks

close
close

Walk Finder

Find...

Postcode, placename or click the icon to use current location

Click/hold and drag the map to set the centre point of your search location under the red crosshair

from this location

Difficulty

Length (miles)

Themes

close

Find somewhere to Eat & Drink, Sleep or Do

Find...

Postcode, placename or click the icon to use current location

Click/hold and drag the map to set the centre point of your search location under the red crosshair

from this location
close

Interactive Map

close

Latest news

close

Follow us on...