It has been so hot recently in Cornwall that hard coastal path hikes have been put on the back burner for the time being. However, I have managed to cycle most days, and the North Helford region of Falmouth is one of my favourite rides, albeit very hilly (but manageable on my e-bike!). This is also a great area to explore in a few hours by car from Falmouth.
Falmouth lies between the estuaries of two very beautiful rivers, the Fal to the north and the Helford further south, and the North Helford region of outstanding natural beauty starts on the road to the small village of
Constantine, from where we can take a 16 mile circular drive along the road which has several offshoots to the Helford River.
Passing by Constantine we reach the
Port Navas Creek, one of the Helford's many creeks. Climbing a very steep and narrow hill out of Port Navas village takes us to
Budock Vean, from where we head back to Falmouth. The Helford River is a couple of hundred feet below the road, and it is worth the steep descent down to
Helford Passage, where there is a small car park next to the famous Ferry Boat Inn. From Helford Passage there is a small ferry to the beautiful
Helford Village, and from there a short walk to
Frenchman's Creek, the location of the eponymous book and film (see also
posting of 10th April 2015).
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| Port Navas Creek |
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| Helford Passage |
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| Helford Village |
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| Frenchman's Creek |
Cornwall not only has a stunning coastline, it also has beautiful gardens, and two of them are on the road back to Falmouth.
Trebah is rated in the top 80 gardens in the world, and has a lovely walk through a wooded valley with rhododendrons, magnolias and camellias onto Trebah beach, an idyllic spot on the Helford River. In 1944, the beach was used as an embarkation point for a regiment of 7,500 of the 29th US Infantry Division for the assault landing on Omaha beach, part of the D -Day Landings.
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| Trebah (source unknown) |
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| Trebah beach |
Back on the main road, a short distance from Trebah, is the
Glendurgan Garden, owned by the National Trust. This thriving sub-tropical valley garden winds down to the Helford River at the fishing village of
Durgan.
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| Glendurgan |
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| The maze at Glendurgan |
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| Durgan village |
Heading back to Falmouth, turn right at the
Red Lion Inn at
Mawnan Smith. Further on it is worth a right turn to
Mawnan Church, from where you can park your vehicle and walk through the wood to the coast. A right turn takes you to
Toll Head with its spectacular view of the mouth of the Helford River.
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| The Helford Estuary and the short walk from Mawnan to Toll Head |
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| The Helford estuary from Toll Head |
As you complete your journey, you will pass Falmouth's most southerly beaches at
Maenporth and
Swanpool. Maenporth is overlooked by our favourite Falmouth restaurant,
The Cove. What better way to end the day than to have an evening meal in the restaurant with its amazing view of the beach and cliffs?
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| Maenporth beach |
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| Swanpool beach |
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Passing by Constantine we reach the Port Navas Creek, one of the Helford's many creeks. Climbing a very steep and narrow hill out of Port Navas village takes us to Budock Vean, from where we head back to Falmouth. The Helford River is a couple of hundred feet below the road, and it is worth the steep descent down to Helford Passage, where there is a small car park next to the famous Ferry Boat Inn. From Helford Passage there is a small ferry to the beautiful Helford Village, and from there a short walk to Frenchman's Creek, the location of the eponymous book and film (see also posting of 10th April 2015).
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Really nice post. What a captivating place.
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