A WALK ALONG NORTH CLIFFS, RETURN THROUGH TEHIDY
This walk goes in the opposite direction from walk 1 - leaving Portreath towards the west.
Park once again in Portreath, either in Beach Road, or further up the valley in Penberthy Road. Note that the car park charges all through the year - it is too easy to misread the sign and assume it is free in winter!
Walk down to the beach. If the tide is out, start the walk across the beach, turning left past the head (heading westwards). If the beach is cut off by the tide, take the road just behind the beach surf shop. Both routes will meet at the far end of the beach, by a wicket gate leading to the coastal path. Go through this gate and follow the narrow cut, climbing up to the top of the cliff.
If you have ten minutes to spare, it is worth turning right at the top, to go out onto the headland, where a marvellous view over the village of Portreath can be seen (photo)
Retrace your steps, and follow the cliff path westwards. Beware of standing too close to the cliff edge - the path itself is safe, but the grassy overhangs can be dangerous, especially after a wet period.
The path runs between the cliff and arable land, with the occasional sheep in enclosure. It dips down passed Bassets Cove, with a waterfall if the stream is running with much water. The air may be heavy with the scent of wild garlic. This section might test the unfit! The views into the bay are beautiful, and for the adventurous, there are somewhat precipitous paths down to the beach.
Once you have regained the height of the cliff top, the walking gets relatively level, and easier. There are several alternative ways to start the return walk. Paths leave the cliff edge and return inland at map references SW638441, 633437, and 626432. This description is of the latter. All the footpaths are clearly marked on the OS map and the earlier turns pick up this walk, shortening it considerably. Once the return journey is commenced, there will be no further sight of the sea. The track across the field, alongside a hedge, crosses the coast road, and runs down the side of a valley to Coombe, passing through a small copse. Turn left on the road at Coombe, turning of the road after 200 metres, along a track which runs diagonally behind a house. This is the tail of Oak wood - the back entrance to Tehidy House, the one-time home of the Bassets.
There is a maze of possible paths through the grounds of the house. There are boards which show the options at each entrance to the grounds. The woodland walks are particularly beautiful in spring, when the ground is carpeted with bluebells. We kept to the rightmost paths, past the lake and finally coming out alongside a new development of ‘superior’ houses. Turn left past this, and then right across the golf course, until you come to the road which leads down to Portreath. Turn left along this road, but very shortly turn right down a track which runs alongside a telephone exchange building. This turns left after a 100metres, and leads between pasture fields. Cattle use this track, and it can be very muddy at times. The track leads through the training farm of Cornwall College, down a steep slope, and comes out near the ‘folly’ on the back lane of Portreath. Turn left on this road and follow it to the top of Beach Road, in the centre of Portreath. The car should not be far away!
