Our favourite walks: The Crantock loop

28.09.2016

Now that Autumn is upon us and the beaches are clear, it’s time to dust off those walking boots, grab your waterproof coat and blow out those cobwebs. The Cornish coast has plenty of beautiful walks for you to take advantage of – one of our favourite walks to do at this time of year is the Crantock loop.

If you haven’t been to Crantock beach before, it’s a long stretch of sand that opens up into the Gannel estuary. It’s a National Trust beach with plenty of opportunities for smaller walks, whether that’s walking into Crantock village, down the Gannel when the tide is out or simply on the stretch of beach itself. The loop begins and ends on Crantock, picking up part of the South West Coast Path – it’s roughly 4.6 miles and is a great walk for a weekend afternoon…

1. Walk down from the car park on to the beach towards the Fern Pit ferry that takes you over the Gannel. If the tide is in, take the ferry over to the other side – if the tide is out, feel free to stroll across to the same point. Please note that it can be dangerous to cross when the tide is in, so take care and make sure you check the tide table for Newquay before setting off on your walk. Once at Fern pit, take the set of steps straight up the hill and turn left when you reach the top.

2. You will find yourself at Pentire Point East with views from above, looking down across Crantock beach to the left and around the coastline of Newquay to the right. Take the South West Coast Path which will bring you out at Fistral beach. You can either walk behind the beach on the footpath or on the beach itself. Find haven in Rick Stein Fistral for a half-way treat, whether that’s warming up with a Cornish hot chocolate or cooling down with a refreshing pint of cider.

3. You can then go straight up the path to the Towan Head, past the Headland Hotel  and Little Fistral, where you’ll have panoramic views of the jagged coastline right down to Trevose head. Heading in that same direction, pick up the South West Coast Path once again which will take you around the cove and past Huer’s Hut – a symbol of Newquay’s fishing history, where ‘the Huer’  would watch out to sea for shoals of fish.

4. Continue on the path, coming down next to Newquay Harbour and up the road towards a mini roundabout on Newquay Hill. Head straight on to Tower Road, past Newquay Golf Club until you come to a roundabout. Here, take the third exit (right turn) onto Pentire Road, and then the first left to head down Trethellan Hill. You’ll then continue walking down the path onto Penmere Drive. When you come out from the path, turn right on Trevean Way and continue across the green onto the South West Coast Path, which will take you down to the Gannel.

5. Cross the footbridge to Penpol Creek, or take the ferry over to the other side. Once at Penpol Creek, walk towards the head and pick up the South West Coast Path, taking you beside the Gannel towards Crantock beach. Turn right and drop down either on the beach or just up the road from the Crantock car park.

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Have you done this walk before? What are your favourite walks in Cornwall? Leave your comments below…