Walking Gurnard's Head to Bosigran Castle 2.5 miles

OS Explorer Map 102: grid reference SW418369 to SW432387

Walk Duration: 1 hour 30 mins. [In Reverse]

Park the car at Gurnard's Head Hotel and walk down towards the coast. A short excursion onto Gurnard's Head is available but should only be attempted by those with a good head for heights and stout footwear as the headland can be quite windy with its rocks very slippery when wet. A good guidebook for the area is the National Trail Guide: SW Coast Path - Padstow to Falmouth by John Macadam. At the end of the small village of Treen, take the narrow left hand path by a small house rather than the wider more distinct path that bears away right. Cross the stile and head across 2 or 3 fields towards the promontory Gurnard's Head. Just above the headland the path splits four ways. Take the left hand path westwards along Treen Cliff up to the small headland of Carn Gloose. Next take time out to enjoy the view as you pass above the spectacular chasm of Kittiwake Zawn.

Look ahead to see the shattered pale granite of Bosigran Cliff and beyond that the lighthouse at Pendeen Watch. Now some 10 minutes into your walk, continue along the arc of cliffs leading to Robin's Rocks. The path is relatively level here and progress is good. Cross a stile and continue up to the viewpoint of Porthmeor Point - grid reference SW424379. The wide gully that unfolds beneath you is the spectacular Porthmeor Cove. Take care at the point looking carefully for the footpath down into the valley. You reach the stream at the valley floor after a 10 minute descent and cross it by means of two flat, granite slabs serving as a bridge. Start your ascent up the western side of the valley, again taking care of your footing in the somewhat boggy ground. Several more streams cross your path on the climb up Carn Moyle Cliff making the path boggy in each case. Part way up, the path runs within a few feet of a large gully - Great Zawn - grid reference SW421374, and so care is needed once again!

Now almost an hour into your walk the path begins to level off once more and a small grassy area at Carn Veslan Cliff offers the perfect spot for a breather and some refreshment. Take five minutes out here to look around. Ahead, the cliffs at Bosigran Castle fill your view; behind you lies Gurnard's Head and Zennor Head - the view not really indicating the strenuous nature of the route you have just undertaken. Start off once more, following the footpath down off Carn Veslan. Head for the highest point of the cliffs ahead. Continue down for a few moments before the path starts to climb again. Pass through a ruined wall and keep heading for the high point up a somewhat indistinct path. Take care here not to stray from your goal, as there are several paths leading off in all sorts of directions!

Eventually you reach that high point and can now see the path leading off, slightly inland, to the settlement in the valley below. This area is a favourite with sightseers and climbers. The latter based at the Climbing Club near Carn Galver Mine climbing Bosigran Castle. The ruined mine is a good landmark, and a suitable place to end the walk.

Previous walk: Pendeen Watch to Bosigran Castle
Next walk: Gurnard's Head to Zennor Head