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Landscape
Celtic Cornwall
Ancient Sites
Where to Go
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Dean Quarry to Porthallow via Porthoustock - 2.3 milesOS Explorer 103: grid ref. SW805204 to SW796233 via SW806218 View Map Walk Duration 2 Hours
Walked in reverse. Park your car at the back of the beach at Porthallow. After consulting your OS map and Tide Time Tables, decide if you wish to follow the Official (inland) coastpath route to Porthoustock [approx. 1.3 miles long up through Parc-an-tidno and Trenance] or our preferred route along the slightly longer Unofficial coastal path through Porthkerris and the now disused St Keverne Quarries. Walk towards the shore from your vehicle, bearing right as you head southeast just seaward of the Five Pilchards Inn. Locate some steps up from the beach and proceed uphill steadily pausing to look back over the beach as you pass above Pol Lawrance and Pol Gwarra. The path continues southeastwards before veering to a more southerly direction as you follow the private road into Porthkerris Cove. Walk down into Porthkerris closing gates and following signage as this is private property of the 'Porthkerris Diving Centre'. Walk along the dark shingle beach and follow the path south between coast and quarry up onto Pencra Head. Proceed carefully through the workings of the former St. Keverne Quarries and down over Batty's Point into Porthoustock.
At Porthoustock pause for refreshments if needed before heading up the hill following the only coastpath available southwest towards Rosenithon. If it has been raining heavily recently the field paths may be extremely muddy. An alternative here is to walk up the steep road with care passing a large (natural) rock feature on your right known as the 'Giant's Quoits' - formerly at Manacle Point but resited in 1967 due to quarry expansion. Look for and follow the footpath at the southern end of the hamlet of Rosenithon. Take care here as on every occasion we have walked this stretch we have found the paths to be very muddy and indistinct if you stray off the main route. The route wends its way down to the little known Godrevy Beach. Take some time out here to look seaward to the jagged rocks lying about a mile offshore - they are the infamous Manacle Rocks [Mên Eglos - Church Rocks], a major danger to shipping until quite recently - over 150 ships and several thousand people are thought to have been lost here through the centuries! If the tide is relatively low explore the rocks at Leggan Point, and look northeast to the Shark's Fin rock just off Manacle Point. Leave the beach up the gentle slope at its southern exit.
Shortly you approach Dean Quarry - Take heed of the warning signs. If the red flag is flying or the hooter sounding then blasting is imminent - TAKE CARE. Keep to the well marked footpath through the quarry - the signs only a few metres apart. A sign with the strange words 'GAB SAND' puzzles you, until you remember that Dean Quarry is in fact a Gabbro quarry. Pass by the conveyor leading to the loading area. Take care to keep strictly to the footpath if the quarry is open. Soon you begin to leave the workings behind you as you see the low flat expanse of Lowland Point come into view. Walk as far as the wooden signpost and make your choice - onwards towards Coverack on the coastpath or up the public footpath to St. Keverne and an inland return to Porthallow and your vehicle.
Previous walk: Coverack to Dean Quarry |
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