Seaton to Portwrinkle - 3.8 miles

OS Explorer 108: grid reference SX303544 to SX355538

Walk Duration: 2 hours 10 minutes

Park your car at the large car park behind Seaton Beach. Walk east up the road towards Downderry, taking care as there is no pavement here. It is all road walking now and so there is little of any consequence to see or describe. Please note: At low tide it is possible to walk to Downderry along the sea wall but this is not permitted by the Council...do so at your own risk! Arrive at Downderry about 15 minutes after setting out. Continue eastwards passing 'St. Nicholas Primary School' as you begin to leave the village. At the apex of the hairpin bend leave the road where signed, beside 'Downderry Lodge'. Climb a flight of steps and follow the path as it zig-zags its way up Battern Cliffs. The highest point being some 141 metres (462 feet) above sea level. Go through a wooden gate, climbing steadily along the sometimes overgrown path. Pass a small quarry about 45 minutes into your walk. Follow the waymark post to the right along the new coast path between Battern Cliffs and Portwrinkle. Prior to June 2002 coastal walkers had to join the road here and stay on it all the way to Portwrinkle, this is a great improvement! Drop down gradually between the wire fence on your left and the low wall/hedge to seaward. Shortly the arc of Whitsand Bay fills your view, the rocks below right are the Long Stone and The Brawn. This area is known as Eglarooze Cliff.

Climb now for a few metres before the path begins to level then drop with woodland to your right. Go through another wooden gate passing a stile on your left which you ignore. Pass the waymark post following the path down as it steepens. After descending some steps the path narrows and then climbs once more as you round Britain Point. Look below to see if there are any remnants of a cargo of wood, lost by the vessel 'Kodima' in the winter of 2001, lying against the cliffs. Another wooden gate is encountered as you drop down towards a black and white pole - a landmark corresponding with one on the hill above left. Line up the landmark poles then look seaward with the naked eye or some 16x25 binoculars (or greater) to see the Eddystone Lighthouse some 14 miles away. Across the bay Tregantle Fort is visible just west of Freathy. Continue on as the path gradually drops down, passing through another couple of wooden gates before skirting a large chasm with care. Take the steps down into Portwrinkle, following the grassy path as it runs above the western beach with its small harbour and obelisk.

Eventually a small building with seats above the harbour offers somewhere for a rest or picnic. About 200 metres further east is a seafront car park and a bus stop where you could arrange your transport back.

Previous walk: Looe to Seaton
Next walk: Portwrinkle to Whitsand Battery