Family walking while on holiday in Cornwall
by Melanie Dixon-Phillip inDog Friendly in CornwallLocal Walks

Exploring the Helford on foot

Come rain or shine the Helford amplifies all the brilliance of a perfect Cornish walk. This is the county’s coastal scenic splendour at its best. All routes are well-signed and lead to picture-perfect locations, whether woodland or by the water.

Tiny hamlets, time almost at a standstill, pebbly beaches and sandy shoreline, plus rockpools and rocky outcrops to explore. Shells and all manner of splendid distractions, it’s a feast for the eyes, picturesque and easy on the foot.

Take your time, stop, look and listen. You’ll see, hear and feel the natural beauty, the sweeping curves, the treelined edges of the Helford River and the glistening seascape. Calm or storm, there’s nothing to compare with a walk by the sea.

Fascinating houses in picturesque, ‘chocolate box’ villages like Durgan and wildlife in abundance. Tiny tracks and trails giving hints of the plentiful nocturnal activity.

Sweeping to the shoreline, natural garden mixed with planted perfection of Trebah and Glendurgan.

And always a buzz, put-put of tiny boat engines, yachts and boats at anchor dotted about. In the creeks at higher tide all’s awash with hustle and bustle. Fish jumping, boats bobbing and waves lapping. Low tide brings its wealth of wonder too. Perfect for ‘Swallows and Amazons’ playtime as children skim stones and small dogs pant as barbecues sizzle at the waterside.

Mostly sheltered from the ravages of wind and tide, it’s an excellent place and space for on and off the water. There’s nothing like walking round then taking a boat trip to see the ‘other side’.

This is postcard-perfect Cornwall, where holiday memories are made. This makes all the things we have do to get here… worthwhile.

Here’s one of our favourite Helford River walks:

Mawnan Church to the Ferry Boat Inn, Helford Passage

Park at the pretty church at the end of Church Lane just outside the village of Mawnan Smith. From here walk through the kissing gate and into the sweeping field down towards the Helford River onto Parson’s Beach. A gentle stroll for about an hour along the coast path pass Porth Saxon, Grebe Rock and on to the tiny fishing village of Durgan, like stepping back in time. Carry on along the coastpath past Trebah Gardens and onto the Helford Passage.

Here, you can reward yourself at the family run Ferry Boat Inn. Take a seat in the pub’s outside terrace and enjoy homemade pub classics, whilst drinking in the view, ready for your return journey back.

View Helford River Cottages.

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