You know those walks where every turn there’s another view that makes your jaw drop? This was one of those!
Olivia came down from London for the weekend, so we decided to meet up for a walk we’d never done before: Treyarnon Bay to Porthcothan. I’d been down to Treyarnon a couple of weeks ago to walk eastwards towards Constantine Bay and Trevose head (another stunning walk, great for dogs!), and in searching for that walk I’d noticed on Google maps that the coastline to the west looked pretty incredible too.
However the cliffs here looked super steep (they are!!) so I knew this walk wouldn’t be suitable for bringing the dogs, so we left them at home and set off just the two of us on this amazing walk.
The weather in Cornwall that week was pretty perfect; we’d had flat, calm seas and no wind for days, making the water completely crystal clear. Honestly the views from these cliffs took our breath away!
We both agreed to be very glad we hadn’t brought the dogs though, as this stretch of coast is pretty treacherous. It’s not a difficult walk at all, but there are lots of sudden, sheer cliff drops that appear unexpectedly, and bits of overhanging cliff that look extremely dangerous. It makes for thrilling viewing and exploring, but with parts of the edge looking like they could crumble at any second, and very minimal warning signs or fencing, I definitely wouldn’t want to let my dog or child roam free here.
Without the dogs, we could concentrate on the outstanding sights in front of us. It was a perfectly clear day, which meant we could see for miles all down the coast to St. Ives, and the water was an incredible blue and turquoise colour. I was definitely hopeful of seeing dolphins, or even a basking shark, but sadly not this day.
The South West Coast Path here winds you all around the coves and jagged, stuck out cliff formations, as if it’s taking you on a tour of the best views, and it really is epic. If you thought Bedruthan steps (a few coves down the coast) was cool, I truly think this walk is even better!
To be honest it is quite rare to see the sea this flat and calm here. Usually the North coast is a bit wilder and wavier than this, and so I really feel we hit the jackpot on this day. I have no doubt it’s stunning on any day though, and there are so many little coves and hidden slices of sand that get exposed at low tide too. You wouldn’t be able to get there yourself unless by boat or kayak though.
If we’re ever blessed with conditions like this again, I reckon taking a kayak around here would be totally dreamy. There’s so much to see and I can’t recommend this walk enough; I think it’s definitely up there with the most spectacular in Cornwall. Just be sure to stay safe!
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