Cornwall Walks 1

The walk starts on the B3273, which is the road leading from St.Austell to Mevagissey. Follow the road through a little place called London Apprentice, you'll easily see the signs as you drive along the road - note it's 30 mph, so careful with your speed!

After London Apprentice look out on the left for a pull-in / layby suitable for about six cars. There's also a very small car park for about another five or six cars if you turn left immediately before the pull in.

This is where your walk begins.

Walk down the drive towards the small car park, over a bridge, and on the right you'll see a path through a gate. You are now on your way!

As in the photo below you simply follow the path alongside the river, so you can't really go wrong.


You will pass a wooden bridge on your right which leads to The Lost Gardens of Heligan and also to Mevagissey. However, this time, keep to the path. A fancy metal signpost will point you in the right direction.

Carry on along the path until you see another path to the left, as per the photo below. There is a seat should it be needed, but surely you can't be tired already.


This path to the left, which you now follow, leads into a more wooded area.


You will pass a ford with a wooden bridge - to save getting your feet wet! Just keep on following the path.


As you can see it gets a bit boggy on the right of the path but this isn't a problem as the actual path is pretty good.


We are now approaching Pentewan village which means the first part of the walk is over and we have a definite change of scenary. We'll be seeing the sea soon. Plus, the good news is that the dull clouds have disappeared and the sky is turning blue - though I can't promise this will always happen!

At the end of this path there is a small shack where you can rent bicycles or have an ice-cream.



We'll now move onto the second part of the walk which is Pentewan village and also the beach and sea.

The name London Apprentice has been around since 1747 and the most likely explanation is that it comes from an 18th century ballad. This is all about a sailor who landed at Pentewan and, as he was unable to find work, travelled to London to learn a trade before returning to Cornwall to live and work. Where he lived therefore became known as London Apprentice.

As you leave the path you have been following turn left at the narrow road and head on towards Pentewan Village. Depending on the time of year there may be a few cars about so be a bit careful if you have children or dogs.

Ahead of you you'll see blue sky, well I did anyway!



If you look up the valley side you'll also see some big cows (photo below) but they aren't real! Nope, no idea why they are there. Perhaps the guy likes cows but doesn't like milk or the mess. Who knows! Makes a change from gnomes I suppose.

If you don't look upwards for too long at the cows you'll also see an old sluice gate. This previously helped to drain water from the Pentewan harbour basin back in the 1800's. It's no longer a working harbour nowadays.


Follow the road and you'll come to the Ship Inn with a pretty girl sweeping outside. Okay, like the blue sky, I can't promise this but if you fancy trying the local ale it's a good place to stop. There's also a garden, where you can sup the ale outside, if you prefer - or even have something to eat.


Now that you've seen the Ship Inn, opposite the pub, there is a gate-like opening. Go through this, turn right and this path will veer to the left and you'll see the old Pentewan harbour as per the two photos below.



Walk around the far side of the harbour and you will reach Pentwan Sands - the beach and the sea.


I love the sea and beaches, so here's a couple of photos of Pentewan Sands. In the first photo you'll just about see my wife in the middle of the picture. But alas, like the sun and the pretty girl sweeping the Ship Inn, she's not always there. No, that doesn't sound quite right does it? I'm obviously glad she's not always there.




After you've had you fill of the beach and the sea it's time to start our return journey - and hope your car is still there - joke!

Pentewan was once a busy harbour built by a local mine owner, Sir Charles Hawkins, for shipping china clay and mining ores worldwide. It was opened in 1826.

The harbour was linked to the town of St.Austell, via London Apprentice, by a narrow guage railway. At first the carriages were pulled by horses but in 1872 came steam locomotion. Much of the path for this walk follows where the old railway would have run.

The problem was, however, that the harbour was plagued with silt - mostly from the White River which travelled through the St.Austell china clay area. The last ship to enter the harbour was in 1940.

Since then the harbour has been cut off from the sea and is now filled with fresh water.

The old photo below shows Pentewan Harbour with ships back in the early 1900's.

With your back to the sea head in the direction you came from and on the right you'll see a narrow bridge over and old water gate. Cross over the bridge as shown below.


Follow the path, with a last look over the old harbour.


The path will take you into the small village of Pentewan. You can get a Cornish cream tea in the Piskey Cove or some other snack (subject to the time of year).

There are also public toilets in the village for those with weak bladders or too much ale.


Walk on along the village road and you'll see the Ship Inn again. This time it should be on your right - unless you are heading in the wrong direction! Here's a memory jog of what the pub looks like again.


Pass the Inn and head the way you came: along the road and turn right where you see the hut that hires our cycles. Walk past the hut and on you left you'll see a small path, with a wooden bar across it - as the photo below shows.


Head down this path and you'll come to the river bank, so this will make the walk a bit different to the way you came through the wooded area.


There is only one slightly tricky bit where you have to cross a small stream leading into the river. It means holding onto a tree and balancing on a couple of logs - see below, but it shouldn't cause any able bodied person any problems.


If you look back along the river it all looks quite pleasant.


It's now simply a matter of following this river path until you join the main path that will lead you back to your car. You can't go wrong.

Once you see the stone bridge you'll find your car either in the pull-in/layby on the road or in the small car park - depending on where you parked it of course.



So that's the short walk completed. I'll give a couple of suggestions as to what you could do after the walk further down this page.

One of the things I like about walking is that there is always something of interest to see: flowers, animals, birds and so on.

When we did this walk we saw the rabbit in the photo, who sadly had an injury, and numerous butterflies. We also saw squirrels and various wild flowers. The thing is to enjoy the walk and not just race round to see how quickly you can get it over with.
We spent ages on the beach, for example.

Take the B3273 St.Austell to Mevagissey Road until you see the well sign posted London Apprentice. Carry on driving and on the left you will see a pull-in/layby for about 6 cars and a track going left into a small car park. Park here (I usually use the pull-in).

Walk along the track from the road and on the right, once over a small bridge, is a gate with a good quality footpath.

Follow the footpath alongside the river.

After a while the path splits, turn left here and into a more wooded area.

Pass over a wooden bridge over a ford and continue until the end of the path, There is a cycle hire hut here.

Turn left into Pentewan village. Opposite the Ship Inn is an opening to walk through. In doing so turn right and gradually loop to the left around the old Pentewan Harbour.

Straight ahead you will come to the beach and sea.

Once you've had enough of the sea retrace your footsteps for a short way until you see a narrow bridge. Cross this, pass the Harbour Masters house, and straight on to the Pentewan village.

Turn left at the village, along the road past the Ship Inn and use the path again by the cycle hire hut.

Just past the hut turn left down a small path and you will reach the river. Turn right and follow the river bank.

This will lead eventually to the main path you started the walk on. Continue walking until you return to your car.

If you haven't spent too long on the beach at Pentewan perhaps you would like somewhere nearby to visit after the walk.

I'm sure the old fishing village of Mevagissey, with it's narrow streets and fishing harbour, will be of interest. It's only about four miles from Pentewan by car. Simply stay on the B3273 and you'll be there in minutes.

As you drive towards Mevagissey you will go up Pentewan Hill. There is a pull-in on the left which is a good place to take a photo or just enjoy the view.

Once moving again you'll soon be in Mevagissey. As you start to enter the village use the car park on the left. It'll cost you a little to park but there is no where else. As you will find out, the streets are very narrow and you'll have to drive right through the village if you don't use this car park.

If you have a bit more time another good place to visit, in easy reach, are the Lost Gardens Of Heligan. You can spend ages looking round these rediscovered gardens. Their website will give you lots of information including a virtual tour. The photo shows the 'Jungle' at Heligan.

A good book on Heligan: The Lost Gardens of Heligan

Lost Cornwall by Joanna ThomasCornwall (AA 50 Walks)

Cornwall: Walks (Pathfinder Guide)

Cornwall: Leisure Walks for All Ages (Short Walks Guides)

Cornwall (OS Travel Map - Tour Map)

Cornwall (Best of Britain)

The Lost Gardens of Heligan

Devon and Cornwall Special Places to Stay

Favourite Cornish Recipes

Cornwall (AA Mini Guides)

The Cornish Coast