Cove coastal walk from Porthcothan to Treyarnon in Cornwall

The walk from Porthcothan beach to Treyarnon beach is a short little walk. Only 4.5miles in length. However, it ended up being our most challenging of the trip to Cornwall.

One word. Wind.

The wind

I would say that the wind on this walk rivalled winds I have experienced on the west coast of Ireland. The difference is, I was now hiking in it.

The weather had turned.

We had been really lucky so far with the weather, but today (our last day) everything got cloudy, gloomy and windy.

As I mentioned in the post about walking to Bedruthan Steps, we knew this weather was coming and planned this walk according to it (Ollie prefers to photograph gloomy). We weren’t expecting the wind though.

Thankfully the wind was never blowing in the direction of the cliff edge. If it was, I would not have walked anywhere near the edge (along the walk there are trail options to walk nearer the edge or further away).

The wind was instead blowing along the line of the coast, which did present its own challenges. Walking to Treyarnon, it was blowing from behind us. Pushing us nicely along. Ollie and I did realise though, that this meant for the walk back to Porthcothan, it would be headwind.

What will you see on the coastal walk from Porthcothan to Treyarnon?

As the title suggest you will see some coves. To be honest, the majority of the coastline walks you will do in Cornwall will have coves. I just named it this way because I specifically chose this walk because of them, and there is a lot packed in for such a short walk.

The coves in order: Long Cove, Rowan Cove, Fox Cove, Warren Cove, Pepper Cove, and Wine Cove.

nb. the photos below are not these specific coves in order. Just a selection.

Looking down along the rugged black cliffs to the rough blue sea on the coastal walk from Porthcothan. There are some black rocks in the sea, and some small pretty pink and yellow flowers on the clifftop.

Looking across the rough sea to the rugged cliff cove on the walk into Treyarnon.

Looking down and across the craggy coastline as the sea crashes into it.

A view down into a cliff cove on the coastal walk between Porthcothan and Treyarnon in Cornwall.

This walk (alongside the Tintagel Bossiney walk) was one of my favourite of the trips. The coves, one after another were just breathtaking. The dramatic weather causing waves to crash into the cliffside and rocks made it even more special.

Now I’m going to give you the logistical info for the walk and a map, then I will describe the walk with photos. At the end I will give you more suggestions for other walks in Cornwall.

Logistics for the cove walk from Porthcothan to Treyarnon in Cornwall

Start/Finish: Porthcothan Bay car park
How to get there: If you don’t have a car, there is a bus stop right next to the beach. Bus number 56 will get you here from Padstow or Newquay.

Distance: 4.5miles/7.4km there and back.
Time: It took us about 1.5 hours (but remember, it was very windy)
Difficulty: If it’s not windy, easy. If it’s windy, challenging.

Elevation: The highest point is 45meters. Total elevation gain will be 84m. There is a gradual incline/decline at the beginning and end. Then a few small ups/downs and undulations in between. Nothing crazy though.
Time of year: We did this one in May
Tips/Amenities: Car park (free during winter months). A cafe serving food and drink on the south side of Porthcothan Beach. You can also hire beach and surf equipment here. There are probably toilets at the cafe. I didn’t check but I would be surprised if there wasn’t. At Treyarnon, when you walk down towards the beach, there is a small food and drinks kiosk and picnic bench along the trail. On the other side of the beach there are good toilet facilities and another food and drinks kiosk. There are a few scenic benches along the trail between Porthcothan and Treyarnon.

Map for the cove walk from Porthcothan to Treyarnon in Cornwall

Due to accidentally cancelling the tracker on the walk out, I had to start it again, so only tracked one way.

A guide to the cove walk from Porthcothan to Treyarnon in Cornwall

Starting from Porthcothan Bay car park, as you exit, turn right at the road (to walk to the north side of the beach) and you will see the coast path signage. Get onto the sandy trail and shortly on the right you will see a trail offshoot leading up to the greenery.

A road over a bridge with a green bushy hill on the other side.

Porthocthan beach with a stream of water running through it and some houses on the hilltop on the other side of the beach.

A small sand trail going uphill through the bushes.

A man walking on a narrow trail with green bushes and grass on either side.

The trail will become a dirt trail as it gradually takes you uphill with Porthcothan Beach to your left.

If the tide is high you will get a lovely view of the beach coves across the bay (at low tide these are just extensions of the big beach).

The blue sea running through the rugged cliffs on the walk from Porthcothan in Cornwall.

A man walking across the dirt trail on a grass hill.

Looking down through the rugged black cliffs to the rough sea on the walk out of Porthcothan. On the other side there are some sandy beach coves and white houses on the clifftop.

You will see a trail split. Either is correct. The left one just keeps you closer to the coastline. If in doubt, just follow the direction of the yellow arrow.

The start of the coves

Now from here going forwards, I can’t figure out which of my photos are which coves. I did take them in order but looking at them and trying to match them up with what is on google maps (satellite view), they don’t quite add up. I seem to have way more cove pictures than there seem to be on the map.

So what I will do know, is just show you what you will see, and tell you a bit about what to expect with the trail. I’m going to show the photos in order when walking in the direction from Porthcothan to Treyarnon.

It’s not difficult to follow. It’s a coast path walk, so as long as you stick near to or in the vicinity of the coastline, you will be fine.

What to expect of the trail on the walk from Porthcothan to Treyarnon

The trail will vary from wide to narrow dirt paths, to grassy paths. There are some steps but not too many. Sometimes you will be walking alongside a fence, and sometimes a moss and flower covered brick wall. You will notice that sometimes there are trail offshoots. Some of these offshoots are simply alternate trails that lead you the same way, some are dead ends, but rather, just take you to different viewpoints. So all trails are options really, just as long as ultimately you are heading towards Treyarnon Bay.

Photos of what you will see on the walk from Porthcothan to Treyarnon

The rough blue sea as it crashes into the rugged cliffs in Cornwall.

Looking along the cliff coastline where it meets the sea.

A large dirt trail along the grass covered clifftop with the se behind. There is a wooden signpost stump next to the trail.

The rugged dark colours cliff coastline with rocks justing out of the sea on the coastal walk from Porthcothan to Treyarnon in Cornwall.

The sea in Cornwall, surrounded by craggy cliffs and rocks on the walk along the South West Coast Path.

A trail running along the top of the cliff. There is a strip of grass next to the path with small pretty pink and yellow flowers.

A cliff cove into the sea on the walk between Porthcothan and Treyarnon in Cornwall. There are some rocks jutting out of the water and pretty little pink and yellow flowers on the clifftop.

A dirt trail snaking through the grass with patches of yellow and pink flowers and the blue sea in the distance.

Rugged cliff and rocks in the sea off the coast of Cornwall.

A dirt trail running along the cliff top with a view all down the coastline on the walk from Porthcothan.

Steps leading downhill with black rock cliffs on the other side on the walk to Treyarnon in Cornwall. The seas is crashing into the cliffs on the left.

The hilly rugged coast of Cornwall with the sea crashing into into it.

A man walking uphill along a dirt trail with grass and pink clusters of flowers.

A dirt trail running along the undulating land with the sea on the right side.

The rough sea as it crashes into the craggy cliffs of the coast of Cornwall.

A narrow dirt trail winding through the foliage.

A dirt trail leading to a wooden gate and fence, with grass either side of the trail.

A man walking along a dirt grass trail with a moss covered wall with patches of flowers on the right side. There is a wooden stump signpost with a yellow arrow.

A walking trail along the grassy clifftop. The cliff meets the sea on the right.

A cliff cove in Cornwall on the walk into Treyarnon.

The sea surrounded by rugged cliffs in Cornwall. There are some small yellow and pink flowers on the clifftop in the front of the frame.

Black rock cliffs on the left and right with the blue sea in-between. There is a small black rock in the middle, sticking out of the sea.

A dirt trail winding through a wooden fence on the left, and grass and moss covered wall on the right. Treyarnon beach is visible in the distance.

Looking past a wooden picnic bench and down to the sand and sea of Treyanon Beach.

Reaching Treyarnon Bay

As you are reaching Treyarnon, the main trail will slowly take you downhill with the Bay to your left. Just before you reach the beach, you will reach the food kiosk with a picnic bench. A nice spot to stop for refreshments before heading back.

Walk back to Porthcothan

From here, just walk back the way you came. As mentioned earlier, there are a few trails to choose from, so if you want to mix it up, just pick different offshoots to what you got here on.

More walks in Cornwall

If you want to make this walk longer, you could add in the section of the coast path right next to this one from Porthcothan to Bedruthan Steps. Its a 5.7 mile round trip. The whole length of the walk is not as beautiful as this one, but the spectacular Bedruthan Steps Beach makes up for it.

If you go a bit further up the coast to Trevone Bay, you could try the Gunver Head Stepper Point Walk (5.5miles).

I highly recommend the walk from Tintagel to Bossiney. It is a bit further north in Cornwall, and is one of my favourites in England. It’s 7ish miles long, circular and has a sort of Game of Thrones vibe to it.

If you would like something a bit different, where you get to see some tin and copper mine engine houses, then further south, you could try out the Rinsey mines walk.

Alternatively, the National Trails website will give you more walking trail ideas.