Mount Edgcumbe To Kingsand Circular Walk

I had already walked from Kingsand to Cremyll via Mount Edgcumbe a week or so ago. It was after doing the Rame Head walk. I figured that I would walk to Cremyll and get the boat back to Plymouth instead of the bus. I was so impressed by the route, that I wanted to come back and track it to write about for the website.

This time I did do it a bit differently. I walked in the other direction and made it circular, starting the walk from Cremyll, then walking along the edge of Mount Edgcumbe country park, and on to Kingsand. Then I circled back across the park, and along the other side to get back to Cremyll.

Looking across the crop field and over the bushes to the village of Kingsand on the circular walk from Mount Edgcumbe. Kingsand is a small cluster of houses in the cove, next to the sea with lots of woodland trees on the other side.

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What to expect on the walk between Cremyll, Mount Edgcumbe and Kingsand

The first part of the walk from Cremyll follows the coast path. You will walk along the edge of Mount Edgcumbe country park, and along super pretty flower lined trails.

A red soil dirt trail lined with tall bushes on the left and grass and short bushes on the right. There is one tall over hanging bush on the right side of the trail.

Looking across the shingle beach to the clam water at the start of the Mount Edgcumbe to Kingsand circular walk. There is a small red dingy on the beach.

A good chunk of this first part of the walk between Cremyll, Mount Edgecumbe and Kingsand is woodland, with some views out to the sea, Drake’s island, and a navy boat.

Looking across the calm blue sea to Drakes Island at the start of the Mount Edgcumbe to Kingsand circular walk.

Part of the woodland features something which I wasn’t expecting. One of the reasons I had to come back….the bluebells. So many bluebells.

a dirt path in the woods, lined with grass and bluebells on the circular Mount Edgcumbe to Kingsand walk.

As you get nearer to Kingsand, it’s less woodland and more open with views. You will have a fantastic view over to Kingsand, which I’m sad that my photos don’t do justice. The sun was directly in front so the photos are a bit poo.

Looking along the sandy, rocky shoreline, with some houses of Kingsand just visible on the right on the circular walk from Mount Edgcumbe. There is a tree covered peninusular ahead.

For the walk back from Kingsand to Cremyll, you will start off on really cool rocky ground, and then walk up a big hill for fantastic fear reaching views. You will walk across and over to the other side, where there is more woodland, and lots more bluebells.

Looking across the rocky and sandy shoreline to an abandoned stone building on the Mount Edgcumbe to Kingsand circular walk.

Looking down through the grass hill valley and out to the blue sea on the circular walk from Mount Edgcumbe to Kingsand.

Logistics for the Cremyll and Mount Edgcumbe to Kingsand circular walk

Start/Finish: Cremyll pier. Post code: PL10 1HX.

How to get there: There are regular ferry boats between Plymouth and Cremyll, journey time 8min. Bus number 70 runs between Plymouth, Kingsand and Cremyll. Plymouth to Cremyll by bus is long, about 1h30, which is why the boat is better.
Distance: 7 miles
Time: 2h 20min

Terrain: Dirt trail, gravel, rocks, grass, some steps, a small bit of road and asphalt
Difficulty: Easy
Options to shorten the walk: Yes – see tips

Dog friendly: Dogs are allowed on the ferry. No stiles.
Amenities: Cremyll has a pub – The Edgcumbe Arms. Kingsand has a few pubs, a bakery and Spa shop. Mount Edgcumbe Country Park has a restaurant, garden cafe and public toilets. There is also a car park at both Cremyll and Kingsand.
Time of year: Spring

Tips for the walk between Cremyll, Mount Edgcumbe and Kingsand

Some parts look like they would be muddy if it’s been raining. If that’s the case, think about your footwear choice.
If you want to shorten the walk, you have the option to get a bus back to Plymouth (or Cremyll) from Kingsand. If that’s what you plan to do, then take the trail that I walked out on. That’s the better one of the two.
Mount Edgcumbe is a manor house and country park and gardens. I only scratched the surface, so feel free to explore the area more and visit the manor house.

When in Kingsand, pop over to Cawsand. It’s the twin village to Kingsand, and is a cute little cove where you can also do water sports.
Do the walk in spring for all the flower and bluebell goodness.
The Cremyll Plymouth ferry runs every 30min, and costs £2 one way for adults.

There is a section of the walk over at Kingsand which I have a feeling might be under water at high tide. I don’t know for sure, but to be safe, try to avoid high tide for the walk. I will show you the section I mean when I describe the walk below. You can check the tide times here.

If you would like to try out some other activities around Plymouth, Viator has a range of guided or self-guided tours you can choose from.

Map for the Cremyll and Mount Edgcumbe to Kingsand circular walk

More walk ideas near Cremyll and Kingsand will be at the end

If you fancy trying something a bit different, you could join this comedy walking tour of Plymouth. You are guided by an award winning comedian, who shows you around all the highlights and hidden gems.

A Guide To The Mount Edgcumbe To Kingsand Circular Walk

Off the boat, walk towards the entrance to Mount Edgcumbe. It’s quite obvious. When you enter the grounds, turn left and walk under the arch of the building ahead. Continue on the path with the cafe and wisteria on your left, and fountain on your right, to reach the trail lined with tall hedges.

An immaculate path and lawn leading to a large manor building with a white and brown facade.

Looking along the neatly cute grass to a fountain in Mount Edgcumbe country park on the walk towards Kingsand.

Past the hedges you will be on a big wide gravel type path, with views to the sea to your left. You can see Drake’s Island from here, and probably a Navy ship.

A path lined with very tall neat hedges.

A wide path on the left and neatly cut green on the right. There is a stone wall to the left of the path and some people walking ahead in the distance.

Looking across the blue sea towards Drakes Island.

Now stay on this trail and follow it around, past the ruins and then a green area with picnic benches.

A stone building ruins on the side of the path. There is a large tree next to the building.

a wide path with a small hedge lining the left side, and a grass green on the right. There is a large cluster of trees ahead.

Looking across the green to the sea and woodland trees ahead. There are a couple of wooden picnic benches on the green.

The flowers

Past the green, follow the trail up to the left and under the trees, and along a trail lined with lots of pretty flowers. There is a sign saying that these flowers are National Camelia. The thing is, they looked like white bluebells to me.

A wide path in the woods, lines with bushes, grass and white flowers. There are a couple of people ahead, walking on the path.

Continue on this trail, as it then leads you down and out of the woods.

A long path lined with trees on the Mount Edgcumbe to Kingsand circular walk. There is a light at the end of the path to lead out of the woods, and a person standing in the light.

Out of the woods and into the woods

You should see a white structure ahead, I can’t for the life of me remember what these are called. Anyway, walk towards it, and then onto the dirt trail to the left of it. Follow the dirt trail up, and a bit further along, it will lead your through a big gate and along the side of a field.

A dirt trail leading into the bushes, with a wooden trail signpost on the left.

a wooden door gate and wire fence, with a large leaning tree trunk over the gate.

You should see some ruins to your right. Keep on this trail and it will lead you into some more woods.

Looking up the grass hill to some stone ruins.

a path on the left side, running through the grass green towards some trees. There is a wooden stump signpost on the right.

The bluebells

Continue through the woods on a wide-ish dirt path, and you will exit briefly to walk past a Tudor looking house, before entering the woods again. If it’s the right time of year, this is where you will get all the bluebell goodness. It’s like a bluebell carpet. My photos don’t really do it justice.

A path surrounded by bushes and trees, with the sunlight light shining through.

Looking along the path to a tudor house.

A wide dirt path through the woods and lots of bluebells, on the Mount Edgcumbe to Kingsand circular walk.

Follow this trail, as it does a hairpin bend, and then takes you to some steps.

Steps leading up through the woods, and a no entry wooden gate on the left.

Next to the second steps, there is usually a path, but it had been closed due to landslide. I think that way is the official coast path way. Anyway, you go up the steps. At the top you will have some more bluebells to send you off.

A dirt path leading to a wooden gate on the circular walk from Mount Edgcumbe to Kingsand. The path is lines with bushes and bluebells.

More woods, some views

Through the gate, you should have some views coming up, to a strip of land with a lighthouse, and maybe the Navy ship again.

Past the next structure, you will have some downhill.

A stone structure on the path, with a wooden fence on the left and some bushes on the right.

A brown leaf covered path, with some bushes on the left.

It’s interesting down here. There are all these random steps. It felt a little secret garden vibes. For this walk though, stick to the main trail. You might have a tree obstacle coming up to climb over. There is also a trail split coming, either way is fine I think. I took the right one, and down a short steep bit. Here there will be the trail that had a landslide on the left. You go right.

A dirt path on the side of a hill, surrounded by trees. There is a fallen tree ahead on the path.

A trail lined with grass and trees hanging overhead.

A path lined with small bushes and plants and trees.

It’s now some more walking surrounded by trees and bushes and passing by another structure. Then at the trail split with the yellow and blue arrow, follow the yellow arrow to the left.

a path leading to the some ruins, surorunded by bushes and trees.

A trail split in the woods. There is a wooden stump signpost at the split with a yellow arrow pointing left and a blue arrow pointing right.

Walk out of the woods to the first view to Kingsand

The trail will lead you through a gate and out of the woods, where you should get a lovely view over to Kingsand. This is where I’m sad that my photos were hindered by the sun. It looked really good in person.

A dirt trail leading down a grass hill with a view to the sea and Kingsand in the distance, on the circular walk through Mount Edgcumbe. There is a wooden bench on the grass hillside.

Follow the trail down the hill, then at the road, turn right, and take the next left to walk along the top of another field.

A dirt trail at the bottom of the hill with long grass, leading to a wooden gate. There is a small road running parallel to the trail on the left.

A wooden trail signpost in front of a wooden gate and bushes, with a view to the sea in the distance on the other side. — This one is confusing. The coast path points to the road. Don’t follow the road, but instead go through this gate.

This is a nice trail, lined with bushes and tall grass, and a bit further along, another great view towards Kingsand. You might even get some more bluebells in the fields down to the left.

A trail with overgrown grass and small bushes to the left and tall bushes to the right. There is a tree covered green hill visible ahead in the distance.

Looking down the grass hill with bluebells, leading to some bushes then the blue sea below.

A dirt path along the side of a hill, leading to the village of Kingsand by the sea ahead, on the circular walk through Mount Edgcumbe country park. There are two people walking ahead on the path.

Walk to Kingsand

There is a point coming up where you could take a left trail leading downhill. I suggest not taking it, as this walk takes you on it after Kingsand, for the walk back through Mount Edgcumbe Park to Cremyll. So stay walking along this main trail, and it will lead you all the way to Kingsand.

Looking down the alley type road along the pastel coloured houses of Kingsand, on the circular walk from Mount Edgcumbe country park.

Leave Kinsgand to walk back through Mount Edgcumbe to Cremyll

Now some fun stuff comes. To walk back, you will be walking on some rocks. You can get there from the beach, but I decided to walk along the streets to see some more of the cute buildings of Kingsand.

Looking down the the beach of Kingsand with a stone wall and row of houses to the left. — If taking the beach route, walk down here to the rocks.

Looking down a small road lines with pastel coloured houses in Kingsand. — This is the street route

Looking along a small path, with a stone wall to the right and building to the right on the circular walk through Kingsand and Mount Edgcumbe country park. The sea is visible in the distance ahead.

Looking along the rocky coastline towards a stone shed, on the circular walk around Kingsand and Mount Edgcumbe country park.

Note: I don’t know what this rock situation is like during high tide. Are they underwater? They looked like they could be. To be safe, maybe bare that in mind, and don’t do this walk at high tide.

Anyway, now walk along those rocks towards the green stuff.

Walk up the hill and partially back the way you came

When you reach the end of the rocks, take the little slither trail up, and then the left trail, to continue up some more. This will take you along the bottom of a hill.

Looking across the rocks to the green bushy trees ahead and left.

A small trail leading up through a gap in the stone wall and hedge.

Looking along the green grass hillside, with some bushes on the left and the blue sea on the other side along the Mount Edgcumbe to Kingsand circular walk.

At the end, go uphill and through the bushes with another slither trail. Stay on this trail along the bottom, and further along it will take you uphill and back to the bigger trail you walked here on.

A small dirt path through an opening in the bushes.

A dirt trail leading uphill in the field with overgrown grass, towards the woodland.

Now walk back the way you came on the bigger trail, back to that road, and then back onto that hill through the gate again. This is where things now get switched up.

A sandy path with grass to the right and bushes to the left whit a white coloured house a head on the Mount Edgcumbe to Kingsand circular walk. There is a green hill field to the right of a house. — On the very right of the photo, you can see the trail you will walk up next

Walk up the big hill

You should see a trail going up the big hill. Go up it. You will start to get a nice view back from up here. But it gets better soon.

Looking down the grass hill to the blue sea below. There is a trail running down the hill, and a person sitting next to it.

Some way up it splits in two. I took the right one, although the left might work. Anyway, if you take the right like me, when you reach the top, with a gate on the right, go left instead.

A path running through the trees and tall bushes.

Now follow this dirt trail as it takes you around the valley, with a really lovely view back down. Continue following the trail as it turns to grass, and it will lead you up over the top of the hill towards a church.

Looking down through the green grass hill valley, with some trees at the bottom on the other side and the blue sea beyond that.

Looking across a grass field towards a church.

Looking across the field to the blue sea in the distance and a small island in the sea, on the Mount Edgcumbe to Kingsand circular walk. — The view looking back

Walk past the church and into more woods and more bluebells

Go through the wooden gate at the top, continue straight, then turn left and through another gate as you circle around the church. A short way further along, you should see a wooden trail signpost pointing to the right down the hill towards the woods. Follow it.

A wooden signpost with a green sign in a field.

At the trees, you will go through another gate, and cross over the road to pick up the trail on the other side. You will now be on a dirt trail with a wall thing on your left. Continue down along it, maybe passing more bluebells.

A dirt trial with a moss covered wall on the left and trees and bushes on the right.

A dirt path lined with lots of bluebells in the woodland on the Mount Edgcumbe to Kingsand circular walk.

The rope

At the junction at the end, you want to do a right left. What I mean is, turn right, then take the left trail off the bigger trail. This will lead you downhill some more, next to a rope railing type thing. Like in an adventure course.

A dirt trail leading straight and a small dirt trail going off it to the left in the woodland on the Mount Edgcumbe to Kingsand circular walk. — So you will take this left here

A dirt trail leading down though the woods, with a rope hanging along the trees on the left.

At the next junction, follow the yellow arrow pointing right, then a bit further along take the left through the gate. Through here, stay on the right trail, and it will lead you out of the woods and into a field.

A wooden trail signpost with an arrow pointing right at the trail junction.

a wooden gate with a wooden trail signpost.

A dirt trail split with small greenery seperating the trails.

The fields

Continue straight across this field, with a view out to the water, then at the path at the end, turn left to walk through a metal gate onto the road.

A dirt trail barely visible amongst the bushes with a green field ahead on the circular walk from Mount Edgcumbe to Kingsand.

Looking across the grass hill field with the river just visible ahead in the distance.

A path at the bottom of a hill with overgrown grass, and some trees on the other side of the path.

Directly across this road is a trail signpost by the stone steps. Go over them, and follow the trail to the right, where it will then take you along the bottom of a crop field. You will get some nice peaks of view to the water from here.

Grass and bushes on the left and a brown crop hill field on the right near the end of the Mount Edgcumbe to Kingsand circular walk.

Looking through a gap in the trees to the river bed at low tide and a small cottage on the other side nestled with in the trees.

a narrow dirt trail with tall grass on the right and bushes on the left, and some ruins ahead in the distance.

This whole next section wasn’t what I was expecting. I thought the walk would be more open next to the water, for the views. But the water is actually obscured by trees and stuff for most of the walk back to Cremyll.

The pretty homes, castle and Empacombe Harbour

The trail will lead you to an area with a pink house and a castle looking place. I’m not sure what this is. Someone’s home?

Looking over the bushes to a large house with a pin k facade and covered in scaffolding.

Looking along the neatly cute grass to a castle type building ahead covered in ivy on the Mount Edgcumbe to Kingsand circular walk.

Next you walk across the neat grass around the harbour. I felt a little like I didn’t belong here. Like this was a private area or something. I had this feeling someone was going to pop out to tell me to get off their land. Then I spotted the flower pot with a coast path sign. Ahah, this is my ticket. No one can make me leave now.

Neatly cut green grass curving around the cove, with a pink coloured house covered in scaffolding on the left and a white coloured house on the right.

A trail signpost with a black and white acorn south west coast path sticker in a plant pot, on the circular Mount Edgcumbe to Kingsand walk.

A small road leading up through a stone wall with a stone shed partially visible on the right.

Follow the coast path sign along the grass to the left, then you make a right onto what looks to be someones driveway. Don’t worry, keep going, and this will eventually lead you onto a more reassuring trail.

The abandoned buildings and the final stretch of the Cremyll, Mount Edgcumbe, Kingsand circular walk

Continue along this trail passing more bushes, trees and tall grass, and it will lead you past some abandoned buildings with graffiti. I felt a little uneasy here, so rushed through this bit.

A gravel path through the green grass with a couple of abandoned buildings covered in graffiti ahead.

Past the graffiti buildings, the trail will take you along the side of a field, and then under more trees.

A trail with bushes on the left and a wire fence and field to the right.

When you reach the road junction area at the end (with some houses), go left. Then at the next junction, go right. This will lead you to some more houses. You can go left or right here. Both will lead you back to Cremyll Pier. I took the right.

More walk ideas near Mount Edgcumbe and Kingsand

If you are based in Plymouth, then you could check out by guide on the best walks from Plymouth. Or see below for a few that I recommend nearby.

Rame Head walk is a lovely walk starting from Kingsand, and takes you around the Rame Head Peninsular. You could add it as an extension to this walk if you want to go further. You will most likely spot some ‘wild’ ponies on this walk too.

Jennycliff is just across the water on the Plymouth side. You could try this walk which takes you through the woodland cliffs and onto the the Lovely Bovisand Beach.

Noss Mayo walk, also over on the Plymouth side, is an easy walk, but with fantastic views. You can actually see Kingsand from it.

Looe to Polperro walk, slightly further south along the coast. This is a fantastic walk between a cute town and even cuter village. It’s worth a trip if you are in the area.

Fowey to Polperro walk gets you to the lovely Polperro from the other direction. If you want something more challenging, then this is a goodie.

Pin it for later: Cremyll and Mount Edgcumbe to Kingsand circular walk

Mount Edgcumbe to Kingsand circular walk guide.