Last Updated on 11th June 2025
One of the most scenic and dramatic stretches of Cornish coastline is Trebarwith Strand and Tintagel. The beach at Trebawith is a mile of rugged and untamed golden sands that is revealed as the tide recedes. As the tide rises, the beach disappears into the turbulent waters, leaving the most amazing rock formations and outcrops.
Home to a certain king, Tintagel Castle is a well-known Cornish tourist spot. It sits atop Tintagel Head, which is a fantastic site and headland to walk around. This walk starts at a car park at Trebawith and heads along the South West Coast Path to Tintagel. Then it circles back along public footpaths that provide breath-taking views. The scene is set for a wonderful day out exploring Trebarwith Strand, Tintagel and the surrounding countryside.
What is the history of Trebarwith Strand? It is Trebervedh Sianin in Cornish and often named The Strand by locals. The name is taken from the village further up the hill, dating from the 1200s. From the 1400s the slate quarrying industry grew. There are several disused quarries in the area. Ships would come ashore at one end of the beach – Port William – and unload coal. Slate would be craned down the cliffs and loaded onto the ships for export.
What wildlife will I see at Trebarwith Strand? Gull Rock is the huge rock island you see off of the coast. It is a haven to seabirds. As are the coastal cliffs along this walk. When the tide is out. all along the beach are rockpools and home to a variety of marine life. Look to the skies to spot, of course, the gulls. Also look out for hovering kites – a red kite if you are lucky.
Circular Walk Around Trebarwith Strand and Tintagel
This walk is based on a Country Walking route published on the Ordnance Survey mapping site. I extended their 8.5 mile walk to a possible 9.5 miles in all. However, for me, the distance was reduced back to around 9 miles as I didn’t walk around Tintagel Headland as the route goes. I completed it in 5 hours – taking in meal and rest breaks. This might be a good spring or late autumn walk when daylight hours are reduced. I did it in late August with the heathers in full bloom.
See the route on the Ordnance Survey Mapping service. or download the GPX file, but take note that this guide starts at Trebarwith rather than at Tintagel and also includes a diversion up the hill to Trebarwith Village to start the walk. This route can be reversed to walk the inland lanes prior to the coastal paths.
If you are new to walking or would like some useful information, read my article, A Beginner’s Guide to Hiking and Long Walks.
Car Park and Start Walk
I parked up at the Cornwall Council car park on the right as you drive into Trebarwith Strand. It may be busy and will fill up in no time in the summer holidays and warm weekends. So I advise you try and arrive early. Also, bring some change – cash only at the time of writing this.
Trebarwith Village
My only detour of this walk was to go up the hill, it’s rather steep, and off to the right to Trebarwith Village. There are some pretty cottages, but the village is very small. This wasn’t the main reason for the detour though. I wanted to walk into Trebarwith Stand from SW Coast Path along the heights of the cliffs.
Once at the crossroads in the village, turn around and walk back to the post-box in the wall. Look across the road and take the public footpath heading out to the cliffs. Once on the path, either head NW to The Strand, or maybe take the westerly sandy path which links a path heading SW to Dennis Point. The views over the Strand and surroundings from here are stunning, so get the camera out.
Trebarwith Strand to Tintagel
What goes up, so they say. Well, it’s a steep descent down to beach level. I headed for the café and sat on the huge flat rock with my coffee and carrot cake, looking out to sea. What a treat!
What comes down, well yes, after snapping a load of photos of this amazing beach, it was a yomp up the hill along the SW Coast Path. It passes by Lill Cove, Vean Hole and onto Hole and Bagalow Beaches. Look out for disused quarries in this area.
After passing Dennis Scale, there is a series of Points – Lower Penhallic, Higher Penhallic, Gull and Dunderhole. As the path turns along Dunder Hole, Tintagel Head comes into view.
A little further along the path, the route veers in to get a good look at St Materiana’s Church. Perched on the cliffs it has the most magnificent views over to Tintagel Head and back towards Trebarwith.
Explore the Headland?
Whether to walk around and explore the headland, or indeed visit the castle, is the walker’s choice. When I did this route I didn’t do my homework and wasn’t sure if there was a charge to get onto the headland. It seems that you can walk around it for free, but there is a charge for visiting the castle. Read more details on the English Heritage site.
The route conveniently heads inland to Tintagel Village. Convenient because there are plenty of eateries offering anything from snacks to a full lunch.
If there is time, Tintagel is a lovely village to wander around. Look out for the National Trust managed Tintagel Old Post Office. A couple of hours for lunch and a look around could easily be planned in to this walk in the summer months.
Tintagel to The Sisters
After a bite to eat, it’s on with the walk. It takes a northerly direction through Tintagel Village and then heads towards the rather splendid Camelot Castle Hotel. It continues to join up with the SW Coast Path at Barras Gug – I love the names. The route veers east along Smith’s Cliff and then NE to a headland that comprises of Lye Rock and Willapark. Walking towards the headland, look out for the rock pile formations, these are fascinating.
A little off of the headland lies the Sisters rock islands. Massive in appearance, they are home to many important sea birds.
The canoeist? Look closely, there is a dark object behind the canoe. Along with a growing crowd, wondering what all the fuss was about, I was up high in the cliffs looking down at him. He paddled around for 10 minutes or more with a seal following him at a safe distance. The canoeist had no clue it was there, and the seal eventually got bored and swam off.
The route continues eastwards onto Rocky Valley.
Rocky Valley to Trenale
Rockey Valley is the outlet for the River Trivillet. By that name it is perhaps less known than the location a little further on along our route. We take a southerly direction on the river path. It emerges on a road.
Cross the road and continue south and up the incline to Halgbron village. Just out of the village is a path leading to St Nectan’s Glen, which is the more widely known location on the River Trillilet. Read my Visitor’s Guide to St Nectan’s Glen.
We’ll have to leave St Nectan’s for another day and carry on up the road. It passes a crossroads and then onto Tranale.
Tranale to Trebarwith Strand Car Park
At Trenale there is a choice of routes. There is a public footpath heading SW but it cuts through nine fields, often diagonally. If you have experienced these types of footpath, you’ll know that farmers will often try to keep you to the edges of their fields, although we could be forthright and claim our route as it is mapped. Then, of course, there could livestock in any of those fields. Do we risk getting halfway across to find cows with calves on our only route?
Alternatively, as I did, continue on a SSW direction along the road. After about 0.5 mile, just after the path to the Menadue Activity Centre on the left, take the right road heading WNW.
After about 400m at Tregeath, take the footpath on the left (this is where the footpath from Tranale comes out). It heads SSW and then crosses a road and heads WSW to Treknow.
At Treknow, follow the road south. Take the right fork in the road. A little further on take the public footpath on the right that heads SW. This footpath continue down and along and emerges just down from the starting point car park.
End of the Walk
I enjoyed this walk. It connected a number of historic and interesting locations, and I was able to get closer and take some pictures and find out more after the walk.
If you have any experience of doing this walk or part of it, leave a comment below.
