Russell and Carol - hayle and hearty

Location

moderate
North Helford… 4½ miles
North Helford Countryside, Cornwall
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/walks
Chatham cottage was considerably enlarged from 1880 to become Bosloe, the holiday home of various families. Today it continues to provide all-year breaks as National Trust holiday apartments, with magnificent, elevated views between pine trees to the Helford River.
Mawnan Church appears to stand guard over the Helford River entrance. It was built in the 13th century within a prehistoric earthwork. The steep woodland below was planted with evergreen holm oaks, creating a dark, unusual experience today.
Nare Point marks the entrance on the other side of the river with its 1950s naval tracking station (now a volunteer coastguard lookout point). During the Second World War there was a decoy site to draw bombers away from nearby Falmouth.
Running east of the valleys of the National Trust’s Glendurgan Garden, and next to the delightful Helford River, is a mixture of woodland and cliff-top, wildflower-rich fields, all interspersed with walks of varying lengths.

Start: Bosveal car park Grid ref: SW775275
Maps: OS Landranger 204; Explorer 103

Getting here

On foot: Follow road out of Mawnan Smith village towards Glendurgan, Trebah and Helford Passage. Turn left at crossroads to walk down lane signposted 'Durgan, Bosveal and Bosloe'.
By bike: Roads hazardous for cyclists due to narrow width and poor visibility
By bus: First 35, Falmouth to Helston, passes at nearby Glendurgan Garden
By train: Penmere 4 miles; First 35 Falmouth to Helston is the connecting bus service
By boat/ferry: Visitor moorings and some anchorage for visiting boats - no facilities for leaving boats at Durgan. Seasonal ferry operates from Helford Village (on Lizard (south) side of Helford River) to Helford Passage on the north side
By car: 4 miles south west of Falmouth, ½ mile south west of Mawnan Smith, on road to Helford Passage, signposted left out of Mawnan Smith village toward 'Durgan, Bosveal and Bosloe' on a white fingerpost sign
Look out for…

• War-time structures
  Partially covered by ivy, there's a pill-box on Porth Saxon beach and, at low tide, the remains of a structure on Porthallack beach. During the Second World War the Helford River was the base for operations against German-occupied Europe.
• Wildflowers at Rosemullion Head
  Fantastic flower-rich meadows managed and maintained by our tenant farmers result in wild thyme, heathers, orchids, dog violets and sea campion growing here
• Views to Falmouth
  From Rosemullion Head there are panoramic views across Falmouth Bay, with Henry VIII's castles at Pendennis and St Mawes marking the entrance to the harbour. The large 1860s Falmouth Hotel dominates the seafront, although it is now joined by many other hotels.

©NTPL/John Millar
©National Trust/Jon O’Donoghue
©National Trust/Mary Cobill
'At Rosemullion Head we've got fantastic wildflower patches. There's a real sense of history as well – both ancient and modern.'
Jon O’Donoghue, Visitor Experience Manager

Directions

1. Leave Bosveal car park, going downhill on the footpath. Continue on the footpath past a small lodge house on the left, but cut through at the next opportunity onto the lane.
2. When the lane bends sharp round to the right, go over the stile to the left. Follow the footpath next to the coast, crossing Porth Saxon beach, with two boat-houses and a pillbox, and ending up on Porthallack beach, with one boat-house.
3. From Porthallack beach take the path running up the valley, away from the water.
4. At the top of the path, enter the church car park and follow the path to the right of the church leading into Holm oak woods. In these woods, go left, climbing up a wooden staircase and follow the footpath beside the coast all the way to Rosemullion Head.
5. After walking around the headland and climbing up a steep hill, go over a stile and keep to the upper of two paths. After a short distance, turn left over another stile and head up the field to join a farm track running past Rosemullion farm.
6. Where the farm track joins the road, turn right and continue to the T-junction. Here, turn left into Mawnan Smith village.
7. When the road comes to Carwinion Garden entrance, ignore this and take the rough track on the left just beyond the main drive.
8. This track will lead you to a fork, take the lower-left fork going round a bend down past Carwinion Garden and into the woodland valley.
9. At the bottom of the valley, where it joins a large field, turn right and follow the path past a line of old oak trees. Then enter Bosloe Garden through firstly a five-bar gate, then a kissing gate. Continue straight ahead up the gravel path.
10. When this path reaches a gate onto the lane, cross over (withcare) and turn right. This, in turn, will lead back to the car park.

• Walk distance, terrain and accessibility
• Allow about 2½ hours for this 4½ mile (7.3km) walk, including stopping to admire the views. Paths are gravel and grass, with some narrow stretches over uneven terrain with stiles. There are some steep climbs and a ⅓ mile of walking along a road.
• Dogs welcome. Please keep on lead where livestock are present. No dog bins, so please take dog litter home.

© Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey. All rights reserved. OS licence no. AL 100023974
Contact us & local facilities
Telephone 01872 862090 Email glendurgan@nationaltrust.org.uk
Website www.nationaltrust.org.uk/glendurgan
WCs, café, shop (selling walking guides) and garden (open Tuesday to Saturday, mid-February to end October) at nearby Glendurgan Garden; shop/post office and pub at Trebah Gardenin Mawnan (open all year)
As a charity, independent of government, the National Trust relies on the generosity of its supporters to continue caring for our countryside and wildlife, so that everyone can enjoy the beauty of the outdoors for generations to come Findout more at www.nationaltrust.org.uk