St
Just to St Mawes (Roseland Peninsular)
Starting
point and OS Grid reference:
St
Just – free car park by St Just church (SW848356)
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Ordnance
Survey Map
OS
Explorer 105 – Falmouth and Mevagissey.
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of OS Maps
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Distance: 5.8
miles
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Traffic light rating:
(For explanation see My
Walks page)
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For advice on .gpx files see
My
Walks page
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Click
the PDF logo above to give a printable version of this walk without the
photos.
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To
view route as a dynamic Ordnance Survey map click here.
Introduction:
This is a
lovely walk around the Roseland Peninsular. Similar to the St Anthony
Head walk, there are sections not indicated as public footpaths on the OS
map but they are well walked and well marked. The walk starts from the 13th
century St Just in Roseland church which is something of a gem. It is a
magnificent church for such a small place and its grounds have been planted
with tropical trees and shrubs such that it is almost a botanic garden. It
is well worth spending a little time to look round.
The walk passes by St Mawes Castle, built by
Henry VIII in 1540 as one of a pair, the other being Pendennis Castle at the
other side of the Fal Estuary. It was used in both World Wars and is
consequently in remarkable condition. It contains a bronze cannon The
Alberghetti Gun, though to have come from a ship sunk by the English in 1603
and retrieved from the seabed in 1975.
The route then goes through St Mawes, a
pretty village, where refreshments can be obtained at various pubs/cafes
etc.
One word of warning. Do not be tempted to
change the route by taking the Right of Way between (SW 855338) and the farm
at (SW 849342). Although indicated on the map as a walled track, it is in an
appallingly neglected condition and choked by branches (June 2013). It has
been reported.
The walk starts at St Just in Roseland, from
the car park by the church. To get there, follow the A3078 south west. Just
after the bend in the middle of St Just, turn right down a no through road.
The car park is on the right. If it happens to be full, there is an
alternative free car park in the village opposite the entrance to the no
through road.
Start:
From the church car park
(SW848356), you
can either walk through the church grounds to the church or turn right down
the road to pass the toilets and enter the church grounds via the lych gate.
From the church and facing the water, turn
left to follow the path along the edge of the creek.
Pass through a working boatyard and as the
road bends to the left, the public footpath goes off to the right
indicated by a fingerpost “St Mawes 2 miles”. Initially this is a
road to houses before the footpath branches off to the left through a
walkers’ gate, indicated by a fingerpost. Once past the houses, the path
turns right to resume following the water.
At SW 845351 the path bends left very briefly
to avoid a section prone to mud.
At SW 842341 note the path off to the left
(which leads to a water tower on the A3078),
just before entering the National Trust Newton Cliff area. This is
the point at which one of the optional return routes joins from and where
you would retrace your steps to the car park. Stay on the coastal path now.
It is perhaps worth mentioning that there are
various gates on the right off the coast path through which you can access
the foreshore if you wish.
Pass a three way fingerpost, the left turn
going to Castle Road, but stay on what is described as a byway for “St
Mawes 1¼ miles”.
You pass along a row of gorgeous houses with
enviable views across the water before arriving at the castle. This is
English Heritage and worth a look round. There are benches in the grounds
where you can picnic.
From the castle, walk along the road through
St Mawes along the coast road, following round the bend as it starts to
follow the Percuil River, for just over a mile. Look out for a road on the
left - Buckeys Lane. About 150 yards beyond that, next to a house called
Trade Winds turn right along the footpath indicated by a fingerpost (SW
853332).
Cross straight over a road and go down the
tarmac track which is the access to a boatyard. At the boatyard’s barrier,
the footpath goes left.
As the path enters a more open area into a
field, bear slightly left towards a gap in the hedge where there is a
footpath marker post. You reach a marker post where there are several paths
heading off. Keep to the right hand path descending with a steel handrail on
the right.
At a fork, go left – the right fork is
barred by a gate with a “No Right of Way” sign.
Stay on the path until it dips down to the
waters edge, where there is a stile (SW
855342). Cross this and turn left, climbing through the woods.
At the farm, follow the track through the
farmyard. It becomes a concrete drive which brings you out on the A3078 road
at Halwartha (SW 847341). Turn right (there is a slightly wider grass
verge on the left). You only follow the road for a few yards before turning
left just past the water tower.
You now have to decide whether to drop back
down to the coast path as described above or turn right over a stile, to
follow the path to St Just (which was my preference because of the good
views).This is not a public footpath shown on the OS maps and the wording
“…towards St Just” (instead of “to”) could be off-putting. However
the path links up with a bridleway further on which brings you out opposite
the toilets at St Just church. Because this path follows the higher ground,
you get great views across Carrick Roads, the wide stretch of water between
the St Just peninsular and Falmouth. The downside is that to begin with the
route runs next to the A3078, albeit behind the hedge, so there is some
traffic noise.
The path “towards” St Just enters a
walled track, after about half a mile (SW
847350). Turn left. The track heads downhill. Ignore a path off to the right
marked with a footpath post. Pass the gates of Churchtown Mill and keep
straight ahead indicated by the marker post, to come out opposite the
toilets.
If you need to buy any
hiking equipment/clothing before your trip see the Hiking
Store
All information on this
site is given in good faith and no liability is accepted in respect of any
damage, loss or injury which might result from acting on it.
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