recommended route
Trelissick Gardens to St Mawes
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Crooked Trees in Trelissick GardensPhoto: Josiah Skeats, Macs Adventure
Today’s walk starts on the Trelissick Country Estate, and strikes a good balance of fairly flat walking through English farming countryside and beside the estuary of the River Fal, finishing in St Mawes.
There is no escaping Cornwall’s coastline, which is beautiful and dramatic, and a whole host of other adjectives, but the interior countryside is often overlooked; today’s walk remedies that, starting in the wooded grounds of an old country estate where grand, gnarled trees grow beside dainty and colourful wildflowers.
After taking the King Harry Ferry, which drags itself across the River Fal using a hefty chain system, the walk takes you through farmland on quiet roads that get increasingly narrower and more overgrown until it seems questionable whether a car has passed this way in years.
Near the 13th century St Just’s Church, which boasts ‘the most beautiful churchyard on Earth’, you join the shores of the River Fal estuary, from where it’s a flat walk close to the waters’ edge, past St Mawes Castle, and into the village itself.
Author’s recommendation
Go for a stroll around St Just’s beautiful Churchyard where a Rector in the 19th century introduced lots of exotic plants. There are few places in England where you can walk through a graveyard in the shade of bamboo and palms.
Track types
Show elevation profileSafety information
A large section of today’s walk is on roads with no pavement. Quiet, low-traffic roads have been selected, but you may still encounter cars, so it is important to know how to walk; Walk on the right-hand side facing the oncoming traffic, unless there is a sharp corner in which case you should cross to the outside edge, to give the drivers the maximum time to see you.
Tips and hints
Points of Interest
Please see the interactive map for notable points of interest along the walk, including recommended pubs/restaurants and cafe stops. Simply click the icons on the map for more information as you walk.
Ferry
You will take a ferry from St Mawes to Falmouth then on to Trelissick Gardens. Operating times: https://www.falriver.co.uk/ferries/enterprise-boats/timetable. You also need to catch the Prince Harry Ferry that connects Trelissick Gardens (Feock) back to the Roseland Peninsula. Operating times: https://www.falriver.co.uk/ferries/king-harry-ferry
Food and Drink
There are plenty of options in Falmouth for a bite to eat before heading to Trelissick Gardens. There is also a café that serves hot lunches, sandwiches and drinks in Trelissick Gardens itself and another near St Just’s Church. There are several restaurants, pubs and cafes in St Mawes - please see recommendations in your information pack.
Public Transport
If for any reason you need to end this walk early at Trelissick Gardens, then we recommend a taxi as the public transport options mean you likely need to on a large connecting detour to Truro. (Castle Cars: +44 (0) 7581 721 881)
Alternatively, if you can make it to St Just in Roseland you can catch the 50 services to St Mawes. The 50 bus by Go Cornwall operates this service and you can find up-to-date timetables here: https://www.gocornwallbus.co.uk/
Recommended Local Taxi Services
Castle Cars (St Mawes): +44 (0) 7581 721 881
Start
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
*** To help you follow the route with confidence, we have provided full written turn-by-turns to aid you on your walk from Trleissick Gardens to St Mawes Whilst part of Cornwall is waymarked (it is normal for the South West Coast Path, but local towns and villages are usually also signposted). At sections, the trail can be featureless and off the beaten path, so we strongly suggest that you follow the GPS tracks in the Macs Adventure smartphone app to ensure you have a safe, enjoyable and problem-free day. The daily maps can also be printed from the web version of the app should you wish to take paper copies with you. ***
DISCLAIMER: Please note, the distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the direct routes at the time our pathfinder walking them (this excludes walking to/from your accommodation to the start/end point, or for example, coming off the path for lunch). There may be some slight discrepancies/small diversions that make the distances slightly out compared to your own mapping software (Strava/Garmin/Apple Watch).
0.00km – Start in the car park to Trelissick Gardens, near the section with picnic benches and a cattle grid. Cross the gate on the left of the cattle grid to leave the car park and BEAR LEFT onto the grassy path downhill. After 100 metres cross over the paved road and CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON downhill on a gravel path towards the River Fal.
0.53km – When you reach the river mouth near a carving of a wooden whale, BEAR LEFT through a gate and into a wooded section. Continue through the woods for 1.4km.
1.90km – Ignoring the paved path on your right that is signposted to the ferry, CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON. After 50 metres, where the path forks, BEAR RIGHT down a set of steps to join the road. TURN RIGHT onto the road to head towards the ferry.
2.10km – Catch the King Harry Ferry across to the other side. This is the 7th King Harry Ferry; aboard you can find some photos of the older ferries through the years. More information available here: https://www.falriver.co.uk/getting-about/ferries/king-harry-ferry?__blockUid=FalRiver_Public_Block_Article_Listing&page=all
2.10km – Get off the ferry, walk up the slipwas and CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON along the road. Walk on the right-hand side facing the oncoming traffic, unless it is a sharp bend in which case you should walk on the outer side of the curve.
2.60km – A road joins from the left. Ignore it and CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON.
3.00km – As the road makes a sweeping right turn, TURN LEFT onto the more minor road following the sign to Philleigh. There is also a sign showing this is part of the National Cycling Route 3. Continue for 1.5km, ignoring a right turn after 500 metres.
4.50km – As the road makes a sweeping left turn, with a few houses in Philleigh visible across the fields in front, TURN RIGHT onto a narrow lane, with a sign saying ‘Unsuitable for motors’. This is the third right turn since disembarking from the ferry.
5.20km – Where the road reaches a T-junction and becomes unpaved, TURN LEFT and walk down the lane, ignoring all gates that head through to fields.
6.20km – At the T-junction where the road becomes paved, TURN RIGHT. After 600 metres BEAR RIGHT to continue heading uphill on the road.
7.30km – At the T-junction with a ‘Give Way’ sign, TURN RIGHT following the sign to the King Harry Ferry, 2 miles away.
7.60km – TURN LEFT onto the road to immediately pass a cottage on your right and walk along the road towards the tall trees on the brow of the hill. At the junction there is a brown cultural sign towards the Roundhouse Cottages.
8.70km – As the road forks in two, with the left going to a farm and the right becoming a private road, don’t go down either but TURN LEFT to go through a swing gate and into a field. There is a footpath sign on the ground at this junction. Once in the field, CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON following the vague grassy path to keep the gorse and bushes on your left, passing 2 wooden posts with yellow arrows.
8.90km – BEAR LEFT towards the big tree in the lowest corner of the field, and continue on the mud path through a gate.
9.20km – As you reach a muddy vehicular track, cross over and CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON, headed downhill on a vague grassy path. Step over a slate stile (steps over a fence), and continue along the footpath.
9.30km – Immediately after a swing gate the grassy path forks in a field; BEAR RIGHT onto the flat path beside the bushes and the River Fal Estuary. After 500 metres, BEAR RIGHT through a swing gate to exit the field onto a footpath.
10.00km – After a short wooded section a gravel road appears on your left, and a fence on your right. CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON over a wooden stile ahead passing a slate-roofed house on your right. After 100 metres CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON to cross a private road, and continue along a footpath.
10.20km – As a path joins from the left, CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON along a slightly downhill path. A church will soon appear which you walk towards and enter the grounds through a wooden arch entrance. This church dates to the 13th century and is worth a quick explore!
10.40km – CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON passing the church on your left and after 100 metres proceeding through a wooden gate to leave the church grounds. There is another gate after 30 metres on your left, but ignore this, and continue downhill on the path towards the harbour.
10.70km – The footpath emerges onto a paved road; CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON passing the boatyards and after 100 metres, as the road begins to head uphill, BEAR RIGHT onto a gravel lane. There is a wooden public footpath sign nearby, directing you this way to St Mawes, 2 miles away.
10.90km – As the lane ends with a house directly ahead, TURN LEFT to go through a wooden gate and onto a footpath along the edge of a field. After 100 metres proceed through a swing gate CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON along the grassy path that heads diagonally downhill across down to the field and to the waters’ edge.
11.20km – A gate appears on your right that is headed down to the beach, but CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON for 30 metres to another gate in the end of the field with 5 stone steps leading up to it. Walk parallel to the coastline close to the hedge to continue through 5 gates and pass a succession of fields.
12.00km – CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON for 600 metres ignoring gates that appear on your right as you walk parallel to the coast.
12.60km – After the well-trodden mud path which heads slightly uphill, a footpath and a vehicle track appear on your left side; Ignore these and CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON, over the small stone steps and along the footpath.
13.60km – Ignore the bridleway on your left and CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON through a gate and onto the paved road which runs below a row of grand houses.
14.20km – Pass St Mawes Castle (see point of interest section) on your right, and BEAR RIGHT to head downhill. Continue along this road for 800 metres into the centre of St Mawes.
15.00km – Finish at the quay in St Mawes.
*** This is the end of our Trelissick Gardens to St Mawes route. ***
Note
Coordinates
Equipment
Good comfortable boots or walking shoes are recommended. The ground can be quite soft, and the paths are well-used by walkers. Whilst the terrain is not particularly difficult, it can be muddy, with some waterlogged stretches after heavy rain. Walking poles are an option if preferred. The British weather is changeable, so waterproofs should also be carried just in case.
Ensure your phone is fully charged; if you doubt the battery will last throughout the hike/or if you have an older phone, it might be beneficial to bring a power bank as a backup.
There are opportunities on today's walk to buy food and drink; however, ensure you bring enough snacks and fluids with you.
Statistics
- 5 Waypoints
- 5 Waypoints
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