Page Update:- 27/03/2018
David Snell`s Web Pages
Black CatRosenithon and Porthoustock
Teach me your way, O LORD,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
Psalm 86:11
This walk is partly by road and partly along a woodland path, though an entirely road route is also given. Length about 2.5 miles and the path is always muddy at one point.

Rosenithon looking East Take the road out of the square to the right, when facing the church (Lemon Street), towards Porthoustock. Follow this road for about half a mile to a row of houses called Coronation Cottages. Just beyond them a road goes off to the right (opposite a house called Manacle View) to the hamlet of Rosenithon. Follow this winding lane keeping to the left at the junction with Meadow Lane. This lane can be quite a sun trap at times with the high fields on one side and woodland on the other giving shelter from the wind. In the spring you may encounter clumps of daffodils and other flowers nodding their heads at you from the hedges, After a while you will come to a community of dwellings. This is the hamlet of Rosenithon which is very attractive, especially in the spring. There is an active farm at its centre.

Old Barn - Rosenithon A road leads off to the right followed by a footpath to Godrevy beach, which is a popular area to enjoy the sea. However our route goes straight on through the hamlet and up a slight hill and past the old barn pictured on the right. Just beyond the top of this hill is a pile of stones called the Giant's Quoits, a notice explains that they were moved there from the coast when quarrying threatened to destroy them. A little before this erection a footpath leads off to the left across three fields which provides a short cut and offers good views across the valley to Trenance or out to sea. It rejoins the lane near its end.
Giant`s Quoits - Rosenithon Otherwise continue on the lane round the bend and down the hill to where it rejoins the main road. Here you turn right down to the fishing village of Porthoustock with its beach from which scuba divers set out on their excursions. The left of the beech is overshadowed by the remains of quarry buildings from which youngsters often dive when the tide is in. The fishing boats are drawn up on the left and make quite a colourful sight. A small working quarry is situated just off to the right of the beech and occasionally boats come in to load. A large picnic area affords a nice place to stop for refreshments if you have brought them.

Boats at Porthoustock There are many attractive cottages in the village and you can take a walk along the old quarry workings to the left of the beach. Use the path passing in front of the thatched cottage above the left hand side of the beach when looking out to sea. From this path you can look down on the beach and the boats. Wander along this path at your leisure, there are the remains of quarry structures and you may see buzzards soaring overhead. At the end there are good views over Falmouth bay and there may be people fishing from the rocks below the path. Return to the village along the same path.

Pond at Trenoweth Mill
Pond at Trenoweth Mill ©D.J.S.
View up the valley
View up the valley ©D.J.S.

Leave Porthoustock by continuing on the road you came in by (as you face away from the sea go to the right). The road climbs steeply round a left hand bend here follow the path which is straight ahead. (The main road swings to the right.) There are lovely thatched cottages on your right, formerly belonging to fishermen, at the end of this lane a footpath takes you through to Trenoweth Mill. The coastal path turns right up a field just here, but keep straight on over some stepping stones to avoid the muddy stream. Other streams run over the path in several places so you may need good boots See box in the right margin. to get through the mud. At Trenoweth Mill the path comes onto another road, turn left here down the hill keeping the white cottage on your right and at the bottom find a path on the right which runs between stone hedges. The path divides at a stile and bridge over a stream, keep left here over the stile and skirt along with a wall on your right and the stream on your left.

If you do not have good boots on you can return from Porthoustock by road. Climb back up the way you came, but at the lane to Rosenithon carry straight on further up the hill. There are good views across the valley from a farm gate. Keep following this road round a number of bends, climbing for most of the way, for about a mile to return to St. Keverne square. Good sea views are afforded from the field gates at the bends.

To your right you will see a large area of Young Gunnera Gunnera (giant rhubarb). Over another stile and bridge follow the path up until you come to a high stile at yet another stream, it may be better to go through the gate on the right if it is open, this takes you into a field from where you can see St. Keverne Church. Follow the path to a short muddy lane and go over another stile, across a concrete track, and over two stiles, the hedge is first on your left then on your right. Go through the kissing gates into the church yard and thence back to the square.