The Path to Polkerris.
This is a walk that holds stories in its cliffs, and calm in its quiet corners.
Some places ask us to walk slowly. This stretch of the south Cornish coast — from Coombe Farm down to Polkerris — is one of them. It begins simply, with a gentle descent through farmland: rolling fields, pockets of woodland, the first hints of salt on the air. The path leads you downward until the sea appears, quiet and silver in the distance, and the land starts to let go of its edges.
Soon you reach a hidden cove — a shingle beach cupped by the coastline, a soft inlet where the world seems to pause. A small stream crosses the sand here, stepping stones offering a playful route forward. It feels like a place held carefully out of sight; a secret for those who wander.
Continue upward and the cliffs of Gribbin Head rise ahead, rugged and open to the elements. At the top stands the great red-and-white daymark tower — tall, bold, and beautifully out of place in the wild simplicity around it. It has stood here since the 1830s, a fixed point for sailors to navigate safely into the bay. Up close, its scale is surprising; from a distance, it is a beacon of reassurance. From its base, the views widen into something cinematic: sea and sky stretching beyond what the eye is sure it can hold.
Follow the coast path as it curves and sweeps along the headland — cliffs dropping away into spray and tide, winds shaping grass into long textured waves. It is a walk of contrasts: dramatic and exposed one moment, soft and quiet the next. Eventually the landscape folds into a wooded pocket — branches overhead, earth underfoot — and the path leads you into the sheltered curve of Polkerris.
The village has been shaped by the sea for centuries. Once a working fishing harbour, it became a vital lifeboat station in the mid-19th century. From this small cove, crews once rowed out into storms and heaving surf to rescue sailors in distress — often navigating the very headland you have just traced. Today, calm water laps at the harbour wall where the boathouse once echoed with urgency and grit.
Take time here. Stroll past the slipway. Climb the seawall and imagine that lifeboat being launched into the night. Swim in the harbour if you’re feeling bold — the water is clear and refreshing, the moment always memorable. And whether you choose a simple drink overlooking the bay or lunch beside the sea, there’s a warmth to Polkerris that lingers.
When you’re ready to return, there’s a beautiful inland route back to Coombe Farm — quiet farm tracks, leafy lanes, and gentle paths that guide you home. It’s a satisfying circle: the drama of the coast giving way again to peaceful countryside, each step unwinding the day with ease.
This is a walk that doesn’t hurry you. It gives you space to breathe, to notice, to feel the ancient character of this coastline. And when you come back to the house, with lungs full of sea air and a calm weight in your body, you’ll understand why this place calls people back.
Route Details
• Start/Finish: Coombe Farm National Trust Car Park
• Distance: ~10–11 km (6–7 miles) circular
• Duration: 2–3 hours, with time to pause
• Difficulty: Moderate — some hills, uneven ground, unfenced cliff edges
• Terrain: Farmland, woodland, coastal path, quiet lanes
The reward is simple: a journey that feels both grounding and expansive — the kind of walk you’ll remember long after your boots are off and the kettle is on.