There are some great local walks straight from the front door. Here are a few of our favourites:
1) Queen Victoria’s Head (20 minutes)
If you fancy a quick leg stretch and bracing hit of sea air, head down towards the harbour. Take the path to the right of the river and it will take you straight up to Queen Victoria’s Head (named due to its disctinctive silhouette). This is the quickest way to see the magnificient sea views and the rugged Cornish coastline. It’s also an amazing place to sit at sunset and watch as the sun seems to slowly disappear into the sea.
2) The “private road” (20 minutes)
This is also a nice first walk if you want a roundabout route back to the cottage after picking up the morning paper. Walk up past the newsagent’s (down into the village and past the car park) and you’ll find a 5-bar gate to the left of the road. Follow this as it heads steeply back up through the trees and you’ll soon emerge above the harbour, from where it’s a short walk back down to the village, past the witches museum and gift shops.
3) Boscastle Lookout (30 minutes)
Again, heading down towards the harbour – if you take the path to the left of the river, it will lead all the way up to the Coastguard lookout on the opposite cliff to Queen Victoria’s Head. This is a slightly longer walk, but again you’re rewarded with great sea views.
4) Minster Church (1 hour)
If you fancy a woodland walk alongside the picturesque River Valency, head down the hill and turn right through the village. Go through the main car park and you’ll find yourself on the Valency path. Keep going until you see a wooden footbridge over the river. If you cross over here, the path will lead steeply uphill for 10 minutes or so until you reach Minster Church, a beautiful old building nestled in the woodland. In spring it’s surrounded by a sea of bluebells. From here, you can then head back down into the village along the road (not the main road), which will take you past Home Farm with its self-service shop with great local produce (particularly good bacon and sausages for breakfast). If you get your timing right, you can stop for a pasty and a pint at the Napoleon Inn at the top of the village. Don’t worry if you have one too many – it’s all downhill back to the cottage!
5) St Juliot’s Church (1-2 hours)
Follow the same route as if you were going to Minster Church, but rather than crossing the footbridge, just keep on going until you see signs to St Juliot’s Church. Again this is a pretty church famed for the fact that it’s where Thomas Hardy met his future wife Emma (at the time he was a young architect contracted to restore the church and Emma was the vicar’s sister in law). Head back by coming the way you came, and if you’re not too tired, you can always head uphill at the footbridge and take in Minster Church on the way home.
6) Pentargon waterfall (1-2 hours)
Head down to the harbour, then follow the steep path up to the right that leads to the ‘fishpole’ on top of the cliff. From here the cliff path leads along some fields and then down some long steps in the hill. At the bottom of this there’s a stream that flows straight over the cliff edge. On a windy day the waterfall sometimes flows upwards!
7) Tintagel (3 hours)
If you’re feeling in need of a really good hike, head up towards the lookout. Look to your left along the coast and you can just about make out Tintagel in the distance. Simply follow the cliff path. It will take you down through Rocky Valley – a rugged chasm that you head straight down into and then straight up the other side (you can also walk up Rocky Valley, where there are pre-historic carvings in the stone). Once you reach Tintagel, your best best is to catch a bus or a taxi back to Boscastle, unless you’re feeling really fit…
8) Crackington Haven (4 hours)
You’ll need to take the coast path in the opposite direction to Tintagel. The best route is to head straight up the cliffs to the right of the harbour (follow the route to Pentargon Waterfall) and then just keep on going… Keep an eye open for seals in the surf below you – it’s not unusual to spot them here. In the summer, if you’re lucky you might see an adder basking in the sun amongst the heather. Once you get to Crackington, you can stop for a drink or meal at the Coombe Barton Inn, and order a taxi home.