20. Leg 6  - SW Coastal Path 20: Port Quin to Polzeath and back

8 April 2019 

We decided to split this headland into two shorter walks to save a long trek cross country.

The first stretch took us from Port Quin around the headland to New Polzeath where we paused for a cuppa and a pasty before heading back cross country and re-joining the path back to Port Quin.

1. The route

2. Leaving Port Quin. Port Quin: a natural harbour. This little village is also referred to as ‘the village that died’ due to the disappearance of all of the men of the village sometime in the 19th century. It is thought that they all drowned at sea whilst fishing, forcing the women to abandon their homes.

Julian was pleased to see a Drascombe in the bay!

3. Out of Port Quin towards Doyden Point. Doyden Castle is a 19th century folly built on Doyden Point, now a holiday home owned by the National Trust.

4. Looking back to Doyden

5. Trevan Point

6. Across Port Quin Bay

7. Lundy Hole - a natural arch

8. Doyden/Epphaven

9. Carnweather Point

10. The Mould/Rumps Point. Excavations have revealed that the fort at Rumps Point once had stone faced ramparts and circular houses at the headland, as well as pottery made from clay from the Lizard.

11. Towards Pentire Point

12. Pentireglaze Haven

13. Pentire Point to Padstow Bay.

'The Doom Bar: shifting sands resulted in the formation of a sand bar at the mouth of the Camel Estuary, which makes entering the port very

difficult. The Doom Bar has been responsible for hundreds of wrecks. Could it really be the result of a mermaid’s curse?'

 14. Pasty and a cuppa in New Polzeath before heading back to Port Quin