Pendeen - Pendeen Fougou
- Pendeen Watch Lighthouse - Portherras Beach Pendeen
Length of Walk - 2.5 miles
Can be Muddy - need Boots.
Facilities : Free Car Park, Public Toilet,
Public Telephone, Shop, Pubs
The walk begins at the bus stop opposite Boscaswell Stores. Cross the road
and take Leat Road signposted 'to the Lighthouse'.
At the end of the road opposite Calartha Farm sign turn left down towards
the sea. A right fork takes you to the 16th century Pendeen Manor Farm,
the birthplace of Dr William Borlase, famous historian, naturalist, antiquarian
and archaeologist. There is a plaque to this effect on the end wall of the
house. Across the farmyard is Pendeen Vau Fougou. This is an Iron Age man-made
underground passage and small chamber the purpose of which is lost in time.
Permission must be sought from the farm to visit the fougou.
Just above the fishermen's huts join the higher path to Portherras Cove
- the large sandy beach ahead of you. Here the 'Alacrity' was wrecked in
1963.
Take the faint track up the right hand side of the valley through the gorse
and heather. During the 19th century there were at least eight water wheels
in this valley used for tin stamping and grinding corn. The path can be
very wet and muddy and there may be grazing cattle. Keep to the right hand
track by the ruins.
When you see a bridge ahead of you immediately take the right hand fork
steeply up to the far corner of the field with a stile and gate. At the
end of a short grass path turn left across Portherras Farm Yard and proceed
along the lane. Take the grass track to the right of the first bungalow.
Turn right at the road, then first left which brings you back to Boscaswell
Stores.
