St Nectan's Glen
A leisurely walk (woodland) starting and finishing in Cornwall, England, about 4.90km (3.04 mi) long with an estimated walking time of about 1:30h. It is unsuitable for families with children, prams & pushchairs, wheelchairs.
Elevation Profile
Ascent
108m (354ft)
Descent
116m (380ft)
Max. Elevation
220m (721ft)
Altitude Gain & Loss
224m (734ft)
Start
Tintagel
End
Boscastle
Distance
4.90km
(3.04mi)
(3.04mi)
Duration
~1:30h
Difficulty
Leisurely
Ordnance Survey Map
This is a short walk in the Cornish countryside via a spectacular 60-foot waterfall - St Nectan's Kieve - hidden in a wooded valley near Trethevey. It's a great walk for kids to enjoy, and a chance to see some of the many delights in Cornwall that are hidden away from the coast. A good option is to make a visit to the waterfall part of a longer walk between Tintagel and Boscastle. Buses run between these towns, or you can walk back to Tintagel along the coastline for a full day's walk.
Walk Functions
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Nearby Walks
The Tintagel coastline
A leisurely, linear walk (coast) starting in Cornwall, England, about 6.30km (3.91 mi) long, duration: ~2:00h.Brown Willy and Bodmin Moor from Camelford
A moderate, circular walk (moorland) starting in Cornwall, England, about 15.70km (9.76 mi) long, duration: ~5:15h.The Camel Trail - Wadebridge to Padstow
A leisurely, linear walk (riverside) starting in Cornwall, England, about 8.70km (5.41 mi) long, duration: ~2:30h.Walk Map
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Waypoints
OS Grid SX064885
Start from Tintagel, a much-loved tourist town with a great ruined castle. From the village centre, head east towards Bossiney. Just as you leave Tintagel, there is a footpath heading east.
OS Grid SX071884
Follow the footpath to the road - taking care, as some drivers go too fast on these windy lanes - and follow it for a short way before another footpath takes you up to Halgabron. Just before the hamlet, a path on the right-hand side leads into St Nectan's Glen.
About 0.78 km (~0.48 miles) from 
OS Grid SX074886
The footpath through the beautifully peaceful wooded glen follows the River Trevillet. Signposts mark the way to the waterfall at St Nectan's Kieve.
About 0.34 km (~0.21 miles) from 
OS Grid SX081885
This is the highlight of the walk - a spectacular waterfall plunging down a steep-sided gorge. History time - St Nectan was a 6th Century hermit, who is said to have lived in the cave. Some people leave messages for him at the site, which is odd as it's unlikely he's still there.
About 0.77 km (~0.48 miles) from 
OS Grid SX087886
A footpath continues past the Kieve - an old word for 'basin' - and takes you past a small strip of woodland towards Tredole Farm.
About 0.57 km (~0.35 miles) from 
OS Grid SX090891
At the farm, cross the road and cut across the field by a disused quarry. Shortly afterwards is another road - cross it and head east and after 100m is a signpost for the path into Boscastle.
About 0.59 km (~0.37 miles) from 
OS Grid SX095901
This is the other side of Cornwall, away from the rocky cliffs and sandy beaches. Lush, green farming countryside full of cows - where did you think all those ice creams and cream teas came from?
About 1.09 km (~0.68 miles) from 
BoscastleOS Grid SX098905
Finish your walk in Boscastle, where there are all the usual tourist trappings. Buses will take you back to Tintagel and beyond.
About 0.55 km (~0.34 miles) from 
