Our week-long fully guided walking holiday itinerary has been designed to really take you to the hidden corners of Cornwall, taking you off the beaten track to some of the locations known only to locals and avid walkers. We do however finish the week with a walk to the ever-popular fishing post of Cornwall – great for souvenirs and excellent too!
Fully guided walking holiday – 1 Week
DAY ONE
Arrival at Hallagenna in the heart of Bodmin Moor, settle in to your modern, comfortable converted stable accommodation with a traditional Cornish Cream Tea (scones, jam and lots of clotted cream). Welcome from your host and guide Tom and a talk through the programme for the week.
Dinner at a local pub – St Tudy inn, St Tudy a typical moorland pub with roaring log fires, slate floors and wonderful food.
DAY TWO
Breakfast will be prepared in your cottage, which also has a fully equipped kitchen.
Starting from Hallagenna Farm we follow the winding lanes through St Breward and onto Alex Tor taking us through parts of Bodmin Moor, a truly magical place – home to Neolithic settlements, hut circles, burial chambers and more recently, the domain of smugglers and pirates. We will tackle the rocky Rough Tor and taking in breath taking views from the second highest point in Cornwall. We will rest for lunch at near by Rough Tor farm, returning via a circular route to Hallagenna, passing through moorland villages. (approx. 6 -7 hours walking)
Dinner tonight at another pub – St Breward Inn, fantastically locally sourced food.
DAY THREE
After breakfast, we will leave Hallagenna and head up Lady down, where we pass De Lank Quarry. Still in use and well known for the Granite that is quarried there that was used in the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London and the New Parliamentary Building in Whitehall, London. As we leave the quarry we make our way up through Pendrift Downs, passing over De Lank river where salmon can be seen swimming up-stream then on to Jubilee Rock. This huge granite rock was carved in 1809 – 10 by Lieutenant John Rogers and his men to commemorate King George III’s jubilee. It features Britannia and various Coats Of Arms and is updated with new carvings on special occasions. More recently Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee. We will rest for lunch at The Blisland Inn. After enjoying some welcome refreshment we then head out of Blisland and out on to Manor Common, passing Trippet Stones, a Bronze Age standing stone circle said to be maidens turned to stone for dancing on a Sabbath before heading back once again passing over The De Lank River.
An evening meal can be enjoyed at the nearby St Mabyn Inn.
DAY FOUR
After breakfast, we will set off for Jamaica Inn passing King Arthurs Hall, thought to be late Neolithic or early Bronze Age ceremonial site consisting of fifty-six stones. We will walk through the quiet Haven, home to plentiful of wild life, breath-taking scenery and a wildness that is difficult to find elsewhere to Cornwall’s highest point, Brown Willy, other-wise known in Cornish as Bronn Wennili. With the summit being 1378 feet above sea level, you are sure to get outstanding views of North Cornwall and the route that lays ahead. We then continue our journey to Jamaica Inn passing settlements and hut circles stopping for a picnic lunch. Final stop, Jamaica Inn, made famous by Daphney Du Maurier and her tales of smugglers, rouges and pirates. Recently appearing in a three part series on the BBC. We will enjoy a meal surrounded by mystery, legend and romance, even the odd friendly spirit. We will head back to your cottage at Hallagenna by vehicle and prepare for picking up from where we left off at Jamaica inn on day six.
DAY FIVE
Breakfast will be served then a day of exploring Cornwall as you wish. Or enjoy the comforts of your cottage and explore the moor by horse back.
DAY SIX
After breakfast we will pick from where we left off, Jamaica Inn. We will take in views from Dozemary Pool which originates from post-glacial period. Legend has it, Dozemary Pool is home to Lady Of The Lake, where King Arthur rowed out to receive the sword Excalibur, where it was returned again as he lay dying after the Battle Of Camlann. We will also walk through Minions, taking in views of The Hurlers, where it is said that the stones were once men playing Cornish Hurlers and on a Sunday and turned to stone as a punishment. As we continue on our route we will take in views of The Pipers, known to be the figures of two men who played tunes on a Sunday and suffered the same fate as those of The Hurlers. We will stop for a pcnic lunch on route. Passing disused mines, medieval settlements and field systems we will head back to Jamaica Inn. To finish the day off we will enjoy a meal The Red Lion, in the near-by village of St Kew.
DAY SEVEN
After breakfast is served we will set out on The Camel Trail. The Camel Trail is a 18 mile, virtually level trail running from Wenfordbridge to Padstow. The trail follows the disused rail lines once used by the London and South West Railway. The trail leads us through woods and the bustling rural town of Wadebridge. After lunch in Wadebridge we will continue on the trail following the Camel Estuary, a bird watchers paradise with the opportunity to see cormerant, little egret and oystercatchers and many gulls. We will finish the trail in Padstow. A traditional Cornish fishing port. With locally produced and sourced food, and with celebrity chefs Rick Stein and Paul Ainsworth owning restaurants in Padstow, we won’t be short of places to eat.
DAY EIGHT
After breakfast it’s time to say goodbye before your departure.