South East Cornwall Walking Festival
South East Cornwall Walking Festival
What’s it all about?
Running for over a decade now, the South East Cornwall Walking Festival is a weeklong festival of walks around south east Cornwall taking in seaside villages, rural hamlets, the Tamar Valley and edge of Bodmin Moor.
What happens?
Running for over a decade now, a weeklong festival of walks around south east Cornwall taking in seaside villages, rural hamlets, the Tamar Valley and edge of Bodmin Moor. Knowledgeable guides head up walks ranging from gentle strolls of two miles to longer treks taking up to seven hours.
Saturday 15th September
Duloe Circle Walk:
Start Outside Duloe Church 10 am
Length approx 4 miles
Time 3 hours
Join festival organiser Mark Camp for the opening walk of the week. Explore Duloe and its surrounding countryside, including its 4000 year old stone circle, before returning to the village where the ever popular beer and cider festival will be taking place.
Bring a snack and drink. Please use the 573 bus from Looe or Liskeard if you plan to have a pint or two…
Saturday 15th September
Searching for Seaweeds
Join Looe Marine Conservation Group volunteers on the shoreline at West Looe for a couple of hours all about seaweeds. Find out how to identify different types and learn the art of seaweed pressing.
Free, but donations to the Looe Marine Conservation Group are welcome.
Start 10:00 by the Coastguard Station, Hannafore, West Looe
Sunday 16th September
Liskeard to Looe Walk
Always popular, this 11 mile walk down the West Looe valley is easier than it sounds! With plenty to look at along the way and with festival organiser Mark Camp to guide you, the miles will fly by. Trains or buses can be used to return to Liskeard.
Start Liskeard Station main entrance 10.30
Length 11 miles approx
Please bring packed lunch and drink
Walk lasts about 7 hours
Monday 17th September
Looe to Portnadler Nature Walk
Join our local coastline expert for a shortish walk west of the town to Portnadler Beach. There will be lots of stops along the way to observe and learn about the rich wildlife of our estuary, shore and seas. There will be time to have a picnic on the beach and to explore the rockpools before we return to Looe.
Donations to the Looe Marine Conservation Group are welcome.
Meet 11am at Looe Tourist Information Centre, East Looe. Walk will last approx. 3 hours
Bring a picnic, suitable footwear and weather gear. Binoculars useful, but not essential.
Tuesday 18th September
Respryn Ramble
Following the Fowey River, this walk explores the countryside around the Lanhydrock estate, looking at the not so obvious bits of its history. As well as the fantastic river and woodland scenery, there are remains of Cornwall’s china clay industry and its railway heritage. We might even see a stream train!
Start Bodmin Parkway Station 11.30am and lasts approx 4 hours (3½ miles)
Bring drink and packed lunch.
Wednesday 19th September
Caradon Hill Bo Foaks Memorial Walk
Start 10am Outside Minions Post Office and shop,
Walk will last 3 hours.
Join Iain Rowe for a walk around the mining remains of Caradon Hill and discover what work has been done recently by the Caradon Hill Area Heritage Project, of which Iain is an officer. We have renamed this the Bo Foaks Memorial walk after the recent passing of the festivals good friend and supporter Bo. Come along and celebrate a landscape that he loved with a smile and some good company.
Donations will be taken towards Stuart House in Liskeard, somewhere Bo generously supported.
Wednesday 19th September
West Looe Evening Walkabout.
Last years walk was the wettest we have ever done, but you still came along!! This year we will try again! From tide mills to tourism, see how the ‘other side’ of the river developed over the years.
Meet outside Looe Library 6pm, walk will last approx 3 hours
Thursday 20th September
A Peep at St Veep
Heading west again towards the Fowey River, join Mark Camp on a walk around the paths and lanes of St Veep parish. Here tales of several dodgy characters over the ages, take in some fine views and even sample some local cider.
Walk starts at St Veep Church 1pm and lasts approx 4 hours, about 3½ miles. Bring refreshments.
Sorry but no public transport can be used to reach this walk.
Friday 21st September
Tamar Valley Walk
Join our Tamar Valley expert Jane for a walk in the Calstock, Gunnislake area. Meet at Calstock station in time to catch the 09.15 train to Gunnislake. We will then walk back to Calstock via the villages of Metherell and St Dominick on quiet paths and lanes. Walk distance 8 miles. Bring a packed lunch and a drink.
If coming from Plymouth, catch the 08.40 train Plymouth to Calstock, and catch the first train back to Plymouth after the walk, and if coming by car, park in Calstock station car park (or the main Calstock car park if full) in time to catch the train at 09.15.
Friday 21st September
Earth Walk
An Earth Walk is a light, refreshing way of getting in touch with nature. The emphasis is upon reawakening individual senses, sharing and exploring. Ideal for families with children aged 5-10 but a wonderful walk for all ages. Lead by Matt Nott of Looe Marine Conservation Group.
Time: 10am – 11.30am.
Start at the gateway into Hannafore fields, West Looe.
No unaccompanied children.
How can you take part?
Put on your hiking boots, prepare a flask and some lunch in your backpack - on some walks there will be an opportunity to sample Cornish hospitably and food at pubs and cafes on route, and set off to discover some of Cornwall’s lesser known natural and historical attractions. If you’re a keen walker this is a great – and economical way - to spend an active holiday in Cornwall! Leaders guide the walks for free but you’re asked for a suggested donation of around £4 per person towards either costs or the organiser’s charity of choice.
Did you know?
76% of people who visit Cornwall list walking as one of their favourite thigs to do while visiting the county.