32. Cornwall Coast Path: Crackington Haven – High Cliff (Circular) – 5.5 miles - OS Explorer 111

7.5 miles if undercliff and Strangles Beach included. Steep in parts.

Approaching Crackington Haven via Crackington, there’s a little place just before the bay called Ludon. Look out for a market garden (large wooden structure surrounded by flowers in pots) on the right with a table outside – or was when we were there - with lovely fresh veg for sale. There’s parking opposite.

Start the walk heading down the hill, turning first left down a narrow lane which turns into a grassy track before joining a path. Go left at the path.

After crossing a footbridge the tree lined path divides. Go left to Hallagather (signposted). Go left again at a yellow way marker and follow those way markers uphill into fields.

Keeping the hedge to your left, go to the top and left, through a gate to join a track, then lane. Turn left into Hallagather, a pleasant littler hamlet hideaway.

Keeping to the lane, go right when you come to a crossroads, then next right toward Trehole Farm. Just before you enter the farm there’s a footpath sign on your right that gets you off concrete and back on grass.

This path skirts around the farm through fields and down toward woodland.

Through the woodland, over a footbridge, take the path straight ahead to Trevigue Farm.

Here you join a lane. Go left a few yards then turn right onto a path signposted The Strangles. This brings you to the east of High Cliff, the highest cliff along the Cornish coast at 731 feet.

This is where you have a choice. Either follow the signs down to Strangles Beach via the undercliff for a swim and exploration of this rugged bit of Cornwall before retracing your steps to this point, or turn east along the coast path toward Crackington Haven. Feeling fit?

Toward Crackington Haven is a glorious slice of the coast path, with gorgeous views; and tough looking wild goats along the way to make you nervous. Don’t go near in mating season.

The cliffs are a mixture of grey granite, slate and dark volcanic rock, collapsing in parts, leaving some protective fence posts hanging around in mid air. It's a warning to take care.

Eventually Crackington Haven comes into view.

An odd place. Beautiful setting, rough stony beach and indifferent looking pub. I was going to enjoy a pint there but the Covid board outside was so blunt, something along the lines of ‘No mask, no entry, no exception,’ I decided no manners, no business, no exception, and went elsewhere. What’s wrong with ‘Sorry but….’ And Please…’ or don’t grockles deserve respect?

Grockles, if you don't know, is a Westcountry term for tourists. Often affectionate and sometimes not.

But never mind that. There’s a good-looking café (closed when I got there) and, with those high cliffs rising east and west of it, the place has a certain charm. Back in the 19th century its where cargo boats landed to offload coal and pick up slate and sea sand (so that’s where the sand went!). And the walk is lovely, and in places spectacular. And if you’re lucky there may be some fruit or veg on the table outside the market garden where you parked your car. To get back to it, walk west along the lane and where the road forks keep left.