| Boscastle & Surrounding Area |
| Boscastle |
| Ideally situated to explore the breathtaking
coastal scenery of North Cornwall, the enchanting village of
Boscastle owes its existence to two main factors. The unique,
sinuous natural inlet, which forms one of the oldest and most
famous fishing ports in North Cornwall; and the Norman de Botterell
family, who built Bottreaux Castle overlooking the Jordan Valley
and gave the village the name which has survived, in its corrupted
form, to the present day. |
| The village itself stands in a deep coombe
created by the convergence of the valleys formed by the rivers
Valency and Jordan. The captivating, wooded valley scenery is
crossed by numerous paths and is rich in wildlife. The Boscastle
woodland, well protected by the steep sides of the Valency Valley,
is considered to be a remnant of the original tree cover of
Britain. |
| Now part of the North Cornwall Heritage
Coast, and mostly owned by the National Trust, Boscastle and
the surrounding countryside are one of the North coast's major
tourist attractions. The South West Peninsula Coast Path runs
along the spectacular cliffs, formed by the awesome, rocky drop
of green farmers' fields into the Atlantic Ocean. |
| Boscastle is at the centre of a number of spectacular walks in the area. We have several maps of local walks in our Guests' Lounge. |
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| The Boscastle Village Trail (1 mile)
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| A pleasant promenade around the village
to recognise its history and its architectural jewels; from
the quaint cottages of the old village with names such as "Smugglers"
and "Tinkers", to the fascinating spectacle of the harbour.
Here you can see and hear the booming and rushing of water through
the blow-hole on to the beach at low tide. The walk terminates
at the site where Bottreaux Castle used to tower over the Jordan
Valley in Norman times. |
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| Boscastle's Churches (3 miles) |
| A unique opportunity to discover some of
the oldest and most fascinating churches in North Cornwall.
Idyllically situated in the thick valley woodland, Minster Church
(St. Materiana) dates back to Celtic times, until in 1190 William
de Bottreaux established there a small priory. High up on the
cliffs, Forrabury Church (St. Symphorian) overlooks Forrabury
Common and the Stitches, one of the two or three surviving examples
of medieval agricultural practice. St. Juliot's, two miles up
the valley from Boscastle, owes its fame to Thomas Hardy, whose
first wife Emma was related to the rector's wife, and whom he
met while staying in the village. |
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| Boscastle-Tintagel Coastal Walk (3
½ miles) |
| Utilising the superb coastal footpath, this
walk leads from Boscastle to Tintagel, (the neighbouring village
famous for its links to the legend of King Arthur). The walk
passes through famous landmarks such as Willapark and the disused
California Quarry as well as some of the most breathtaking cliffs
and beaches of North Cornwall, such as the Elephant Rock of
Bossiney Haven. |
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| The Boscastle Circular Walk (6 ½ miles) |
| Starting from Boscastle Harbour, the Circular
Walk initially follows the course of the Valency river in beautiful
wooded scenery, heading East to the ancient and evocative Minster
Church. The path then reaches the high ground, where panoramic
views can be enjoyed, from Lundy Island out at sea to the peak
of Rough Tor on Bodmin Moor. A pleasant walk through farmers'
fields brings back to the site of Bottreaux Castle, and through
the old village back to the harbour. |
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| Click on the thumbnails
above to view an enlarged version |
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