Walks around Boscastle: Lady's Window
It’s no secret that Boscastle is one of the finest bases for coastal walks anywhere in the country...
The stretch of coastline between Widemouth and Pentire Point is part of the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and it’s not hard to see why. From wide sandy beaches to rocky coves, steep-sided gorges to ancient castles, it’s hard to think of a more spectacular part of British coastline.
One of the more popular walks with our guests starts here at Boscastle Harbour and follows the path along the cliffs – firstly past the medieval stitches, one of the finest examples of this farming practice anywhere in the world, and then on to the coastguard look-out at Willapark.
Follow the path further, and you will come to the famous Lady’s Window; a natural arch high above the crashing waves, and a favourite for photographers and Instagram fanatics.
This area of the coast was known to be dangerous, edged with jagged rocks and hidden currents. Many ships met their demise in these turbulent waters, including The Alliance; this was a steam-powered freighter carrying coal from Wales that sank in 1884, with a loss of all 16 crew members.
Further along the path, you will reach the footbridge at Rocky Valley. The cliffs here are truly spectacular – but don’t get too close to the edge as the rocks can be slippery. Turn left in-land, and you can follow the enchanting footpath that follows the river up the valley to the ruins of a mill (pictured), and strange carvings of a labyrinth.
At this point, you can retrace your steps, or follow the road back up past Trevalga and down into Boscastle village. It’s a charming circular walk and one of many that are popular with our visitors.
Many descriptions exist of this route, but we’ve found the IWalkCornwall route here to be particularly good, with detailed notes on what you may expect to find.
So next time you’re staying at The Riverside, grab those walking boots and get out onto the cliffs. You will not be disappointed!