Boscastle Harbour Walk

This is a gentle, level one mile walk along the river to the ‘blow-hole’ and has lovely views of the village and the harbour. At the end there are some steps to climb and the rocks here can be slippery when wet.

Now I could fancy one of these cottages. What about the pink one? It already has a bench in the garden for me.

We’ll walk along one side of the river to the next bridge (footbridge) passing by the witch museum, a lovely National Trust shop, a tea-room and the YHA. I love the Cornish walls in which you can plant a host of flowers, including these beautiful tulips (header photo). Look out for wild flowers too, such as the Danish scurvy traditionally considered a coastal plant with its love of salty places, salt marshes and sea shores grass. Full of Vitamin C, it gets its name from sailors chewing it to avoid scurvy.

Which/Witch Way

Along the river

Danish Scurvy Grass

Tea-room

Arched window

The witch museum looks very interesting, but we didn’t go inside. I rather liked the herb container with it’s witch messages:

• Witches were said to pick parsley and curse their enemies
• If sage thrives in a garden then the man of the house will never be the master
• Strawberries should be left as a gift to the birds (spirits of nature)
• Garlic can protect you from the evil eye
• Drink St John’s Wort in red wine to prevent melancholy
• Comb your hair with rosemary to prevent baldness

I’m sure one of those will be useful to you.

At this point cross over to the other side of the river unless you enjoy walking along a very narrow strip and onto a stony track. One advantage of crossing is that you get a very good view of the lovely tea-room, which must have once been a chapel, and the Youth Hostel. Now there’s a room with a view.

Turn right after crossing the bridge and follow the river to the ancient harbour and the two breakwaters. The outer breakwater was built 1820, but destroyed in 1941 by a drifting mine and since rebuilt by the national trust.

Climb the steps onto the rocks above the harbour and you have views to the open sea, the blow-hole and the outer breakwater. Be careful though as these rocks can be very slippery as the surface is smooth slate.

Return to the road along this side of the river and you will pass a shop where you can buy locally produced ice-cream. Or if you are in time for lunch then head for the Cobweb Inn opposite the car-park where you can have reasonably priced, home cooked food. They also serve real ale and local ciders.

If you enjoy a walk, long or short, then have a look at Jo’s site where you are welcome to join in.