By the Fal Estuary
Walk directions
From the car park entrance, turn right to reach the start of a surfaced lane, signposted to Flushing. Follow the lane, then, by the gateway of a house, bear left along a path. Pass in front of Restronguet Sailing Club and keep to the right of a detached building.
Follow the path round Penarrow Point and continue round Trefusis Point. Reach a gate and granite grid stile by a wooden shack at Kilnquay Wood. Continue along a track, which shortly becomes surfaced.
Continue along the public road for 0.5 miles (0.8km). Where the road drops down towards the water’s edge, bear right up a surfaced slope to the grassy area of the ‘Bowling Green’. (Strictly no dog fouling, please.) Continue past a little pavilion and toilets and go down a surfaced path. Just beyond two seats, turn sharply left down a narrow path. Go down some steps and continue down a lane. At a street junction (Flushing’s attractive little harbour is just to the left) turn right and go along the main street of the village.
At a junction by the Royal Standard, keep right and go up Kersey Road. At the top of the road, by Orchard Vale, go left up steps, signposted ‘Mylor Church’. Cross a stile and keep to the left field-edge to reach an isolated house and to a stile made of granite bollards.
In 25yds (23m) go through a gateway then turn left over a cattle grid and follow the drive to a public road, Penarrow Road. Cross with care, and go down the road opposite for 30yds (27m), then go right down steps, by a gate, and on down the field-edge.
Enter woodland and keep right at a junction to follow a rocky path that is often a mini-stream after heavy rainfall. Go through a gate, and walk onwards. Go through the remains of a tiny gate, keep ahead, cross a stream and join a farm track. Turn right to reach a surfaced road at Trelew.
Turn right along the lane, passing an old water pump. When you get to a slipway, keep ahead along the unsurfaced track. Continue along between granite posts and on to join the public road into Mylor Churchtown. Cross the road with care (this is a blind corner) and go through the churchyard of St Mylor (please note the path through the churchyard is not a public right of way). Turn right when you reach the waterfront to find the car park in Mylor Churchtown.
Additional information
Terrain
- Good paths throughout. Wooded section to Trelew Farm is often very wet; several stiles
Landscape
- Wooded peninsula flanked by river estuaries and creeks
Dog friendliness
- Dogs on lead through grazed areas and churchyard
Parking
- Mylor Churchtown car park
Toilets en route
- Mylor Churchtown and Flushing
About the walk
The inner estuary of the River Fal, the Carrick Roads, is reputedly the third largest natural harbour in the world. It has welcomed all manner of vessels, from Tudor warships to fishing fleets, to modern cargo vessels and oil rigs and a growing number of yachts. Part of the maritime heritage of the... Fal belongs to the Post Office Packet Service that was responsible for communications throughout the British Empire. This was based in the Fal from 1689 to 1850, a glorious and lawless period of British seafaring. Fast Packet vessels ran south to Spain and Portugal and then on to the Americas. The Packet sailors were notorious for their opportunism, and many a Packet ship returned with more than half its cargo as contraband goods. The main Packet base was at Falmouth, but Mylor was a servicing and supplies yard for the Packet boats and many of the captains lived at Flushing. Leisure sailing At Mylor today, maritime traditions are as strong as ever, as far as leisure sailing goes. Boatyards still bustle with work and there is a thriving sailing club. Such clubs are noted for producing accomplished sailors, and the Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie learnt many of his skills in these waters. Today, every creek and inlet of the Fal is dense with leisure craft. Modern Flushing is a peaceful backwater, within shouting distance of bustling Falmouth, but with the river between. Wooded valley The walk takes you from Mylor along the shores of the blunt headland between Mylor Creek and the Penryn River and on to Flushing, in full view of Falmouth docks. Flushing is a charming enclave of handsome houses, many with Dutch features. From Flushing you turn inland and on to a delightful old track. This runs down a wooded valley to the tree-shrouded waters of Mylor Creek from where quiet lanes lead back to St Mylor Church. Here, in a churchyard that resonates with maritime history, stands the Ganges Memorial erected in 1872, a commemoration of 53 youngsters who died, mainly of disease, on the famous Royal Naval training ship HMS Ganges, which was based at Mylor from 1866 to 1899.
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Been on this walk?
Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.
Walking in Safety
Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.
Get an AA guide
Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.
About the area
Cornwall has just about everything – wild moorland landscapes, glorious river valley scenery, picturesque villages and miles of breathtaking coastline. Known for its popular surfing spots, the region provides ample opportunities for water sport enthusiasts, and for those who prefer to stay on land, visitor attractions like the Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan offer a lovely day out.
Nearby places to stay
View all (8)
Nearby places to stay
Frobisher Apartment
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★★★★ Rating
Cornwallis Apartment
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★★★★ Rating
Boscawen Apartment
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★★★★ Rating
Horatio Apartment
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Drake Apartment
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Kingsmoor Cottage
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Grenville Apartment
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Effingham Apartment
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Places to eat nearby View all
Places to eat nearby
The Greenbank Hotel
AA Rosette Award
Culture Restaurant
AA Rosette Award
Hotel Tresanton
AA Rosette Award
The Restaurant - The Royal Duchy Hotel
AA Rosette Award
The Idle Rocks Restaurant
AA Rosette Award
Brasserie on the Bay
AA Rosette Award
Penmorvah Manor
AA Rosette Award
Trelawne Hotel
AA Rosette Award
