1 Cotna Eco Retreat To Portmellon: shortest route to the sea, Rising Sun Inn, The Shack and Paddle Shed
Duration / Distance: 30 minutes, 1 mile one way (double for return)
Terrain: Steep hill after setting out from Cotna Eco Retreat, stiles, ground muddy when wet in Portmellon valley
Overview: Wide open views across the Portmellon valley to the sea. Old pub by the beach at Portmellon, quiet peaceful woods and riverside
Leave Cotna Eco Retreat through entrance way then immediately right up along the hedge of the oval field. Over the stile on the right, cross 2 fields on the path, then over the 3rd stile into the Woodland Trust’s Sanctuary Wood. Turn left along the top, then first right down to the bottom of the hill.
Turn right at bottom through gate, follow path over stream, across field, into West Bodrugan Wood nature reserve. Keep to the level path, cross the small lane from Galowras Mill and keep on the level wooded path, over the wooden step stile then through the last field to Portmellon boatyard. Dogs need to be on a lead if sheep are in the field. At the road turn left to the beach (at low tide!), Rising Sun Inn, The Shack (great coffee, vegan options, seasonal), Paddle Shed (kayak, SUP hire)
Return on same route, or for views across the bay to Chapel Point, take the coast road left towards Mevagissey. At the top turn left into Penwarne Lane, follow leafy footpath up to the right. Join the road, turn left downhill then right onto the track to Penwarne Farm (15th C). Go through up the path to fields. Follow the field track down then along the valley to Galowras Mill, through a gate then join the lane to the left up to where the Gorran footpath crosses the lane. Turn sharp right to follow the signed public footpath, keeping to the right where the path splits.
Follow the path out of the woods, across the field and back to the gate at the bottom of Sanctuary Wood. Turn second left, avoiding the ridiculously steep and often slippery climb of Cotna Hill, take the easier slope you came down, left at the top back to the stile on the right back into the neighbouring horse fields above Cotna Eco Retreat.
