Port Gaverne to Barretts Zawn

A circular walk from Port Gaverne around Port Isaac Bay to Barretts Zawn, where a tunnel leads to the beach, through which donkeys used to haul slate.

Get the app to guide you around the walk

App Store

Download iPhone/iPad app from App Store

Scan with your phone to get the Apple app

Google Play

Download Android app from Google Play

Scan with your phone to get the Android app

Download the (free) app then use it to purchase this walk.

Phone showing Google navigation to start of walk

The app will direct you to the start of the walk via satnav.

Hand holding a phone showing the iWalk Cornwall app

The app guides you around the walk using GPS, removing any worries about getting lost.

Phone showing walk directions page in the iWalk Cornwall app

The walk route is described with detailed, regularly-updated, hand-written directions.

Each time there is a new direction to follow, the app will beep to remind you, and will warn you if you go off-route.

Phone showing walk map page in the iWalk Cornwall app

A map shows the route, where you are at all times and even which way you are facing.

Phone showing facts section in iWalk Cornwall app

Each walk is packed with information about the history and nature along the route, from over a decade of research than spans more than 3,000 topics.

Person looking at phone with cliff scenery in background

Once a walk is downloaded, the app doesn't need wifi or a phone signal during the walk.

Phone showing walk stats in the iWalk Cornwall app

The app counts down distance to the next direction and estimates time remaining based on your personal walking speed.

We keep the directions continually updated for changes to the paths/landmarks - the price for a walk includes ongoing free updates.

either as a GPS-guided walk with our app (£3.29) or a PDF of directions (£2.79) Example of directions

Fullscreen map

The walk starts from Port Isaac car park and goes down the hill to Port Gaverne, then around the headland where fulmars nest on the rock ledges, to where the cliff edge meets the lane at Cartway Cove. The walk follows the coast along Bounds Cliff to the deep ravine at Ranie Point and on to Barretts Zawn. The route follows the valley inland to the farm at Hendra and returns to Port Gaverne along the lane.

Highlights

Historic settlement of Port Gaverne which predates Port Isaac
Sandy beach at low tide at Port Gaverne
Spectacular panoramic views over Port Isaac Bay from the coast path
Clifftop views over Barrett's Zawn beach
"Donkey Hole" - a hidden tunnel to Barrett's Zawn beach (entry not recommended)
Local food and drink at Port Gaverne hotel (pub and restaurant)
Return route along pleasant country lanes lined with wildflowers in spring and summer

Considerations

The Coast Path between Ranie Point and Barretts Zawn is very steep and does not have steps.
Five of the stiles on the coast path are stone footholds over walls. These vary from about 3ft up to over 5ft.
As the route comes inland, one of the stiles has disintegrated leaving a fence which needs to be climbed. This is about about 3ft high and constructed from 2 telegraph poles, resembling a horse jump.
The lane to Port Gaverne forming the return route gets a reasonable amount of traffic, particularly in holiday periods.
Route includes paths close to unfenced cliff edges.

Dogs

Beaches where dogs are allowed all year: Port Gaverne. Dogs will need lifting over several of the stiles on the route which may not be practical for some large dogs - see considerations section for more info.

The walk is available through the iWalk Cornwall app for Apple and Android for £3.29 which each include everything listed here.

This removes worries about getting lost by tracking you using GPS, reminding you when you need to follow the next direction and warning you if you wander off the route.

To install on your phone, search the app store for “iwalk cornwall” to download the (free) app. Then either use it to scan the code at the top-right of the page to locate this walk or search for the walk title in Walks Shop > Search All Walks.

Once you've installed the iWalk Cornwall app from the app store, click on the button below to locate this walk:

Open walk in iWalk Cornwall app