South West Coast Path - Portscatho to Carne
Notes from the South West Coast Path; in this blog series we document the short stretches we've done with the aim of helping others to enjoy it piece by piece. If there is any useful information that we’ve missed out, let us know in the comments!
Portscatho to Carne beach - 3.2 miles (and back again) - 6.4 miles / 10.3 km total
Starting and finishing – Car park between Portscatho and Porthcurnick beach, TR2 5HD
Halfway point – Carne beach, TR2 5PF
Ease of walking
I'd describe this walk as moderate difficulty because it had some hills, stiles and steps (as you can see in the picture below) which some walkers may find difficult. Most recently I did the walk in January and it was incredibly muddy. The kind of mud where you have to place each step with care to avoid slipping over, I got distracted at one point thinking I'd spotted some dolphins and fell right over on my bum! In drier months it's a lovely walk with a variety of paths to take at times depending on the line you want to take up the hills and slopes.
Wildlife
On multiple walks here I've seen common dolphins from the shore, Portscatho Lookout Station (which is part of the National Coastwatch Institution) has fantastic views over Gerrans Bay. Definitely a spot to pause for 10 minutes to scan with binoculars and see what you can spot. Whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and plenty of seabirds are all very possible! The lookout is about a 5 minute walk on from Porthcurnick beach towards Carne, you won't miss it.
Refreshments
There are lots of fantastic options in the area, the best spot for lunch is the Hidden Hut at Porthcurnick beach, good luck making your choice as everything on the menu is exceptional! It does get very busy in high season though. You could time your walk to start with lunch and then walk to Carne beach and back after eating, or walk first and build up an appetite! There are cafes and pubs in Portscatho itself, Scatho's makes exceptional gelato and Tide & Thyme on the beachfront does great coffee and pizza. There is also a tea, coffee, cake and ice cream stand in the National Trust car park at Carne beach which provides some welcome refreshments at the halfway point.
Toilets
Accessible public toilets can be found at Carne Beach, next to the car park as well as in Portscatho at the top of the beach. If you're eating at the Hidden Hut or other restaurants then there will be facilities for customers.
Parking
There's a well sign posted car park between Porthcurnick beach and Portscatho or if you want to start at Carne there's a National Trust car park next to the beach.
Time to spare?
Bring your swimmers and enjoy a variety of swimming spots. Depending on the wind and swell direction, Portscatho can be quite sheltered and you can enjoy the large gently sloping beaches at Porthcurnick, Pendower and Carne. Porthbean is the quietest swimming spot with lots of space to spread out and find your own spot. There aren't any lifeguards along this stretch so be careful where you go in if there are large waves or strong tides. Due to the rocky areas there's some fun snorkeling to be had too. I spotted what looked like a brilliant farm shop on the road down to Pendower, I didn't have time to pop in so that's one for another day.
