Saints Way Cornwall Padstow to Fowey via Bodmin Moor

Saints Way Coast to Coast Cornwall 2020

The Saints Way ("Forth an Syns" in Cornish) 19th - 26th September 2020.

7 nights and 5.5 days of walks. Ask me and I will send you  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Back in 1984 a very old cobbled pathway route with stiles was discovered outside Luxulyan, now part of the route. It had been abandoned for centuries. What was its origins? 

The thoughts turned to pilgrims and the discovery of a “transpeninsula route” giving access from north to south and vice versa. It would make sense to avoid sailing around Lands End and the Lizard for a variety of different users over the centuries, including Saints, mineral traders and pilgrims travelling from Wales and Ireland through Cornwall and Brittany to Santiago de Compostella on the very popular Camino de Santiago route.

Yet there is no proof of the definitive route across Cornwall of any of the Saints or pilgrims but the stories of them are here to see with historic remains going back to prehistoric, Bronze Age and Iron Age times. There are footbridges, a multitude of churches and ancient woodlands with the majestic Bodmin Moor half way along our route. We walk the ridge on St Breock Downs, through valleys where wolves were common, past ancient burial barrows, isolated farms and numerous granite crosses from the 4^th – 6^th Centuries AD.

We walk the Camel Estuary from Padstow in the north and the Fowey River to the town of Fowey in the south where we pass a number of ancient woodlands using old tracks, modernised, but still only the width of a cart. There are hamlets and villages to pass through full of the signs of centuries’ old work places, with Inns and Smithy’s, farmhouses, granite hedgerows and abandoned mining works.

Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s largest reserve is Breney Common, with wet and dry heathland and this is half way at Helmans Tor which is 209m above sea level where we stand atop the tor. On a clear day one can see both the north and south coast. The Saints Way is the epitome of backroads walking, through fields and pathways that are still quiet and little used. It is well signposted and a route I have looked at for years and I’m finally happy to take people who think they “know” Cornwall

This is a new and unique guided walking holiday. I will send you This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

We will spend 3 nights in Padstow and 4 in Fowey and walk between 6 and 10 miles per day.

If you are looking for the backroads and peace and quiet of the Cornish countryside that is not commercial then this walk is for you. Whilst Padstow and Fowey are magnets for tourism during the day the towns, like Falmouth, where all my Cornish walks are based, have their maritime charm and views and many restaurants to choose from. 

For accommodation I have selected two Inns (pubs with well equipped rooms, comfortable beds and modern amenities) that are in the centre of the towns of Padstow and Fowey. Some rooms have river views and they do great breakfasts before we go off for the days walk. Evenings we have a choice of restaurants and pubs to eat in and the food will be fresh and mainly locally sourced especially for those who like fish.

If you are intested in this walking holiday in the heart of Cornwall from coast to coast then I will be very happy to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.