TRAVEL
Boscastle Revisted.
St Nectan’s Waterfall
Discovering new places often requires a bit of effort, and St Nectan’s Glen is no exception. The twenty-minute plus walk from the car park is a steady, often uneven uphill climb, but the reward is more than worth it—especially knowing the return journey is blissfully downhill.
Nestled in an ancient, wooded valley near Tintagel, this Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) feels wonderfully secluded. The centrepiece is the 60-foot waterfall that carves its way through a dramatic, natural slate aperture into an amphitheatre basin below. While it might lack the thunderous scale of Ingleton Falls or the broad cascade of Aysgarth Falls, St Nectan’s offers something much more intimate. What marks it out is the accessibility: you can walk right to the edge, slip off your shoes, and paddle close enough to feel the spray on your face.
There is a distinctly spiritual atmosphere here, with many visitors drawn to the serene energy of the cascade punching through the ancient rock. Because it’s a privately owned site, an entry fee is required for its upkeep. Be warned: the pay-and-display car park fills up quickly, even in September. I recommend setting aside at least two hours to comfortably manage the walk, explore the falls, and soak in the surroundings.
Boscastle Harbour
Once you’ve treated yourself to a well-earned ice cream or Cornish cream tea, a walk up the harbour cliffs is essential. Boscastle Harbour is a narrow sea inlet framed by towering slate cliffs, offering spectacular coastal scenery of its own. Navigating the exposed paths requires a bit of stamina, but the panoramic views out toward the Atlantic are spectacular.
Wandering through this historic fishing village, you pass 16th-century stone breakwaters and smooth slate outcrops—perfect sunbathing spots, with a local seal playing in the water.
The paths on either side of the harbour skirt the coastline and involve climbing some steep steps. We were blessed with sunny spells, but it’s easy to see how the weather could make these elemental paths challenging. The ultimate prizes for the climb are the dramatic viewing points at Penally Point and Willapark, gazing out toward the offshore rocks.
Boscastle itself offers a charming array of village pubs, tea rooms, and the highly unusual Museum of Witchcraft and Magic. Quite why this extensive occult museum is located here—rather than, say, Whitby—is a bit of a mystery. Yet, for a small, remote town, Boscastle packs in a surprising amount of character, making it well worth navigating the crowded summer car parks
