CORNWALL SOMERSET 01 TRESCO 02 SIMONSBATH SOUTH WEST uDistance: 7 miles/11.4km uTime: 3½ hours uGrade: Moderate SOUTH WEST uDistance: 6¾ miles/10.8km uTime: 3¼ hours uGrade: Moderate The coast path leading PLAN YOUR WALK PLAN YOUR WALK to Cromwell’s Castle. FEATURE SEE ON PAGE 34 PHOTO: PHOTO: ROBERT HESKETH ROBERT J&S BENSON J&S ROUTE ROUTE Start New Grimsby Quay, Barle Valley near the Start/parking Simonsbath Tresco, Isles of Scilly, start of the walk. car park, TA24 7SH, grid ref SV887152 grid ref SS774393 Is it for me? Clear, Is it for me? Bridlepaths CHOSEN BY… seals hauled out on the rocky well-maintained trails, CHOSEN BY… the ruins of Wheal Eliza, where and footpaths; two rocky and undulating at moderate ascents. JEN & SIM BENSON ledges and red-legged oyster ROBERT HESKETH miners drove a 76m deep shaft times, particularly in the Stiles None The second largest catchers flying low over north of the island. This beautiful Exmoor in search of copper, but found in the Scilly the waves. The beaches Stretches of paved circuit combines only iron ore. The returns were PLANNING archipelago, the island of here are exquisite: pristine footpath and quiet lanes a bankside path through the poor and Wheal Eliza closed in Nearest town Lynton Tresco is a place of delightful sandy crescents edged by Stiles None upper Barle Valley with a high 1857 after 11 years. Exmoor’s Refreshments Exmoor contrasts. To the north, the clear blue seas. The centre level return through fields with most impressive Iron Age Forest Inn; Boevy Tea PLANNING rugged coastline is edged of the island is a great wide moorland views. We hillfort, Cow Castle, is also on Rooms: both Simonsbath Nearest town New Grimsby Public toilets At start with inviting trails that wind place for birdwatching, with Refreshments The Flying begin in Simonsbath, in the the way. It consists of a ditch Public transport None around wave-washed rocky freshwater pools providing Boat restaurant/café – heart of Exmoor’s former and single stone rampart, Maps OS Explorer OL9; headlands; intriguing ruins habitat for several rare species. a short walk from the Royal Forest. This Forest was enclosing some three acres, Landrangers 180 & 181 beckon from the horizons and quay. The Ruin Beach never thickly wooded, but a with ramparts up to 2m high. the stocky, granite tower of Start Café in Old Grimsby. hunting preserve created by These defences are modest in Start Cromwell’s Castle commands From New Grimsby Quay, Café at the Abbey Garden the Norman kings, who backed comparison with some other Walk back to road from car 1 Public toilets New Grimsby 1 dizzying views from the very with the jetty behind you, Quay, New Grimsby village privileged access to the Iron Age hillforts in the West park. Turn R. Opposite inn, turn top. Wandering around the turn L and follow the island’s & Tresco Abbey pleasures of the chase with Country, such as Maiden Castle L onto path signed ‘Picked south of the island, with its north-west coast towards Public transport Scilly draconian laws. Red deer near Dorchester and Ham Hill Stones’. After 100m, bear L manicured gardens, stylish Cromwell’s Castle. The trail Travel 01736 334220. continue to thrive on Exmoor. near Yeovil, suggesting Cow ‘Cow Castle’. Follow path apartments and Mediterranean is winding and undulating, Tresco Boat Services Keep a careful watch – they Castle was more a refuge than beside river, behind Flexbarrow 01720 423373 plants, feels unlike anywhere with rocky sections at times. are remarkably difficult to a major power base. According to Wheal Eliza ruins. the islands else in the British Isles. Keep To your L are fine views across Maps OS Explorer 101; spot, despite their size. Early to legend, it was built by good an eye out for the local to Tresco’s neighbouring Landranger 203 morning and late evening are pixies at war with the evil 1 mile/1.8km wildlife, including Atlantic grey island, Bryher. ➥ the best times. En route are spirits of a mine. 2Continue on the path ➥ GRADIENT PROFILE GRADIENT PROFILE 600 600 400 400 200 200 metres metres 0 0 km 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 km 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 ✁ SOUTH WEST SOUTH WEST SOMERSET CORNWALL 02 SIMONSBATH 01 TRESCO uOS Explorer map OL9 uBuy maps at: ordnancesurvey.co.uk/shop uOS Explorer map 101 uBuy maps at: ordnancesurvey.co.uk/shop ⅔ mile/1km 2Cromwell’s Castle stands 1 START proudly on the coast, just across a narrow walkway. A 3 spiral staircase leads to the top and fantastic views. From here head inland, ascending to King 2 7 Charles’ Castle, perched on the highest point of the island. This ruined artillery fort was built in 4 2 the mid-16th century to protect the islands from French 6 MEDIA001/17 ORDNANCESURVEY. 2017 COPYRIGHT ©CROWN invasion. Follow clear paths START 1 northwards to regain the rocky coastal path and continue around to the eastern shore, MEDIA001/17 ORDNANCESURVEY. 2017 COPYRIGHT ©CROWN passing the deep sea cave of 5 Piper’s Hole, a 17th-century tin mine concealing a freshwater 3 pool. 5 1¼ miles/2km 3Gimble Porth is a wide, sandy bay where you can often 4 spot seals. Climbing over the headland at Gimble Point brings you to Old Grimsby – the Ruin Beach Café is on the 6 DON’T MISS... 3 miles/4.9km 5¾ miles/9.3km water’s edge. Continue around 4Turn L ‘Picked Stones’. 7Bear L at Winsitchen the bay and ascend to the Old Cow Castle. Farm, signed ‘Simonsbath’. Blockhouse, also known as returning past Abbey Gardens in order to coincide with boats. You can climb 3¾ miles/5.8km Follow the blue waymarkers Dover Fort, another 16th- and Abbey Pool to Pentle Bay. to the top up 5Turn L at next path junction through th fields. Turn L century fortification. 5½ miles/9km a path near Point 3, and L again at tarmac track. into the wood, signed 4½ miles/7.5km 6Finish along the island’s but the best view is Follow bridleway L of Picked ‘Simonsbath’. Reaching 2½ miles/4km 5Head south along the western coast, back to New from the upper path Stones. Continue with hedge the road, turn R to finish. 4From Blockhouse Point coast to reach Tresco’s most Grimsby Quay. near Picked Stones. on your R. Below is aerial view follow the coast around Rushy southerly point, Carn Near, also of Cow Castle. Descend to GET THIS WALK Point and Lizard Point to reach the low-tide quay. Here you GET THIS WALK behind Cow Castle. brook and old quarry. the glorious pale sandy arc will find Oliver’s Battery, a ON YOUR PHONE: July2017 Walking © Country ON YOUR PHONE: July2017 Walking © Country lfto.com/cwroutes of Pentle Bay. Turn R here, ruined artillery fortification lfto.com/cwroutes 2¼ miles/3.4km 4¾ miles/7.6km following Pool Road and built in the 17th century against 3Continue through gate and 6Follow track uphill. Turn IN ASSOCIATION WITH then Abbey Road to make a opposing Royalist forces on IN ASSOCIATION WITH over footbridge. Walk ahead on L ‘Simonsbath’ at fingerpost. circumnavigation of Great Pool the neighbouring island of St track, following ‘Bridleway’ Continue up with trees/hedge – there are three entrances to Mary’s. At low tide the walk can signs. Track climbs to junction. on R. Turn R ‘Simonsbath’. OS MAPS bird hideson this loop – before be started/finished at this point OS MAPS ✁.