Hiking Guide to St Nectan’s Glen – The Perfect Cornish Walk
St Nectan’s Glen is a tiny piece of heaven in Cornwall… where legend meets reality, where wishes are made and prayers are said…
With the hectic crowds on Cornish beaches and masses of tourists exploring every pretty Cornish village on the coast, St Nectan’s Glen offers a moment of solitude and a little bit of peace and quiet.
This is easily one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the UK, one of the best short walks in Cornwall, and one of the best places to visit during your first time in Cornwall.
The 60-foot waterfall crashes down to St Nectan’s Kieve, a basin at the foot of the falls said to be 12 feet deep. The water then tumbles another 10 feet down through an arch into the shallow pool at the bottom, continuing down the Trevillet River towards the ocean.
Walking Guide to St Nectan’s Glen, Cornwall
The Basics for Your Hike
- Distance: about 1 mile each way
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Allow 30-40 minutes to get to the visitor center from the parking lot
- Price: £10.00 per adult
- There are separate prices for students, concessions, and children. Children under 5 can enter free.
- St Nectan’s Glen is open year-round (except Christmas Day)
- Waterproof shoes will make your life so much easier (you must walk in the water to see the waterfall)
- Don’t have waterproof shoes? Bring some flip flops, water shoes, or a small towel to dry your feet off
- Don’t forget to bring some water with you and stay hydrated!
- The glen and waterfall are dog-friendly!
- For the best experience, get to the visitor center for opening or visit during the off-season
- You CANNOT pre-book your waterfall ticket
- Official Site: St Nectan’s Glen
Where is St Nectan’s Glen?
SAT NAV POSTCODE: PL34 0BE
BUS ROUTE: 95 or 96, Trethevy stop (literally right next to the start of the walk)
St Nectan’s Glen is located in the north of Cornwall, the UK’s southernmost county.
It’s a little over a mile to get from the parking lot to the visitor center at the top of the waterfall.
YES, I said visitor center. If you are feeling slightly exhausted, grab a tea (or water) and relax before you walk up and down MORE steps to the falls.
This walk is NOT easy.
It’s a moderate hike through woodland, with steep inclines, muddy (and slippery) paths, and uneven steps.
If you have mobility issues or walking difficulties, unfortunately, this hike is not for you.
How to Get to the Entrance of St Nectan’s Glen
From the parking lot, turn left (walking on the left side of the road – there’s a sign). Once you get past the big house, cross over the road and go down the little lane. There will be a small sign pointing you in the right direction.
You will see St Piran’s Church up ahead. Head to the right of the church (don’t worry, there’s another sign) and walk down the small residential road (watch out for cars!).
A little over a quarter of a mile down the road, you’ll see the entrance to St Nectan’s Glen on the right.
Walking Through the Glen
This is where the fun part starts. You’ll enter the woodland here.
It’s pretty easy to start with. No steep inclines or obstacles in the path.
You’ll come to a bridge, don’t cross over this one, and continue on the left path (there’s a signpost).
Continuing weaving on the path along the river, this is where it gets VERY muddy with a few ups and downs.
When you get to the halfway point (a small concrete bridge with a metal handrail), there will be a sign letting you know there are .5 miles to go and you’re 15 minutes away!
After you cross this bridge, there’s one more bridge to cross! You are soooo close!
Once you see the water cascading down the creek from the top, you’ll start to ascend. THIS IS THE HOME STRETCH!
It’s a rough climb, I’m not going to lie. The stairs are steep and uneven. About a quarter of the way up, tree roots are sticking up that get very slippery when wet. I saw two people in a row slip and fall on them.
Once you reach what looks like a rope bridge in the distance (don’t worry, it’s not a rope bridge), you’re almost there!
You’ll be able to see the people looking at the falls down below to the right, but you won’t be able to see the falls yourself because they are set back in an alcove.
Once you get to the cafe and visitor area, there’s plenty of seating. Head left if you want to grab a drink or head right towards the gift shop if you want to go straight to the falls.
Walking to the Falls
The path to the falls is a maintained and easy descent. It’s set up like a circular path.
A quarter of the way down, you’ll come to your first view of the falls.
Continue heading down. Shortly after, there will be an option to turn right or go straight.
Go straight (turning right will lead you to a dead end, not a faster way to the bottom)… not that I went that way and had to turn around. *facepalm*
You know you’ve made it when you see the green gate you have to go through.
This is where your feet will get wet. There are stepping stones right in front of you if you want to hold off on getting your shoes wet (for now).
If you want to relax, there is a nice shady area with benches, but you’ll have to wade through the water. You can purchase wish ribbons if you want to tie them to the trees.
Is the water deep at St. Nectans Glen? No. At best, it’s ankle-deep in a few parts; you’ll just have to watch where you step if you are wearing hiking boots that don’t go past your ankle.
Turn right once you cross over the stepping stones and then wade across the water… again to get a view of the waterfall on the left.
When I first got to the falls, there were quite a few people there; however, everyone seemed to take a picture and head back up.
I spent about 30-40 minutes around the waterfall, relaxing and enjoying the peace and quiet. I had the falls to myself for about 15 minutes.
In the summer, this might not happen unless you get there at opening time.
Don’t forget to tie your wish ribbon to a tree or build a fairy stack to remember this moment.
When you’re ready, head back up the other stairs. (They’ve set up a circular route for the falls) And you’ll reach the top at the entrance to the gift shop.
St Nectan’s Cafe and More
If you’re not ready to head back yet and you want to walk some more, you can take the short nature trail next to the cafe.
Don’t forget to take a look at the Arbor, a fairy-like structure for elopements and union ceremonies, and if you want to take a moment for yourself, head to the Hermitage.
If you want a well-deserved break, then grab a snack at the cafe and relax.
The cafe is nice and airy, and the sausage rolls are soooo good!
There’s nowhere to refill your water bottle, but they do sell water in cans. I just poured that into my water bottle to top me up for the hike back.
Unisex toilets are just above the cafe, and they are in a shed, so don’t expect much.
Once you have relaxed enough and maybe lounged around on the couch in the cafe, it’s time to head back!
Leaving the Glen
You can head back the way you came OR you can take the “alternative exit”. The sign doesn’t stand out, and it’s kind of hidden across from the toilets; you would never know it was there unless you were looking for it.
You’ll see the narrow gravel road staff members use to get to the visitor center; you can actually use this track to get back.
Guess what? It’s .2 miles shorter than walking through the woods, and if you are walking at a good pace, it’ll take you 15 minutes.
Just be very careful, as there can be cars on the road.
This route is pretty straightforward. You do have a climb up (it’s not terrible) and you’ll get some nice sea views at the top. You can also turn around and see the canopy of the glen.
The rest of the way is all downhill, and it goes by pretty quickly.
You’ll see the caravan park in the distance (that means you’re almost there!)
The road ends right in front of St Piran’s Church, which connects to the main road by the parking lot.
Yay, you made it!
Are you planning a trip to Cornwall? Are you thinking about hiking to St Nectan’s Glen? Lemme know in the comments below!
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