Day 25 Porthfallow to Falmouth (18 miles / 29km)

 Day 25  Porthfallow to Falmouth  (18 miles / 29km)

If there was a stage of this walk that was to perfectly reflect an English summers day – this stage would be it.    It was glorious England – blue sky and a hot sun and record sales for Cornish icecream sellers.    It fell on a Saturday so it felt like all of Cornwall dropped whatever they were doing to make the most of it.  The atmosphere through the villages along the way and into Falmouth was as beautiful to walk through as the scenery.  

After a narrow pathed climb out of Porthfallow, all quiet and sleepy and definitely nowhere to buy a sandwich, it was an undulating walk to get to the first of two ferry crossings.   The first to cross the inlet of Gillian Creek , which can only be forded one hour either side of low tide so at high tide if you display an organge board on the shore it alerts a ferry and he will head over to pick you up for 5 pounds.    The ferry was a small vessel that came as soon as I displayed the board and as you dismount at the jetty a man taking payment also offers hot drinks and biscuits.   What a service.   Quick take a way cuppa and a biscuit and I was off.  

 The gorgeous walking here is so pretty through green , leafy and shaded wooded stretches past little coves where the water of the Helford River is like glass and with the boats and sails it created a picture perfect Saturday .  Into the very classy riverside village of Helford which sits right on the inlet of the Helford river with thatched cottages and roses climbing around brightly painted doors.      England comes to boat and sail around this area and it has completely got that yachters feel.   To cross the Helford River the same system is in place so I displayed the orange board and across comes a slightly bigger vessel and it’s  friendly ferry man.    

He said the ferry would stop that day by the afternoon so be aware if I wanted to get back.   I said “Oh, is there a game on ? ”  Thinking the World Cup had all the ferrymen watching in the Helford Arms, but he said no it wasnt the football it was tide related and in a few hours the inlet would be completely empty – then, probably because of the football comment, he carefully explained the moon and tide combination that affects this 5 metre tidal shift.    If that tide had been out the walk around was a 16km one.   I was grateful for both the ferry , the timing  and the learning about spring and neap tides.  

From Helford Passage to Falmouth it was just stunning walking past coves, beaches , people on beaches and to Maenporth Beach which was sandwich stop and a cuppa before the final walk across fields of flowers to the bustling streets of Falmouth.    What a stunning place , streets filled with cute shops,  cafes , laneways and with the blue water filled with boats of all sizes it was a place that demanded a little more than one night.    It had been a hot 29km and I was keen to get my boots offf.   

My room was gorgeous  and  I was so taken with the stunning views of the Harbour I wanted to eat with a view of the water.  I googled and found that the BoatHouse pub and restaurant had the best views up high and was only 3 minutes away.   And it had just been voted Best pub in Cornwall 2026!     What a meal !  Fish in Falmouth .   I’m posting the pics.   The whiting!!  ……another one I’ll be thinking about on a regular basis.  

 Falmouth –  beautiful , beautiful, beautiful.  

Night , night xxx

Ferry number 1 – small vessel  The Helford River  Ferry # 2 …slightly larger vessel

Helford

 

Summer in England.

Falmouth

Whting

Falmouth Fish Pie

Sun going down from my table with wine and whiting xx