Morwenstow church from Vicarage Cliff
Site of Caledonia's figurehead
PoE 1 Morwenstow loop a 6 miles
PoE 1 Morwenstow loop b 2 miles
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Morwenstow is the first or last village on the north coast of Cornwall. It is a bleak area made famous by the eccentric Victorian vicar and poet R. S. Hawker.
The coast in this part of Cornwall is a treacherous one and wrecks were common in the days of sail. Unwilling to let Neptune take the souls of Christian sailors, Hawker farmed their bodies from the shore and buried them in his church yard. The figurehead of the Caledonia (currently removed for repair) famously marks such a spot.
The Morwenstow eight travels north above jagged off shore rocks and crosses briefly into Devon before returning via farmland in the incongruous shadow of distant satellite dishes to Hawker's church.
After pausing in the shade of the churchyard, it reaches again for the coast and heads south. Beyond Hawker's cliff side hut the route dives steeply to Tidna Shute.
A welcome pause at the Bush Inn is a short stroll from the beginning and end of this eight.