Shrine to St. Nectan
PoE 9 Rocky Valley loop a 6.5 miles
PoE 9 Rocky Valley loop b 1.5 miles
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St. Nectan's Glen is reached by meandering through a wooded valley. In Springtime the valley floor is carpeted with bluebells. Ferns grow throughout the year and the Trevillit river burbles its course forever. It is a delightful entree to the peace that lies ahead.
A tea garden complete with cockatoo, a sanctuary used by Nectan in what remains of his tower, a visit to the glen. Here one can marvel the artistry of nature. The Trevillit falls 30 feet, bouncing over slate to form a bowl* from which it overflows through a vertical circle of slate into a pool. Legend speaks of Nectan's burial beneath the kieve.
Civilisation seems lost somewhere - in distance if not in time. And yet, an hour's walk brings the streets of Boscastle underfoot. The harbour houses a handful of boats used for shellfish fishing. It was built in 1584 exchanging coal, timber and coffee for Cornish slate, kaolin and cereals until around 1890.
The return route via the South West Coast Path and the shade of Rocky Valley is dramatic.