Around Pentire Point and The Rumps to Polzeath, then across the Camel estuary by ferry to Padstow.
Highlights
- Pentire Point & The Rumps
- Polzeath
- Camel estuary ferry
Know before you go
- Tidal ferry across the Camel
Climbs 845 m and descends 848 m, topping out at 81 m and dropping to 2 m. Measured along the mapped route.
What you walk on, by distance (from OpenStreetMap way types).
Four axes rated 1–5 — the single rating above is only the headline.
Around Pentire Point and The Rumps to Polzeath, then across the Camel estuary by ferry to Padstow.
This stage depends on 1 crossing. Check times before you set out — most are seasonal or tide-bound, and the inland detour is long.
Places on this leg with a full history, and free audio guides you can read or hear.
Port Isaac to Padstow is 11.6 miles (18.7 km). Allow about 6 h 42 min of walking, before stops.
Stage 14 climbs about 845 m and descends about 848 m, with a high point of about 81 m. On the South West Coast Path the ascent, not the distance, is what decides how long a day takes — the route repeatedly drops to sea level and climbs straight back out.
It is graded moderate. Rated out of five: physical demand 3/5 (Moderate), terrain 3/5 (Moderate), navigation 2/5 (Modest), remoteness 2/5 (Modest). On the SAC hiking scale it is T2 — some steep, rough or uneven ground.
By distance the surface is footpath 89%, road & lane 5%, other 6%. Percentages come from the mapped way types along the route.
March to October is the usual window for this leg. Outside it, daylight is short, some estuary ferries stop running and cliff-top wind and rain make an exposed route much harder work.
Water on this stage is moderate. We map 6 refill points on the leg — mostly pubs, cafés and taps in the villages the path passes through. Shade is minimal: this is open cliff-top walking, so carry more than you think in summer.
Yes — Padstow–Rock ferry. Year-round ferry across the Camel estuary; there is no bridge nearer than Wadebridge, so check the last sailing.
Highlights on this leg are Pentire Point & The Rumps, Polzeath, Camel estuary ferry. It also passes 2 places we cover in depth: Padstow & Prideaux Place, Port Isaac. There are 2 free audio guides between them.
Tidal ferry across the Camel.