WALKERS say the cliff path to the west of Port Isaac in North Cornwall, labelled “The Rollercoaster”, is one of the most arduous sections of the entire South West Coast Path.

Having said that, for those willing to take it on, the route to Port Quin offers great views and the promise of solitude.

An alternative to the tough coastal path, passing through farmland, provides a shortcut to the picturesque inlet at Port Quin, once home to a fishing community.

The coast path to the west of Port Isaac in Cornwall has been labelled "The Rollercoaster". (PIcture: Andrew Townsend)
The coast path to the west of Port Isaac in Cornwall has been labelled "The Rollercoaster". (Picture: Andrew Townsend)

There is a story that herring fishermen from Port Quin were caught in a terrible storm with most losing their lives and more than 20 women being left widows. However, doubt has been cast on this tale with the probability being that it was actually a legend made up to try to explain the decline of the village.

In the 19th century, with changes in fishing and farming, the population dwindled to not many more than 20 people. Today some of the properties in Port Quin are offered as holiday accommodation by the National Trust which also has a small car park in the hamlet. The inlet is popular with watersports enthusiasts and swimmers.

The inlet at Port Quin on the north coast of Cornwall. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)
The inlet at Port Quin on the north coast of Cornwall. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)

The inland paths on the farmland route between Port Isaac and Port Quin pass by Roscarrock, where the ancient main house is recognised as a grade I listed building. Historic England describes the Roscarrock property as one of the most important buildings in North Cornwall. In the 1970s, the house featured as Nampara in the hit Poldark television series.

Poet laureaute Sir John Betjeman said of Roscarrock: “The view of the Rumps and Doyden Point, as seen from the house and garden, is one of the great surprises our country has to offer, still mysterious and intact.”

*Andrew Townsend is a journalist and writer. He further explores the county in the travel book, Cornwall Favourites For One And All!: A Quick Guide To Good Places To Visit Across The County, which is available in print and as an ebook. More details on Andrew’s books and ebooks can be found via this link to his author page on Amazon - https://bit.ly/AndrewTownsendAuthor

Cornwall Favourites For One And All!, a lovely tour around the county, is available as an ebook on Amazon.
Cornwall Favourites For One And All!, a lovely tour around the county, is available as a book and an ebook on Amazon. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)