Trail
9
St.
Keyne Station to Looe
approximately
11 miles (18km)
Easy to medium walk along a combination of village, farm, riverside and woodland paths. Stop for a drink at the holy well – legend has it that newly weds imbibed the water to sort out who ‘would wear the trousers’ in the relationship. Whoever drank first ruled the roost.
To
St Keyne and Herodsfoot
Exit St Keyne station and bear left along the main road (not over the rail
bridge) leading up to St Keyne’s Well. From the junction at the Well
turn right and continue up the road into St Keyne.
Pass through the village with the Chapel Bakery on your right and then left
at the main junction and continue left. After approximately 1/2 mile you will
come across a farm track on the right hand side next to a house where the
road forks at West Travillies. Follow the farm track which will lead you through
farmland and out onto the main road.
Cross the road into the field ahead. With your back to the road, head across
and up to the top left hand corner of the field. From this point walk straight
ahead passing a section of hedge (keep this to your right). Continue through
an open gateway keeping the hedge to your left this time. Stick close to the
hedge and look out for a stone step stile almost covered by dense vegetation.
Cross this and go right for a few paces and then follow the hedge on your
left. This will lead you to a gate and stile accessing the field opposite.
This is repeated in the next field. Cross the field and continue with the
hedge to your left until you come to a stile by a watering hole used by livestock.
Once over the stile, walk straight ahead to where there is stone step stile
leading you over the wall and down the narrow road. These steps 
have
become obscured by dense vegetation – alternatively you may exit onto
the road via the gate in the neighbouring field.
Follow the road right down into Herodsfoot. Continue past an old water pump tucked into your left, and through the village. Crossing two rivers bear left following the road sign posted for Pelynt. Walk for approximately 1/4 a mile, not long after crossing the bridge over a tributary brook, turn left into a wide forestry track.
To
Church Bridge
Follow this track for a short distance, looking out for a large footbridge
on your left. After crossing this head right to follow an old mill leat, now
on your right hand side. The footpath will eventually lead up onto the forestry
track where you will continue right onto a road. Turn right, passing the old
mill and coming upon the little settlement of Church Bridge.
To
Watergate
At this point you have 2 options:
a) Before the bridge turn left and follow the path down stream.
b) Or, cross the road bridge then turn immediately left.
After approximately 1/4 mile, turn left to cross the footbridge and then follow
the track above a flood plain by the river.
Both routes border the river and meet up further down stream at a walled bridge.
If you have walked route a), continue ahead bearing slightly left. If you
have walked route b), go left over the bridge and follow the route to your
right. This track descends to a ford where you will find a way-marked stile
on your left. Cross this and follow the way-marked signs through wooded fields
(parts may be very muddy!).
After some distance you will emerge onto a main road at Sowden’s Bridge.
Turn right to cross the bridge then follow the road left. Continue along this
road until you come to a junction and go left to Watergate. Follow this road
with views of the river on your left.
At Watergate (a small cluster of cottages at a bend on the road) look out
on your left for a footpath and information board illustrating a choice of
return routes through Kilminorth Woods to Looe. Take your pick – taking
the path to your left will lead you through the woods with views of the river
to your left. The right hand path will lead you deeper into the woods and
exit by the river at West Looe.
Once you have emerged into the car park, continue through it towards the town
centre. Bear left after the bridge for Looe train station.
Devon & Cornwall
Rail Partnership | School of Geography | University of Plymouth | Plymouth PL4 8AA
Tel/Fax: 01752 233094
Email: railpart@plymouth.ac.uk
