Ned's favourite walks around St Austell and the Clays area.
I am lucky enough to have a dad who is a professional dog walker.
Here are some of our favourite local walks that we go together, and sometimes we take Dad’s charges!
Bugle
Part of the Clay Trails, the Bugle Trail is located just outside Bugle heading towards Penwithick. It’s quite flat and relatively mud-free. There is plenty of parking and bins, and we will quite often see dogs and people that we know there.
Carclaze
We have a fabulous walk near Carclaze in the form of Baal Pit. Here there are plenty of options heading round towards Trethurgy and Penwithick, or you can walk across the bridge and head along the Clay Trail to Wheal Martyn.
Nanpean
Down an almost hidden path opposite the village pub is a beautiful walk across Nanpean Downs. There are lots of paths and high points from which you can see both the north and the south coasts on a clear day.
Penwithick
Penrose Hill has a labyrinth of walks, round the top of the mica dam which is safe and enclosed, through the woods where it’s cool on hot days and round the bottom of the mica dam with stream and a field.
Par
Par Beach is the main place in which to be seen in Par but when it’s hot and overcrowded, we head for the footpath opposite Par duck pond. This is a lovely long stream to play and splash about in as well as paths to walk alongside and has good tree cover. It can get very muddy after wet weather.
Roche
We have a couple of favourite walks in Roche; Roche Rock which is lovely, but quite close to the road; Tregoss Moor with its wide open spaces, paths and gorse is a wonderful place to play although there are often horses and cows grazing here.
St Dennis
Parking just outside the village of St Dennis, you can walk down a path of the Clay Trails that takes you to the opposite end of the Nanpean walk – so you can do this one all in reverse!
St Stephen
The Tregargus Trail is our favourite place to stroll about in St Stephen. There are lots of clay mining relics here but most important for dogs, there are streams and trees for hot sunny days. Dad says parking is an issue here though.
Whitemoor
This one we call the Solar Farm as you walk round the outside of fenced in solar panels. The area seems to collect rainwater well, so there are lots of clear deep puddles/ponds to play and splash around in. We also walk around the bottom of the hill, through marshy woodlands and cooling stream, although this can be muddy after prolonged wet weather.