St Nectan’s Glen

Not far from Tintagel is St Nectan’s Glen – a location arguably even more mystical than its better known Camelot counterpart.

Park at Trethevy on the B3263, walk past a holy well and the very old, tiny church of St Piran, admire far-reaching sea views then descend into the shade and shadow of the banks of the River Trevillet.  Awarded Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Special Scientific Interest status, stepping into this ancient wooded valley is like stepping back in time. Ferns, giant trees and huge slabs of slate combine to create a strange, eerie, tranquil beauty.  Ghosts, piskies and fairies are said to roam the pathways and it’s certainly not hard to imagine spooky nocturnal ramblings.

There are several different versions of the St Nectan legend.  In Irish mythology, he is said to be a wise water-god who guards a sacred well reputed to be the source of all knowledge and wisdom.  The Cornish tale has him living as a hermit above a waterfall that plunges into a basin, or kieve, before flowing into a narrow cleft, crashing through a round hole and falling into a shallow pool.  

The story goes that Nectan had a silver bell which he rang during violent storms to save ships that would have otherwise foundered on nearby rocks.  When the Romans came, he threw the bell into the water, vowing that unbelievers like them would never hear it.  If the bell is heard today, bad luck is supposed to follow.

Privately owned, there is a charge to descend to the kieve that you pay in the café at the top.  If you haven’t got appropriate footwear, borrow a pair of wellington boots from the shop.  The steps are quite steep and slippery in places but the climb down is well worth any effort.  Once in the basin wade into the ice-cold river to watch the water thundering down from sixty feet above.  It’s a mesmerising, spectacular sight that has drawn many pilgrims over the years.  Their tributes - colourful ribbons, crystals, photos, prayers and piles of flat stones carefully positioned one on top of the other - adorn nearby rocks and trees. 

With many centuries of history bound up in its geology, St Nectan’s has a magical, primeval charm that’s guaranteed to leave an indelible impression.

Useful info

• Park your car free in Trethevy (Sat Nav - PL34 0BG) on the B3263 and follow the signs

• Take a bus from Tintagel to Boscastle (or vice-versa) – the bus stop is opposite the car park

• Good walking footwear is recommended – the trail is about a mile in length and does require climbing steps

• Dogs are welcome but should be on a lead at the waterfall

• St Nectan’s Glen is open all year round.

Did you know?

St Nectan’s Glen has SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) status thanks to rich bryophyte flora including the uncommon liverworts Jubula hutchinsiae and Trichocolea tomentella and the mosses Fissidens curnovii and Fissidens osmundoides. Dippers Cinclus cinclus frequently nest amongst the rocks adjacent to the waterfall.

Time for tea

St Nectan’s Glen café is located at the top of the kieve, at the end of the valley walk from Trethevy, and is perfectly positioned to make the most of its glorious woodland setting.  Relax and choose from a range of light refreshments whilst birds sing and the water roars below. [A4] 

What else?

There is a medieval chapel dedicated to St Nectan in St Winnow, near Lostwithiel.  His feast day is 17 June, although it’s sometimes observed on 14 February, 18 May and 4 December.  According to Christian tradition, Nectan was a sixth century saint who lived as a hermit in the Tintagel area and who used to help swineherds find missing animals.  He was beheaded in AD510 when he tried to convert two thieves to Christianity.