The ‘Needs to Know’
Distance: 4.48 miles (7.21km)
Time to walk: Roughly 2.5 hours
Difficulty: Mainly off road & quite steep in places
Parking: A few public car parks in Fowey
Public toilets: In town at the start & end
Map of the route:
This is the second of our walks from Fowey where we spent a week in the summer of 2025 & it’s probably the best known one, being publicised by the National Trust & commonly known as the ‘Hall Walk’
What makes it rather special is…it isn’t just a walk…it includes not one, but two ferry rides so kids will love it
For the history of Fowey please read Walk 205 under the ‘Walks outside Northamptonshire’ tab
1. This walk, as with Walk 205, starts outside the church, but, with your back to it, turns left rather than right & walks left along Fore Street, home to an eclectic mix of historic & traditional Cornish buildings, including several including the ancient Elizabethan timbered house known as ‘Noah’s Ark, one of the oldest houses in the town
Follow the street as it bends left & then right up the hill passing the Methodist Church on the left
2. Continue ahead, past one of Fowey’s best known restaurants…North Street Kitchen
The lifeboat station is on your left. Continue along the street to arrive at another quay…
3. This is the embarkment place for the ferry to Bodinnick, for both traffic & passengers. Before joining the queue look for the stone monolith on the left…
This obelisk was formerly erected on Albert Quay to mark the landing of Queen Victoria & Prince Albert on 8th September 1846
It appears it may have fallen into disarray as for a Silver Jubilee, to commemorate the visit of Queen Elizabeth II & Prince Philip in 1962, it was recovered from the bed of the harbour where it had lain for many years
4. Our grandson was fascinated by the ferry arriving…
Wait for it to arrive & board
5. The Fowey – Bodinnick Ferry runs every 10-15 minutes & operates year-round except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day, & New Year’s Day. The ferry connects Fowey with Bodinnick, providing a shortcut that avoids the longer drive upstream & is a popular access point for our ‘Hall Walk’
In the 14th century the ferry belonged to the Mayor of Bodinnick & formed a vital link between those travelling through Cornwall, one of three ancient routes running between east & west. The earliest mention of a crossing here was in 1344 when King Edward Ill was on the throne, but it’s likely there was a crossing here even before then. In 1478 the ferry came into the hands of the King, Edward IV, by an act of parliament following the death of the previous owner. A man called John Davey, a Yeoman ( or Kings Servant )was granted the ferry for life
The ferry from this time would have been similar to a catamaran with two wooden hulls joined by a wooden deck & two men with long sweeps, or oars, would have rowed the vessel back & forth across the river. It would have had to carry horses & other animals as well as people & by the 17th century it would also have been carrying horse & carts
There would also have been a small boat for ferrying passengers back & forth. Both ferries ran to the Riverside Slipway in Fowey ( this slip can be seen to the left of Caffa Mill). The move to the Caffa Mill slip took place in 1976
It was not until the 20th century that major changes were made to the ferry. With the introduction of the motor car the then owner began using a diesel powered boat to propel the platform across the river. The platform could carry two cars & the owner produced postcards to publicise use of the ferry by cars
6. As you approach the slipway the house on the right was once owned by Daphne du Maurier…
Walk up the slipway past the Old Ferry Inn on the left…
7. Look for the footpath on your right…
And now it’s time for some amazing secluded walking & views as you climb up the hill to arrive at the ‘Q’ Memorial
This granite pillar was erected in memory of Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch who was a great Cornish writer & scholar…
8. Continue along the path…the views across the harbour are rather special…
Follow the narrow path as it begins to climb slightly & passes through a gate
9. Continue upwards & through another gate into a more open area…
Look for & pass through the gap on the right
10. Now follow the track as it heads down the valley, watching your step as it can be slippery after rain. On reaching the valley floor pass through another gate
Here’s the river which is known as Pont Pill
11. Turn left & walk across to the building on the left bank. This is the small hamlet of Pont…
The hamlet was once a thriving quay where sailing barges would unload coal, fertiliser & limestone. It’s thought that Pont began as a settlement when the parish’s first Celtic saint, St Wyllow, came & settled in a cave by the head of Pont around 596
Evidence of the trading past of the hamlet is on the sign on the wall
12. Cross the bridge & walk a few yards up the track…
…& then turn sharp right up the steep steps
13. The path winds its way steeply upwards to eventually arrive at another gate…
The area opens up slightly but continues to climb. At the junction in the picture below take the right hand one
14. At the next signpost follow the path towards Polruan…
Presently you come to a hard track so bear right & then left to continue ahead back on another small path
15. When we walked this part there were notices about chickens roaming free & asking you to put dogs on leads…
Look out for the old pillbox on the left
16. The path now becomes hard surfaced next to a fence & begins to descend towards Polruan
On reaching the junction turn right down the steps
…&, at the junction bear left
17. Your way back to Fowey is via the small ferry. Make your way to the end of the jetty & wait…
…&, on arriving back in Fowey, walk up the jetty, turn right & walk back to the start of this walk
So that’s it…our look at the famous Hall Walk & how good it is with amazing views & even two boat rides
It’s fab so….
Go Walk!