RoutesHiking trails & RoutesUnited KingdomEnglandSouth West EnglandPortreath
Basset's Cove – Cadjack Cove loop from Portreath
RoutesHiking trails & RoutesUnited KingdomEnglandSouth West EnglandPortreath
Basset's Cove – Cadjack Cove loop from Portreath
Easy
4.5
(6)
66
hikers
Basset's Cove – Cadjack Cove loop from Portreath
01:46
6.28km
140m
Hiking
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.
Last updated: June 17, 2026
Tips
Your route passes through a protected area
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Waypoints
A
Start point
Bus stop
Get Directions
1
1.35 km
Ralph's Cupboard
Highlight (Segment) • Gorge
To the west of this bay, a rock wall protrudes into the bay and divides it. This wall is the result of long-term erosion, which led to the collapse of a former cave. The name Ralph’s Cupboard comes from a legend that the giant Ralph lived in this bay. This giant attacked the incoming ships and stored the recovered treasures in the cave, his closet.
The eastern side of the bay shows a typical cliff with dark gray shales and greywackes at the lower end and periglacial deposits at the upper part of the cliff.
The eastern side of the bay shows a typical cliff with dark gray shales and greywackes at the lower end and periglacial deposits at the upper part of the cliff.
Translated by Google •
Tip by
2
2.10 km
Porthcadjack Cove and Waterfall
Highlight • Waterfall
Lying beneath the striking North Cliffs, Porthcadjack Cove is a little-visited beach on the Cornish coast. Accessible from the Coast Path via a steep and narrow path, the isolated nature of this beach makes it a serene spot and a real hidden gem.
Tip by
3
2.32 km
Mine Shafts Viewpoint
Highlight • Viewpoint
GB: Cornwall is a former mining region, with many old mine shafts and evidence of mining history. The region around Portreath was mainly mined for copper and tin. As the mine shafts were not sealed in some areas, there is a risk of collapsing.
EN: The whole of Cornwall is a former mining region, where many old mine shafts and evidence of mining history can be found. Copper and tin were mainly mined in the region around Portreath. Since the mine shafts have not been sealed in some areas, there is a risk of collapse in some areas.
EN: The whole of Cornwall is a former mining region, where many old mine shafts and evidence of mining history can be found. Copper and tin were mainly mined in the region around Portreath. Since the mine shafts have not been sealed in some areas, there is a risk of collapse in some areas.
Translated by Google •
Tip by
4
2.34 km
Waterfall Beach with Rocky Cliffs
Highlight • Beach
5
2.55 km
Periglacial Deposits (Raised Beach)
Highlight • Viewpoint
GB: These deposits are the youngest, with a maximum of 3 million years (Quaternary period). The unsorted layers with the large rounded rock fragments date back to the last great ice age, when Cornwall was a tundra area. In this permafrost area, existing rocks were cracked open by frost. Then the environmental temperatures increased so that the ground thawed and began to flow. The thawed soil with the rock fragments was finally deposited together with loess (fine sediment blown in by the wind).
The melting of the glaciers removed a large load from the continent, causing it to rise (effect of isostasy) and the periglacial deposits which were originally de-posited at sea level can now be found several meters on top of the cliffs. These deposits are also called raised beaches.
EN: These deposits are the youngest at a maximum of 3 million years old (Quaternary age). The unsorted layers with the large rounded rock fragments date back to the last great ice age, when Cornwall was a tundra area. In this permafrost area, existing rocks were broken open by frost. The ambient temperatures then rose, causing the ground to thaw and begin to flow. The thawed soil with the rock fragments was finally deposited together with loess (fine sediment blown in by the wind).
The melting of the glaciers removed a large load from the continent, causing it to rise (effect of isostasy) and the periglacial deposits originally deposited at sea level can now be found several meters above this level. In English, these deposits are also called raised beaches.
The melting of the glaciers removed a large load from the continent, causing it to rise (effect of isostasy) and the periglacial deposits which were originally de-posited at sea level can now be found several meters on top of the cliffs. These deposits are also called raised beaches.
EN: These deposits are the youngest at a maximum of 3 million years old (Quaternary age). The unsorted layers with the large rounded rock fragments date back to the last great ice age, when Cornwall was a tundra area. In this permafrost area, existing rocks were broken open by frost. The ambient temperatures then rose, causing the ground to thaw and begin to flow. The thawed soil with the rock fragments was finally deposited together with loess (fine sediment blown in by the wind).
The melting of the glaciers removed a large load from the continent, causing it to rise (effect of isostasy) and the periglacial deposits originally deposited at sea level can now be found several meters above this level. In English, these deposits are also called raised beaches.
Translated by Google •
Tip by
6
2.68 km
Basset's Cove Beach
Highlight • Beach
7
3.16 km
Basset's Cove
Highlight • Natural Monument
The 7.3 km long circular route takes you back to a time when Cornwall was covered by sea and then became a Europe-wide mountain range. The sedimentary rocks of this area around Portreath were deposited in a deep marine environment during the Devonian age (ca. 393 - 373 million years):
Greywacken: Gray rock with fine to coarse grains (0.3 - 2 mm; 0.01 - 0.08 inch), consisting of quartz, feldspars and fragments of foreign rocks. In some cases, shiny/shimmering components can be seen (mica), the rocks form layers and banks.
Siltstones: Light gray rock with fine grains (<0.063 mm; <0.002 inch) that are not visible to the naked eye. Layers can be recognized based on the color difference.
Slate: Gray to black, sometimes slightly red to greenish colored rocks with very fine grains (<0.02 mm, <0.001 inch), the rocks appear foliated with very thin layers, often alternating with greywackes.
The originally horizontal sedimentary layers of Cornwall were tectonically overprinted around 323 - 299 million years ago during the Variscan orogeny (mountain formation). During this time, the southern major continent Gondwana collided with the northern major continents Laurentia and Baltica as well as smaller continent fragments (terranes) such as Avalonia and Amorica. The orogeny ended approximately 270 million years ago with the formation of the supercontinent Pangea. Due to the pressure from the south, the sedimentary rocks were compressed, folded and internally transformed under increasing temperatures. This is how slates emerged from the original claystones. There are no deposits in the area for the period between the formation of the Devonian rocks until 3 million years ago. During the Ice Age 3 million years ago, the region of modern-day Cornwall lay in a tundra area south of the glaciers that covered the Northern Hemisphere. Periglacial deposits from this period can be observed on the cliffs.
Greywacken: Gray rock with fine to coarse grains (0.3 - 2 mm; 0.01 - 0.08 inch), consisting of quartz, feldspars and fragments of foreign rocks. In some cases, shiny/shimmering components can be seen (mica), the rocks form layers and banks.
Siltstones: Light gray rock with fine grains (<0.063 mm; <0.002 inch) that are not visible to the naked eye. Layers can be recognized based on the color difference.
Slate: Gray to black, sometimes slightly red to greenish colored rocks with very fine grains (<0.02 mm, <0.001 inch), the rocks appear foliated with very thin layers, often alternating with greywackes.
The originally horizontal sedimentary layers of Cornwall were tectonically overprinted around 323 - 299 million years ago during the Variscan orogeny (mountain formation). During this time, the southern major continent Gondwana collided with the northern major continents Laurentia and Baltica as well as smaller continent fragments (terranes) such as Avalonia and Amorica. The orogeny ended approximately 270 million years ago with the formation of the supercontinent Pangea. Due to the pressure from the south, the sedimentary rocks were compressed, folded and internally transformed under increasing temperatures. This is how slates emerged from the original claystones. There are no deposits in the area for the period between the formation of the Devonian rocks until 3 million years ago. During the Ice Age 3 million years ago, the region of modern-day Cornwall lay in a tundra area south of the glaciers that covered the Northern Hemisphere. Periglacial deposits from this period can be observed on the cliffs.
Translated by Google •
Tip by
8
3.73 km
Cadjack Cove
Highlight (Segment) • Beach
GB: In Cadjack Cove, in addition to large faults, many folds can be seen. These folds are formed in different scales ranging from a few inches to several hundred feet. In addition, the folds show different degrees of openings and roundness. Very narrow folds with pointed angles are called "kink bands". Overall, the folds were formed during the Variscan mountain building phase/orogenesis (417 - 200 Ma). The high pressures from the south have deformed the relatively soft rocks. However, the folds seen in this bay are not the main folds but represent folds that are folded within themselves.
Another special feature in this bay are the pink to dark red colored rocks. This change in color is caused by iron-rich water running down the cliffs.
EN: In addition to large faults, many folds can also be seen in Cadjack Cove. These folds are formed at different scales and range from a few centimeters to several meters. The folds also show different openings and curves. Very tight folds with acute angles are called “kink bands.” Overall, the folds were formed during the Variscan orogeny (417 – 200 Ma). The strong pressure from the south has deformed the relatively soft rocks. However, the folds seen in this bay are not the main folds, but rather represent folds folded into themselves.
Another special feature of this bay are the pink to dark red colored rocks. This discoloration is caused by iron-rich water running down the cliffs.
Another special feature in this bay are the pink to dark red colored rocks. This change in color is caused by iron-rich water running down the cliffs.
EN: In addition to large faults, many folds can also be seen in Cadjack Cove. These folds are formed at different scales and range from a few centimeters to several meters. The folds also show different openings and curves. Very tight folds with acute angles are called “kink bands.” Overall, the folds were formed during the Variscan orogeny (417 – 200 Ma). The strong pressure from the south has deformed the relatively soft rocks. However, the folds seen in this bay are not the main folds, but rather represent folds folded into themselves.
Another special feature of this bay are the pink to dark red colored rocks. This discoloration is caused by iron-rich water running down the cliffs.
Translated by Google •
Tip by
B
6.28 km
End point
Bus stop
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
4.02 km
735 m
684 m
524 m
284 m
Surfaces
4.46 km
1.10 km
399 m
279 m
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Elevation
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Weather
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Monday 22 June
27°C
18°C
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