Do I have to pay to see the waterfall?

Yes. The woodland walk is free, but the entrance to the waterfall basin and the walkway down to it is privately owned and requires an admission ticket.

Do permit rules stay constant year-round?

Not always. Permit and guide requirements can change by season and region. Verify the latest rules with the official park office or local authority before departure.

What is the safest start-time strategy?

Start early and plan to clear exposed sections before midday. This reduces heat, storm, and visibility risk on most mountain routes.

How much water capacity is usually needed?

For exposed hiking days, carrying 2-3 liters is common. Increase capacity when refill reliability is low or temperatures are high.

Is mobile signal reliable on route?

Coverage is often patchy outside towns and major valleys. Treat phones as secondary tools and carry offline navigation resources.

HikeMetrics

Global Hiking Index

HikeMetrics.com

St Nectan's GlenWaterfall

DATA_INDEXED_2026

Distance

3KM

Gain

0.1kM

Duration

1d

Strain

LVL 1

AI Insight: Optimal ratio of distance to elevation. Accessible for experienced intermediates.

St Nectan's Glen is an enchanting, atmospheric woodland valley deeply cut into the Cornish slate near Tintagel. This short, easy 1.9-mile (3km) circular walk follows the tumbling River Trevillet through ancient, moss-draped oak trees and ferns. The destination is a spectacular 60-foot waterfall that has punched a flawless circular hole directly through the rock basin, creating a deep pool below. The glen has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to its rare flora and is considered by many to be one of the most spiritual and magical places in the UK.

Mission Directive / X-Factor

“The Kieve Hole. The 'X-Factor' is the unique geological formation of the main waterfall. The river physically drops into a plunged pool (known as the 'Kieve') and then sustainedly punches straight through a perfectly round natural hole in the slate wall, pouring out into a secondary basin. Standing thigh-deep in the water wearing wellies (provided at the site) to look directly through the rock window is surreal and completely magical.”

Hazard Assessment

slippery rocky tree rootsPRIORITY 1

The path follows the riverbank closely. It is constantly damp, littered with smooth slate fragments, and heavily crisscrossed with massive, exposed tree roots.

MITIGATION: Wear sturdy boots or trail shoes. Step carefully over the roots, as they act like polished hardwood when wet.

river floodingPRIORITY 1

The path is safe, but entering the waterfall pool area after very heavy rain is dangerous due to the immense volume of water blasting through the rock.

MITIGATION: The site management will close access to the basin itself if the flow is too sustained; respect the roped-off areas.

Critical Loadout

Walking shoes or wellies (wellies are essential if you want to enter the shallow pool to stand in front of the waterfall—these can be borrowed onsite)

Waterproof jacket (spray from the falls permeates the air)

OS Explorer Map 111 (Bude, Boscastle & Tintagel)

Target Base Weight

< 10 KGEXCL. CONSUMABLES

Water Logistics

SOURCE AVAILABILITYLIMITED / CARRY

FILTRATION PROTOCOLMANDATORY (<2000M)

HIKING
PATHWAY

Cornwall, England // hiking

Start

Trethevy Car Park to the Woods

Leaving the tiny hamlet of Trethevy, entering the deep shade of the ancient woodland running alongside the Trevillet River.

Phase 1

The Waterfall and Kieve

Arriving at the visitor center, descending to the plunge pool basin to view the spectacular river blasting through the rock hole.

Finish

The Return Loop

A gentle walk back, either retracing steps through the glen or following a slightly higher woodland track back to Trethevy.

Topographical Ref / Area CORNWAUTO-GEN SYNC: 50.665N -4.717E

Mission Log: Stage-by-Stage Technical MetricsREF: ST-NECTANS-GLEN-CORNWALL-ENGLAND // DAT_TAB_01

Step	Sector / Waypoint	Dist.	Gain (↑m)	Duration	Assessment
1	Trethevy Car Park to the Woods Leaving the tiny hamlet of Trethevy, ent...	20 min	---	20 min	Standard Segment
2	The Waterfall and Kieve Arriving at the visitor center, descendi...	45 min	---	45 min	Standard Segment
3	The Return Loop A gentle walk back, either retracing ste...	25 min	---	25 min	Standard Segment

Technical Specifications

DOC_REF: GOLDEN_HIKING_UK_025

01 / LOG

Refuge Capacity

High density of B&Bs, hotels, and campsites in Tintagel and Boscastle.

02 / REG

Regulatory

Permit REQUIRED
Authority St Nectan's Glen Ltd

You should pay to access the metal staircase leading down into the plunge pool basin.

03 / CLI

Climatology

OptimalMar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Best visited immediately after heavy rain (autumn/spring) to see the waterfall at its most ferocious. Summer is wildly busy. Regulations change; verify with the official park or local authority before departure.

04 / COM

Emergency / Comms

Rescue (EU) 112 ACTIVE
Signal None

SAT-LINK STABLE

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