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Scenic Trails
Scenic trails with accessibility
The Cornwall Coastal Path
The most well-known walking paths around Cornwall are the ones that overlook the coast, these are part of the Southwest Coast Path. Unfortunately, much of the coastal path is not ideal for wheelchair access or limited mobility. The coastal paths are very rarely artificial surfaces (only occasionally when repairs have been done) and they are generally either grass or stoney dirt paths (or both) and almost never flat. They are part of the natural landscape. They can be fairly steep in places and as you move away from the town centre the path is rarely fenced off from the cliffs. This can make any wheeled vehicle dangerous as even braked, any wheel can slip - we do not even recommend the paths for bicycles either.
Accessible Scenic Trails
However, the Coastal Path is only a small part of the scenic trails around Newquay and fully accessible routes take you to some of the most scenic and historic parts of Newquay. Newquay is on the rugged North Cornish Coast and is positioned on the cliffs overlooking our fantastic sandy beaches. In another section ‘beach accessibility,’ we go into detail about access to the seven beaches of Newquay, with photos, but in this section, we will be recommending the best routes around the town to see the sights.
The Discovery Trail
One of the most interesting routes to follow around Newquay is the Discovery Trail. This has numbered slate circles embedded in the ground at key locations. With the accompanying map, you can read about the long history of our town and tie up the locations with the numbers on the slate discs and the map descriptions. There is a dedicated section on this website about the map here; Discover Newquay Trail. The majority of the two trails on the Discovery Trail walk are either on pavements, roadways or manmade paths. There are some sections that go ‘off road’ but they can be bypassed. The two trails, Hetty and Ada, that make up the entire Newquay Discovery Map are broadly divided as coastal and inland.
Newquay Discovery Trail Personal Audio Tour
The enjoyable and informative Newquay Discovery Trail has now added an audio version, the personal tour. Available through the Geotourist app the information associated with each Discovery Trail Stone is now narrated to you at each location. This adds a whole new dimension to the experience as if you have your very own personal guide with you. This audio version can be enjoyed independently of traveling the trail as it focuses on the history associated with each location which is a fascinating look back at Newquay's past in its own right.
To experience the Newquay Discovery Trail Personal Audio Tour either use the QR code below or CLICK HERE for your computer version.
Alternatively, you can download the Geotourist App from your phone's applicable App Store and once installed look up 'Newquay Discovery Trail' to enjoy the audio experience.
The Two Trails
1. Hetty, the mostly Coastal Trail
The coastal route, Hetty, is mostly on the many pavemented roads or roadways and is suitable for wheelchairs, powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters. The only caveat is that some of these areas can be hilly so that can have a bearing on whether you choose to follow the trails exactly or compromise using ‘flatter’ road alternatives.
2. Ada, the mostly inland trail
The trail that goes inland is ideal for accessibility as it passes through the Trenance Gardens, Boating Lake and Leisure Park. This hidden gem is a place you can spend many hours. The large garden has a boating lake, manicured gardens, the picturesque 1890’s cottages (now a small museum) and tea rooms. There is also a cafe/restaurant right by the lake. The gardens have plenty of seating, tarmac paths and are quite flat. There are even some large trees for sheltering from the sun.
Part of the Trenance Gardens
The Trenance gardens are also on the route of our open-sided Road Train that does a tour of the town, starting and returning to the town centre. It can accommodate most types of wheelchairs. Being hop on and hop off you can get on and off at many stops – ideal to get back to your accommodation or back to the town centre. The Newquay map has the route marked and can be viewed here or a free copy is available in the Tourist Information on Marcus Hill.
The Killacourt is a grassy area in the town centre and gives great views of the bay and our iconic House on the Island. It is also the starting point for both the Trails that make up the Newquay Discovery Trail.
Last updated 07/08/23
