Helford River Circular Walk
Cornwall
Frenchman's Creek is the secretive, oak-fringed inlet made famous by Daphne du Maurier, and this short circular leaves the thatched village of Helford to follow it and the wider Helford River through ancient woodland and along the water's edge. It is a dog friendly walk that packs a remarkable amount of variety into a short distance, and there is a creekside pub at Helford Passage on the far bank for a different angle on the river.
Dogs need to be on leads from just after Penarvon Beach to the loop by the chapel because of free range chickens that wander the path, and there are also occasional sheep on the inland section. One stile near the creek is a wooden flight of steps that larger dogs may need help with, but the rest of the route is on broad woodland tracks and field edges. The Helford village car park has parking charges and a pub, the Shipwrights Arms, that welcomes dogs for a finish.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 5.6 km (3.5 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 1 hr 45 min
- Walk Type
- River, Woodland
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Low
- Livestock Risk
- Low
- Facilities
- Shipwrights Arms pub and toilets in Helford village, plus the Ferryboat Inn across the river at Helford Passage.
- Parking
- Pay and display at Helford village car park, with a short walk down to the village.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
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What’s Nearby?
Beach1.7 mi awayGillan Beach
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A tiny, peaceful creek-side cove on the Helford estuary with year-round dog access, calm water and mudflats to explore at low tide.
Beach2.9 mi awayMaenporth Beach
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A sheltered wooded cove south of Falmouth with year-round dog access, a dog-friendly beachside restaurant and calm water for paddling.
Beach3 mi awayPorthallow Beach
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A wide shingle beach on the eastern Lizard with year-round dog access and the Five Pilchards pub sitting right above it.
Beach3.9 mi awayPorthoustock Beach
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A wide, open shingle beach on the eastern Lizard with year-round dog access, virtually no crowds and rough-and-ready coastal character.
Beach4.6 mi awayGyllyngvase Beach
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Falmouth's main sandy beach with a top-notch dog-friendly cafe, though dogs are restricted from the sand itself between May and September.
Beach4.6 mi awaySwanpool Beach
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A relaxed south Falmouth beach with a nature reserve lagoon behind it, year-round dog access and a dog-friendly beachside cafe.