Luxulyan Valley and Treffry Viaduct Circular
Cornwall
The Luxulyan Valley is a steep, wooded valley north of St Blazey that forms part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site, and with no stiles or livestock to worry about, most of it can be walked with a dog off the lead. In the nineteenth century it was engineered to move china clay and granite: horse-drawn tramways ran up its sides, leats carried water to power a huge waterwheel that winched trams up the incline, and the Treffry Viaduct was built across the valley to carry both the tramway towards Newquay and a water channel beneath it. This 5.5km circular walk from Ponts Mill follows those leats and tramways through lush broadleaf woodland, past the remains of the Fowey Consols mine, to the viaduct, and returns along the other side of the valley. The paths are graded easy to moderate, with no stiles and around 120 metres of climbing, and they are often wet, mossy and rooty underfoot.
This is a dog friendly walk that most dogs will love. There are no stiles and no fields with livestock, and the woodland is deep enough that a dog with good recall can spend most of the walk off lead. The river and the leats give plenty of water, though leats can have steep sides, so watch small dogs near them. The tree cover keeps it cool in summer. Parking is at Ponts Mill.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 5.5 km (3.4 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 1 hr 45 min
- Walk Type
- Woodland, Historic, River
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- High
- Livestock Risk
- None
- Facilities
- None on route. Pubs and cafes in St Blazey and Par.
- Parking
- Ponts Mill car park at the foot of the valley.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Luxulyan Valley and Treffry Viaduct Circular, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
Christopher Cottage - Lanteglos
Sleeps 4 · 2 dogs · Enclosed garden
from £483 / 7 nights
Little Crugwallins - Sunny Skies
Sleeps 4 · 1 dog · Enclosed garden
from £463 / 7 nights
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All dog friendly stays in CornwallFrequently Asked Questions
Is Luxulyan Valley and Treffry Viaduct Circular dog friendly?
Yes, it scores 8 out of 10 for dog friendliness. There are no stiles, no livestock and plenty of shade and water, which makes this one of the easiest good dog walks in mid Cornwall. It misses a higher score only because there are no facilities on the route and the leats and slippery granite paths need some care.
Can dogs be off lead at Luxulyan Valley and Treffry Viaduct Circular?
Yes, for most of the walk. There are no fields with livestock on the route, and the valley woodland is ideal for a dog with good recall. Keep an eye on your dog near the leats, which can have steep sides, and on the viaduct, and put it on a lead if you meet cyclists or horses on the tracks.
What should I know before visiting Luxulyan Valley and Treffry Viaduct Circular with my dog?
Paths through the valley are often wet, mossy and rooty, and the granite can be slippery, so wear good footwear. There are no facilities in the valley, so bring water and anything else you need. Parking is at Ponts Mill at the bottom of the valley, and pubs and cafes are in St Blazey and Par.
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