Pentargon Waterfall
OS Grid reference- SX 1091
Spectacular Pentargon Waterfall and high Beeny Cliff are the 'chasmal beauty' of Thomas Hardy's poem 'Under the Waterfall', which retells the romantic event of a picnic by a waterfall.
Pentargon waterfall drops 37 metres (120 feet.) Below is the Seals' Hole, where more than 100 seals have been spotted there at one time.
Hanging valleys are common on the North Cornish coast and are created due to erosion of the relatively hard cliffs by the Atlantic waves being faster than erosion of the valley by a small river.
The waterfall can be viewed from a few vantage points, either Pentargon cliff or the route to Beeny on the other side. A seasonal fall, depending on rainfall. On a windy day the fall can be blown into an uprising spray.
To the south lies Merlin's Cave, a cave on Tintagel Beach, which has an atmosphere all of its own, is 330 feet (100 metres) in length and passes completely through Tintagel Island from Tinagel Haven on the east to West Cove on the west. It is a sea cave formed by marine erosion along a thrust plane between slate and volcanic rock. The cave is only accessible at low tide and the beach itself disappears at high tide.
A walk from Boscastle to Pentargon Waterfall
Distance- 1.7 miles (2.8 km)
(1) Parking at the pay and display car park at Boscastle village, proceed down to Boscastle Harbour, then follow along the Coastal Path leading from the north side of the Harbour, ascend the hill and continue walking along the clifftops.
(2) Dramatic Pentargon Waterfall can be sighted just before reaching a stone stile. Cross over the stile and continue inland towards a road and then continue alongside the hedge through a kissing gate.
(3) Pass through a white field gate and follow the 'Private Lane'.
(4) Follow the lane to return to Boscastle Harbour.