On the North Cornwall coast to the south of Newquay. Between Holywell and Perranporth.
Site Description
Penhale Camp and Training Area stands on the rugged north Cornwall coast looking out over the Atlantic Ocean. It is used by members of all three services (Army, Navy and RAF) and their cadet organisations. The sand dune system is renowned for its beauty, with dunes amongst the highest in the country, and is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). There are two Scheduled Ancient Monuments - an Iron Age promontory fort on Penhale Point and Bronze Age barrows on Ligger Point.
Access Opportunities
The South West Coast Path (SWCP) is a national trail from Minehead in Somerset to South Haven Point in Poole and follows the seaward edge of the Training Area. For more details please go to the South West coast path website, see "Related links". From Holywell (with parking in the National Trust Car Park) the SWCP follows the sea cliffs around Penhale and Ligger Points.
In the spring/summer you will see a wealth of maritime flowers and it is an ideal place to spot nesting birds and seals. The remains of some of Cornwall's mining heritage can also be seen and care should be taken around these features. At the northern end of Perran Beach, the designated Coast Path drops down from the cliffs and, in part, follows the high water mark some 3km to Perranporth.
To supplement the Coastal Path, the MOD has opened a permissive path which continues the route following the red and white range poles south above the beach to the MOD boundary. This provides the opportunity for a circular walk from Perranporth that takes in the beach, the dune ridge and the adjoining dune grassland around the Perran Sands Holiday Centre.
This walk can be extended to pass by the site of St Piran's Oratory and the recently excavated St Piran’s Church which lie just south of the MOD boundary. For further information on St Piran, the patron saint of tin miners, see (Related links) on the right. Please pay attention to the signs around the training area and do not venture away from the way marked routes as the training activities carried out on the site are hazardous.
Further Information from …
Please telephone 01637 832001
OS Map References
OS Landranger Sheet 200
(Newquay, Bodmin & Surrounding Area) 1:50,000
OS Explorer Sheet 104
(Redruth & St Agnes) 1:25,000