Trethevy, near Tintagel, Cornwall PL34 0BE
St Nectan’s Glen and Waterfall
Waterside landscape
Place photograph
7.8
Wildland
1–2 hours
Time
Paid
Cost
Atmospheric
Feel
Why it's Wildland
7.8The Trevillet River runs through a wooded Cornish glen before plunging through a natural rock opening at St Nectan’s Kieve, forming a waterfall of about 60 feet. The site also has a hermitage and meditation room.
A striking waterfall is only part of the draw: the river runs through a shaded, wildlife-rich glen noted for rare mosses and liverworts, with a hermitage adding a quieter, human layer to the visit. The waterfall site is privately owned and admission is charged.
Atmospheric · Peaceful · Ancient-feeling
Find your way
Open mapTrethevy, near Tintagel, Cornwall PL34 0BE
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The experience
Follow the woodland path beside the Trevillet to the waterfall, taking time to notice the glen’s damp, fern-lined banks. The waterfall attraction is privately owned and admission is charged; check current arrangements before travelling.
Things to do
Follow the woodland path beside the Trevillet
Walk through the shaded glen alongside the river towards the waterfall. The site describes a woodland walk with ivy-clad trees and ferns along the banks.
See St Nectan’s Kieve waterfall
Visit the roughly 60-foot waterfall, where the Trevillet River plunges through a natural opening in the rock. The waterfall attraction is privately owned and admission is charged, according to Tripadvisor.
Visit the hermitage and meditation room
The source row describes a hermitage and meditation room at the site. Check whether they are open as part of your visit.
Look closely at the damp woodland banks
The glen is noted for bryophyte flora, including rare liverworts and mosses. Observe plants without picking or disturbing them.
Make a day of it
Quick escape · Allow 1–2 hours; check the attraction’s current visit arrangements.
Quick escape: the glen and waterfall
- 01
Check current opening times and admission arrangements before setting off.
- 02
Walk the woodland path beside the Trevillet River towards St Nectan’s Kieve.
- 03
Pause at the waterfall and, where open to visitors, the hermitage and meditation room.
- 04
Return by the same approach; expect steep steps or muddy, uneven sections according to supplied visitor and route information.
Half day · Half day; exact visit duration depends on current access and facilities.
Make a half day of it: glen, waterfall and a café stop
- 01
Visit the waterfall and explore the woodland walk alongside the Trevillet.
- 02
Allow time for the hermitage and meditation room if open to visitors.
- 03
Finish at the entrance café if it is operating; verify current availability before travelling.
Full Wildland day · About 3.5–4 hours; the sourced route is 7.4 miles.
A longer North Cornwall circuit: glen, Tintagel and Rocky Valley
- 01
Use the AllTrails Trethevy–Tintagel Castle–Rocky Valley circular route as a longer outing, checking the route and current conditions first.
- 02
Include St Nectan’s Glen, Tintagel Castle and Rocky Valley as the route’s named highlights.
- 03
Take extra care on road-walking sections, steep slopes, high drops and uneven ground; check waterfall admission and opening arrangements separately.
Verified history
The supplied sources identify a hermitage at the site and the waterfall’s name as St Nectan’s Kieve. They do not provide dates or a substantiated historical account of the hermitage, so no further historical claims are made here.
Folklore & legend
The site’s owner describes tales of fairies, piskies and spirits. Tripadvisor reports a contemporary tradition of leaving ribbons and small offerings around the kieve. These are presented as local beliefs and customs, not verified history.
Hidden details
The waterfall’s natural rock opening — Look for the place where the Trevillet passes through a natural hole in the rock at St Nectan’s Kieve.
Mosses and liverworts of the glen — The glen is reported to have rich bryophyte flora, including rare liverworts and mosses. Look carefully along damp woodland banks without disturbing the plants.
Ribbons and offerings at the kieve — Tripadvisor describes a contemporary tradition of leaving ribbons and small offerings around the waterfall. Treat this as a reported local custom, not an ancient historical fact.
When to go
· No sourced recommendation; check current opening times before visiting.
The supplied sources do not establish a preferred season or seasonal wildlife schedule.
Visitor and route information mentions muddy, uneven paths, steep slopes and high drops. Check current conditions and take care, especially on the longer route.
The route
- ascent
- 1,217 ft for the AllTrails circular route.
- surface
- Uneven surfaces, steep slopes and muddy sections are reported; includes road-walking sections.
- distance
- The separate AllTrails circular route is 7.4 miles; no standalone glen-walk distance supplied.
- duration
- The AllTrails circular route is estimated at 3.5–4 hours.
- difficulty
- Moderate (AllTrails classification).
- route shape
- Loop for the AllTrails circular route.
- start point
- Trethevy, for the AllTrails circular route.
- parking start
- Check before visiting.
- shorter alternative
- Visit St Nectan’s Glen and the waterfall without undertaking the full 7.4-mile circular route; check current admission and access arrangements.
- St Nectan’s Glen and waterfall
- Tintagel Castle
- Rocky Valley
- North Cornwall clifftop scenery
Worth pairing with
Tintagel Castle
A named highlight on the sourced Trethevy–Tintagel Castle–Rocky Valley circular route; check tickets and opening arrangements independently.
Rocky Valley
A named highlight on the sourced circular route from Trethevy, offering a substantial extension to a visit to the glen.
What to look for
- 01
The waterfall at St Nectan’s Kieve, where the river passes through a natural hole in the rock
- 02
the hermitage and meditation room
- 03
and the shaded riverbank vegetation, including mosses and liverworts noted in the supplied sources.
The story
Hermitage; local spiritual traditions
Best time to go
No specific best season is established by the supplied sources. Check conditions before setting out; woodland paths may be muddy.
The supplied sources do not establish a best time of day or season. Check current opening arrangements and path conditions before visiting.
How long to spend
1–2 hours
Perfect for
Walkers · Photographers · Wildlife lovers · History lovers
Before you go
Address
Phone
Website
Listed hours
- Monday: 9am-4:30pm
- Tuesday: 9am-4:30pm
- Wednesday: 9am-4:30pm
- Thursday: 9am-4:30pm
- Friday: 9am-4:30pm
- Saturday: 9am-4:30pm
- Sunday: 9am-4:30pm
Check before visiting.
Google rating
Practical information
Opening & access
Privately owned waterfall attraction with an admission charge. Check current prices, opening times and access arrangements before visiting.
Check before visiting
Parking
Check before visiting
Check before visiting
Toilets
Check before visiting
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Food & drink
A café is listed at the entrance by Tripadvisor; check current availability.
Check before visiting
Dogs
Check before visiting
Check before visiting
Accessibility
The source row reports no wheelchair-accessible car park or entrance. The approach includes a woodland path; steep steps and muddy, uneven paths are mentioned in source material. Check current access details before visiting.
Check before visiting
Cost
Paid
Water
River, Waterfall
Gallery
Place photographs
Keep exploring
Around St Nectan’s Glen and Waterfall
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
