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A mainland out-and-back from Helston through the Penrose estate, following the western shore of Loe Pool to the southern end of Bar Walk Plantation. Allow about 2 hours 30 minutes for the 8.4 km walk, including a short pause at The Stables.
Start at the public Fairground car park off Porthleven Road in Helston. Leave by the pedestrian path beside the vehicle entrance, turn left along the pavement and cross the River Cober on the pavement of the road bridge. Enter Penrose through the opening beside the large gate. Follow the surfaced drive through the wooded valley and Oak Grove, keeping to the main drive rather than taking the causeway across the marsh. Continue past Helston Lodge and into the parkland. At the signed junction turn left for The Stables Café.
After the café approach, follow the broad estate drive south, past Shadywalk Wood and through Bar Walk Plantation with the lake on your left. Continue to the southern lakeside bend, where the drive turns right towards Bar Lodge. Turn back at this bend and retrace the main drive through the parkland and Oak Grove to the same pavement and car park. This route ends before Bar Lodge and does not cross Loe Bar.
Expect surfaced and compacted tracks, gentle slopes, fallen leaves and occasional muddy patches. The drives are shared with cyclists, horses and occasional estate vehicles. Keep dogs under control and respect the private lodges and Penrose House. Loe Pool and the Cober valley can flood seasonally; follow local notices and turn back if the drive is flooded. Do not swim or enter Loe Pool or the sea at Loe Bar.
The council car park is open 24 hours and charges apply between 9am and 4pm; check the machine for the current tariff. The estate is open dawn to dusk. The Stables offers a café and toilets during opening hours.
Route and access checked against the National Trust Penrose property map, its Helston to The Stables woodland trail and the western drive stages of A Walk Around Loe Pool. Parking checked against Cornwall Council’s Fairground car park information.
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