The Salt Path is calling
The Salt Path film is out this month, but why wait to see Cornwall’s lifechanging power in the cinema when it’s already here, waiting for you to discover it? Discover the path and be inspired, before the rest of the world does.
Raynor Winn’s book inspired the nation with her story of resilience and self discovery set against the Cornish coastline and it’s sure to find an even bigger set of fans now the movie hits the screen.
You don’t need to see the film or read the book to let the weight of life fall away in Cornwall’s mighty, wave-hewn landscape (That said, we suggest you do both!).
Just pack sturdy shoes and strike out from our doorstep for cinema-worthy views and your own salt-path story.
Fistral Beach
Newquay
Surfy, buzzing Newquay is a stark contrast to Raynor and husband Moth’s solitary hike. It’s where they found a moment of human comfort, against the pounding pulse of the Atlantic.
Start The Salt Path from SeaSpace and instantly feel Newquay’s salty, sandy embrace for yourself. In about an hour and a half (5.5km) you’ll reach Fistral’s wave-lashed shoreline – that’s instantly recognisable in the film. Or grab a Beryl Bike and be there in 15 minutes.
Rame Head
Craving the lure of wild swims and the roar of the sea to keep reality at bay? You got it. Follow Raynor and Moth to the tip of Rame Peninsula and you’re bound to find thefreedom you’re looking for.
This rocky peninsula, whispering tales of smuggling and seafaring, marks a milestone moment in the story: Supplies ebb, hope flows and the seascapes become a symbol of the home Raynor and Moth have lost. But once you’ve let the raw energy wash over you and the sea air work its magic, you won’t need to pitch a tent for the night. You can pack up your swimmers and come back to your very own place to call home on the edge of the ocean.
Credit: Steve Tanner Black Bear
Holywell Bay
No stranger to the limelight – having featured in Poldark, James Bond, and House of the Dragon – it’s no wonder Holywell’s iconic twin peaks of Gull Rocks make an appearance in The Salt Path. Its role is no secret either, as co-stars Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs caused quite a stir when passers-by spotted them – heavy packs on their backs, sharing a kiss on the shore.
Holywell’s sea caves, cliffs and marram-knitted dunes beg to be explored - providing endless photo opps along the way. Bite off a section of The Salt Path on a loop to Perran Sands, tumble down its sandy peaks to the waves, or – if you’re looking for a moment’s quiet reflection– seek out the hidden holy well that gives the bay its name. Just four miles from Newquay, you’ll feel the reset long after you shake the sand from your toes and step back inside your coastal sanctuary.
Credit: Steve Tanner Black Bear
Padstow
Imagine: the waft of salty air, fish flipped from boat to plate, masts swaying in the breeze. You could be there, drinking in the scene beside Padstow Harbour, where Raynor and Moth spent some of their last pennies at Stein’s Fish and Chips before slipping back into the crowds, unnoticed.
Follow their lead with a paper-wrapped feast, but look out for the gulls, ever ready toswoop and swipe chips from your hands!. From Ainsworth’s stable to casual quayside pop-ups, there’s food for all – but don’t stop here. Trace Raynor’s tracks beyond the bustle – past the dinky bays of Chidley Pumps and St George’s – to Hawker’s Cove. If you’re still hungry when you get there, seek out the tiny tea hut that (we think) bakes some of the best scones in Cornwall. Or just kick your shoes off on the powder-white sands, brave a skin-biting dip, and let the crystal-clear sea put a zing back in your tired legs before heading home. Hot tub o’clock you say? Don’t mind if we do. SeaSpace.
Port Quin
Nr Port Isaac
Want to feel a glint of sun on your face, as you gaze out to Doyden Castle winking across the water? Perched on a picnic bench overlooking Port Quin, Anderson and Isaacs – deep in character as Raynor and Moth – looked like any other couple pausing for breath along the South West Coast Path.
Start your day on the path from Port Isaac to Port Quin, and the calf-burning climbs won’t be the only thing that forces a breather – maybe even on the very same bench. The sheer power of this jagged, mighty coastline will stop you in your tracks (and bring your phone from your pocket for an Insta-crashing classic), while the salt-laced air fills your grateful lungs. True to the film, you can take it in on foot – or skip the hike and drive straight from SeaSpace to Port Quin for a water-bound reset: paddleboard through the sheltered inlet, scramble across the rocks on a coasteering adventure, or simply let the elements work their magic with a sea dip and sauna.
Tempted to lace up your boots and follow The Salt Path? Step to it before the credits roll, and see how a whopping dose of cliffs, sea and sky changes your world.
The Salt Path hits UK cinemas on 30 May. Why not beat the crowds with a spring break in your own studio or apartment, slap-bang on the South West Coast Path?
Studios and apartments start from £190