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Two Castles Trail - Stage 4 Westbound - Lifton to Launceston - 5 miles
Grade
Easy to ModerateType
WalkDescription
Two Castles Trail - Stage 4 Westbound - Lifton to Launceston - 5 miles This stage see Launceston Castle come into view, and draw closer as the route crosses into Cornwall. The stage is mainly on road, with an uneven field section. There are gradual climbs and descents with a steep climb at the end of the walk up to Launceston. There are a small number of stiles and gates on the field section.
Walk Waypoints
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1
In Lifton, follow the path alongside the main road in a westerly direction past the village shop. Follow this for around a kilometre out of the village until passing under the A30.
- 2 Just after the underpass take the road bearing to the right. Continue through Liftondown, following the road downhill into the valley of the River Carey, a tributary of the Tamar. (Be careful to stay to one side of this road, as it is often used by local traffic as a cut through).
- 3 At the 'Slow' sign painted on the road and just before the road bends left, turn left through a gate and cross the field with the hedge on your right. At the end of the hedge, continue into the field ahead and then bear left and slightly uphill to the stile in the top left hand corner of the field. Here, cross the two stiles, and follow the path to another gate. Pass through and cross the field ahead, aiming to the left of the gate and buildings. On reaching the fence line, keep it to your right, and after around 70m, cross a stile on your right in the wooden fence. Bear left on the tarmac track.
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4
Follow the track to a stile on your right between two cattle grids. Cross the stile, and head for the corner of the hedge some 40m ahead. Keep this hedge on your left, and go through the gate in the far left corner of the field. Then turn right onto the road to cross the River Tamar at Polson Bridge.
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5
At this point the trail enters Cornwall. Take the first road to the right, opposite Launceston RFC ground. Pass St Leonard's, noting the tiny packhorse bridge.
- 6 Take the next road on the left, just after the waterworks. The profile of Launceston Castle will soon become prominent ahead.
- 7 After around a kilometre turn left down a road which drops into the valley of the River Kensey.
- 8 From the river, the road climbs steeply into the town. At the top, carefully cross the main road to go straight ahead to Angel Hill, then turn right through Southgate Arch (there is a smaller pedestrian archway just beyond the main arch), and proceed along Southgate Street.
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9
Turn left along Broad Street, and proceed along Western Road to the entrance to Launceston Catle, the end of the Trail.
