King's Wood

Cornwall Information & Accommodation Guide

King's Wood is a semi-natural ancient woodland in the Pentewan Valley between St Austell and Mevagissey.

The wood is more than 400 years old and includes a variety of native broadleaved trees including oak, ash, sweet chestnut and beech. In the 1960s and 70s an area of conifers was added.

The ground flora includes bluebell in spring, heather and bilberry. Butterflies and moths including some rarities are found here.

Sections of wood are located along the valley bottom, adjacent to the St Austell River. Willow and Alder flourish in the wet, marshy conditions.

Designated as a County Wildlife Site.

The Pentewan Trail follows the western boundary of the wood and there are more challenging tracks to access the wilder and less accessible parts of King's Wood.

Kings Wood is a great place to visit at any time of the year.

Facilities

The nearest public toilets including disabled facilities are in Pentewan (2 miles/3km) with weekend availability only.

Access

Two access points. One is located along an unclassified track that turns left off the B3273 just after London Apprentice and the Kings Wood Restaurant. Follow the track along the river and through a narrow wooded strip until it rises sharply for a short distance and opens into a turning area with two management and public access gates.

The second access is reached by continuing for just over 2 miles (3km (approximately) along the B3273 until the road widens and a bridge turns off the road across the river and into a small car parking area on the Pentewan Leisure Trail. From here you gain access through a 1.2m hunters gate onto a woodland track or from various smaller points along the leisure trail.

There are two surfaced tracks within the wood, one of which is fairly level. Narrower unsurfaced paths run along the slopes and other steeper tracks link to them. The higher tracks are supported by wooded banked steps in some places and seats are conveniently placed so walkers can admire the woods and views.

The paths that run through the lower sections of the woodland tend to be wetter and can become quite muddy in wet weather, so suitable footwear is advised.


How to Travel to King's Wood

By bus
Regular bus services travelling along the A3273, with a stop at London Apprentice that leaves a 750m (half a mile) walk to the wood, and one at Sun Valley Holiday Park where a walk of 100m accesses the leisure trail and a further 500m walk reaches the car park entrance.

By train
The nearest rail station is at St Austell. Contact traveline or call 0871 200 2233 for further information.

By car
Travelling south off the B3273, just after London Apprentice and 70m after the Kings Wood Restaurant, turn left onto an unclassified road with business signage. Follow this as far as the road goes, round to the right past the businesses, and through a narrow wooded strip until it rises sharply for a short distance and then opens into the adjacent car park.

The car parks at both entrances have space for eight cars but can be full during busy periods. Additional parking is also available at other locations along the access tracks and roads used to reach the entrances.

By bike
The wood can be accessed by cycles from St Austell and Pentewan by following the Leisure trail that runs between the wood’s western boundary and the St Austell River. Cycling is not permitted in the wood but locking posts and rail fencing are available at all entrances for securing cycles during visits.

This is a Woodland Trust Wood. Free entry but please consider making a donation to the Woodland Trust

Location:
Kings Wood is situated on the eastern side of the Pentewan Valley road (B3273) running south from St Austell (6.5km/4 miles) to Pentewan (3.2km/2 miles) and the popular fishing village of Mevagissey (6.5km/4 miles), and just south of the village of London Apprentice.

Road directions to King's Wood

Books online:
Click here to buy books online about King's Wood

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