Glendorgal Coast Path

03/09/2026

Glendorgal in the national press

The Daily Mail has published a major feature today looking at the growing debate around access to England’s coastline, with our campaign to restore and protect the long-used routes around Glendorgal Headland featuring prominently.

It’s great to see the story of Glendorgal, its history and the strength of feeling within our community reaching a national audience.

The article also covers our Definitive Map Modification Order application (WCA 961), supported by more than 100 user evidence statements alongside the historical evidence we’ve gathered. Our aim remains simple: to have the evidence properly considered and, if the legal tests are met, have these long-used routes formally recorded as public rights of way.

One small clarification: the article suggests that a decision on our application is expected within 12 months. We would obviously be delighted if it could be considered within that timeframe, but Cornwall Council has not given us any indication or commitment that a decision will be made within 12 months. These applications can take considerable time and we are prepared for that.

For now, it’s another important opportunity to put Glendorgal’s story in front of a much wider audience.

Thank you, as always, to everyone who has provided evidence, photographs, memories and support. This campaign has only got this far because so many people care about this special part of Newquay’s coastline.

History matters. Our access matters too.

For more than 20 years, Clare and Matt Kennedy-Smith (pictured) and their two daughters have marked every special occasion with a family walk along the Glendorgal Headland.

27/08/2026

Glendorgal access – a serious coastal safety concern

We have today been made aware of an incident which highlights another important aspect of access to Glendorgal Headland.

During a large swell, three boys were caught in the rip between L***y Glaze and Porth. One of them was swept onto the rocks.

Thankfully, all three were eventually safe.

A local resident who witnessed the incident has since contacted Cornwall Council. He explained that, because access onto the headland had been restricted, those watching were unable to maintain visual contact with the boys throughout the incident.

He has given us permission to share the circumstances publicly.

Our campaign has always been about protecting the longstanding public access that generations of local people and visitors have enjoyed across this headland.

But this incident also highlights something incredibly important.

Glendorgal isn’t simply somewhere people walk. It is an elevated viewpoint over one of Newquay’s busiest stretches of coastline.

Being able to see the water matters.

We are very relieved that all three boys were safe, but we believe the concerns raised following this incident deserve to be taken seriously.

We have now shared this information with those involved in considering the access issue.

Public access matters.
Our history matters.
And coastal safety matters too.

10/08/2026

GLENDORGAL UPDATE – OUR DMMO APPLICATION HAS BEEN VALIDATED

Some good news today.

Cornwall Council has now formally validated our application to have the public footpaths at Glendorgal added to the Definitive Map.

The application has been given the official reference WCA 961.

This is separate from our Town & Village Green application, which unfortunately cannot currently proceed because of a legal “trigger event” created when the planning application for the site was published in 2024.

While we’re obviously disappointed about that part of the campaign, the main Rights of Way case continues.

The DMMO process is about establishing whether the routes across and around Glendorgal have acquired public rights through historic and/or long-standing public use.

That’s why all the evidence people have provided — memories of walking the paths, witness statements, old photographs, maps and historical records — is so important.

WCA 961 is now officially underway.

We will continue gathering evidence, researching the history and looking at every available option to protect public access at Glendorgal.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this so far. We push on.

10/08/2026

GLENDORGAL CAMPAIGN UPDATE

We wanted to update everyone on an important development in our campaign.

As many of you know, alongside our application to have the historic paths across Glendorgal formally recognised as public rights of way, we also submitted an application for the headland to be considered for registration as a Town or Village Green.

Unfortunately, Cornwall Council has now informed us that this application cannot currently proceed because its Planning department has identified what is legally known as a “Trigger Event” affecting the land.

In simple terms, certain events within the planning system can prevent land from being registered as a Town or Village Green.

We are disappointed to lose this avenue at this stage.

However, we have asked Cornwall Council for full details of the Trigger Event, including exactly what it is, when it occurred and the relevant planning reference. Once we have that information, we will look carefully at the position and whether there are any options available to us.

But importantly — our DMMO application continues.

Cornwall Council has specifically confirmed that this decision “does not affect the DMMO application in any way.”

This is the application seeking formal recognition of the historic public walking routes across Glendorgal as public rights of way.

So we push on.

The incredible collection of user evidence, old photographs, maps, newspaper reports, books and other historical material that people have helped us gather remains extremely important to that case.

And we’re still finding more.

Please continue sending us anything you discover showing people walking across Glendorgal or referring to paths, public access or use of the headland. Further documentary evidence can still be added to our DMMO case while it is being considered.

We’re obviously disappointed that one avenue has been blocked, but the campaign hasn’t stopped.

The DMMO continues, we’re looking at our options regarding the Town or Village Green, and we push on.

Thank you, as always, for the incredible support. ❤️

Glendorgal Coast Path

07/08/2026

ANOTHER PIECE OF THE GLENDORGAL STORY

A huge thank you to Sara Bentley, who sent us this fascinating extract from Old Newquay by Wilfred J. Lukes.

It contains a particularly interesting historical reference to the paths around Glendorgal and Porth.

The account describes:

“Pedestrians using the footpath, through these fields…”

It then records how Sir Richard Tangye replaced what was described as a dangerous stile with an iron wicket gate “for the convenience of the public.”

But perhaps the most interesting sentence for us is:

“All the wicket gates along the footpath from Glendorgal Lodge to Porth… were provided by Sir Richard Tangye and erected at his expense.”

We want to be careful not to claim that any single historical document proves our case – that is for Cornwall Council to determine through the Definitive Map Modification Order process.

However, this is another potentially valuable piece of documentary evidence.

It describes pedestrians using “the footpath”, specifically refers to a footpath running from Glendorgal Lodge to Porth, and records improvements being made for the convenience of the public.

Importantly, although the extract mentions the consent of the Duchy authorities, the wording relates to the replacement of the stile with a wicket gate. It does not state that public use of the footpath itself was by permission.

This will now be passed to Cornwall Council as additional evidence for consideration alongside the maps, photographs, newspaper reports and the many witness statements already collected.

And this is where everyone can still help us…

Our DMMO application has already been submitted, but our evidence gathering hasn’t finished.

As the application is considered, we can continue providing relevant evidence to Cornwall Council.

So please keep looking.

Old books, newspaper cuttings, photographs showing people walking the headland, postcards, maps, guidebooks, family photographs, written memories or anything else referring to paths across Glendorgal, L***y Glaze, Wine Cove or towards Porth could potentially be useful.

Sometimes something sitting unnoticed on a bookshelf or in an old photograph album can provide another little piece of the story.

If you find anything, please send it to us.

Thank you again to Sara for spotting this one and taking the time to send it in.

The more we uncover, the clearer the history of these paths becomes. ❤️

28/07/2026

Could our campaign help others?

One of the unexpected things to come from the Glendorgal campaign has been the number of people from across the country who have contacted us to say they’ve experienced similar situations in their own communities.

Some have lost access to long-used paths. Others have seen beaches or open spaces restricted. Many have simply wanted to share memories of places that have meant a great deal to them.

Recently, we’ve spoken with journalists from the Times and the Daily Mail, who are both working on a wider feature looking at these issues and how they affect communities.

If you’ve shared memories of Glendorgal with us and would be happy to talk about them, or if you’ve experienced something similar where you live, we’d love to hear from you.

There’s absolutely no obligation, and whether you speak directly to the journalist or through us is entirely your choice.

Our campaign has been incredibly fortunate to receive such amazing support. If that attention can now help shine a light on similar stories elsewhere and encourage communities to protect places that matter to them, then that can only be a positive thing.

If you’d be willing to share your story, please send us a private message.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

22/07/2026

Campaign Update

We wanted to let everyone know where things currently stand.

Following the submission of our Definitive Map Modification Order (DMMO) application, we’ve now received detailed feedback from Cornwall Council’s Public Rights of Way Team.

As part of the process, we have made some amendments to the application forms and route plan. This is a normal part of ensuring everything is as accurate and robust as possible before the application progresses.

Importantly, all of the evidence we’ve submitted remains on file. We now need to update some paperwork, notify two additional landowners and submit revised plans reflecting the Council’s guidance.

We’re grateful for the constructive dialogue with the Public Rights of Way Team and are working hard behind the scenes to complete everything requested as quickly as possible.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support us. We’ll keep you updated as the process moves forward.

17/07/2026

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17/07/2026

Another reminder of why this campaign matters…

Following the submission of our DMMO application, and after sending letters to both the Duchy of Cornwall and His Majesty The King, one of our supporters kindly sent us these photographs from a remarkable book published by the Cornwall Heritage Trust in 2000.

The book contains a foreword written by the then Prince of Wales in his role as Duke of Cornwall, where he reflects on Cornwall’s unique history and heritage, and the importance of preserving its distinctive identity for future generations.

One passage particularly stood out:

“You will all come to carry an important responsibility for preserving the Cornish way of life, the Cornish language and dialect, the Cornish culture and identity, and the very appearance of Cornwall.”

Those words resonate strongly with what this campaign has always been about.

This has never been about confrontation or individuals. It has always been about protecting a historic route, preserving Cornwall’s heritage, and ensuring future generations can enjoy the same coastline that so many have walked before us.

We have now submitted the DMMO, received support from Newquay Town Council, our MP, and hundreds of members of the public who have shared memories and evidence. We felt it was only right that both the Duchy and The King should also be made aware of the importance of this historic route to so many people.

A huge thank you to the supporter who shared these photographs with us, and to everyone who continues to support this campaign. Every piece of evidence, every memory and every message strengthens our case.

History matters. Heritage matters. Public access matters.