Logan Rock Walk

On the far western tip of Cornwall, on a granite headland above some of the bluest water in Britain, sits an 80 tonne boulder that you can, in theory, rock with one hand. It's called Logan Rock, and it gave its name to our Logan Day Pack. Here's how to find it, and how not to lose it (someone once did).

What is Logan Rock?

A "logan" is a rocking stone: a huge boulder balanced so finely that a gentle push makes it move. Logan Rock sits at the end of Treryn Dinas, an Iron Age cliff castle with five lines of ancient defences, about a mile south of the village of Treen in Penwith. The headland is looked after by the National Trust.

Knocked off by a sailor

In April 1824, Lieutenant Hugh Goldsmith of the Royal Navy decided to prove the stone could be moved. With a dozen of his crew from HMS Nimble and a few iron bars, he rocked it clean off its perch. It wedged in a crevice instead of falling into the sea, but the locals, whose living depended on visitors coming to see it, were not amused.

Goldsmith was ordered to put it back. In November 1824, with borrowed Admiralty equipment, thirteen capstans and more than sixty men, the stone was hauled back into place. You can still see the holes from the rescue today. It doesn't rock quite as easily as it used to, which feels fair.

The route

1. Start in Treen. Park in the pay and display car park in the village (TR19 6LG). The Logan Rock Inn, a shop and a café are all here, which is useful later.

2. Head for the headland. Follow the footpath across the fields towards the sea and onto the South West Coast Path.

3. Out to Treryn Dinas. Walk out along the headland through the old ramparts. Logan Rock sits near the very end, among the granite stacks. Scrambling up to it is for the sure-footed only, and the views back along the coast are just as good from the path.

4. Choose your loop. Head west along the coast path towards Porthcurno and its famous turquoise water, or east to the tiny fishing cove at Penberth. A circular walk taking in Porthcurno, Logan Rock and Penberth Cove is about 3 miles.

5. Back to Treen. Return inland across the fields to the village, and the pub.

Before you go

Unfenced cliffs. Parts of the path run close to sheer edges. Keep dogs on a lead and children close.

Wear proper shoes. The coast path is rocky and uneven, with stiles and steps.

Look out for wildlife. Seals, birds of prey and, if you're lucky, choughs, Cornwall's red-legged crows.

Time it right. Porthcurno is busy in summer. Autumn and spring mornings are quieter, and the light is better.

What to pack

Cornish weather changes its mind every twenty minutes, so pack a waterproof, a warm layer, water, snacks and a camera. A flask of tea on the headland is non-negotiable.

The Logan Day Pack was made for days exactly like this: 25 litres of weatherproof Halley Stevensons waxed cotton, a drawstring and buckled flap to keep the sea spray out, compression straps for a jacket or a roll mat, and a stash pocket for the things you need quickly. It's handmade to order in Britain and signed by Lesley, who made it.

Quick answers

Where is Logan Rock?

On the Treryn Dinas headland near Treen, between Porthcurno and Penberth Cove, a few miles from Land's End.

Can you still rock it?

Since it was put back in 1824 it doesn't move as easily as it once did. Please don't try too hard.

How long is the walk?

From Treen, the walk out to Logan Rock and back is short. A circular route via Porthcurno and Penberth Cove is about 3 miles.