B3263
B3263 | ||||
Location Map ( geo) | ||||
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From: | Collamore Head (SX173934) | |||
To: | Camelford (N) (SX097855) | |||
Via: | Boscastle, Tintagel | |||
Distance: | 12.8 miles (20.6 km) | |||
Meets: | A39, B3266, B3314 | |||
Former Number(s): | A39 | |||
Highway Authorities | ||||
Traditional Counties | ||||
Route outline (key) | ||||
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The B3263 is a country road in North Cornwall that takes in two well known coastal villages; Boscastle and Tintagel.
The road starts in very open country, at a simple T-junction on the A39 a couple of miles southwest of Wainhouse Corner. The farm hamlet nearby is known as Collamore Head.
Heading towards the coast, the road actually climbs somewhat towards Tresparret Down. First is the hamlet of Tresparret Posts and a minor road staggered junction (although actually this was the start of the road until at least the 1970s when the A39 was diverted via Cockport). Other than this, it's all very rural with fields as far as the eye can see.
The road descends steadily from Tresparret Down. Dropping down more sharply on Penally Hill, the village and harbour of Boscastle is reached. It's a naturally very scenic spot but was devastated in the floods of 2004. Most of the buildings on either side of the road and the carriageway itself were destroyed by a huge wall of water that descended in a flash flood. Very luckily, no-one lost their lives in the incident.
Crossing a new bridge over the rivers, which have been given a deeper channel, the road reaches a very sharp hairpin bend and then climbs away from the coast. The climb continues with trees on the right and a local road at a lower level on the left. At the newer part of Boscastle called Paradise, there is a sharp bend to the right with a left turn on the bend. This turn is the B3266 and if it is desired to go to Camelford or the A39 southbound from here, that would be the recommended route.
Leaving Boscastle's environs, the road follows a relatively straight course on higher ground away from the rocky coast. There is a drop and a bend to negotiate St Nectan's Glen/The Rocky Valley, which can be reached either side of the road here. If you have time, both are worth exploring; although the waterfall in St Nectan's Glen is in private hands and you have to pay to visit it.
Climbing away from the Glen, the village of Bossiney is reached.
Lesson
Past the touristy shops a TOTSO to the left is required at a junction. The road straight ahead just leads down to the Castle and the headland.
Tintagel is left behind, but the hamlets of Treven, with Tintagel's secondary school, and Tregatta follow in quick succession. There is a sharp bend to the left in the second of these. Trewarmett is the next hamlet and does suffer from narrow roads and bends: traffic, including local buses and goods vehicles, can sometimes become blocked. After Trewarmett there is an unclassified turn to the right which is a dead-end turn to the coast at Trebarwith Strand, also very worth exploring, but go at low tide. The road then climbs past slate quarries. Hereabouts is a long-term set of temporary lights and single-line working as part of the carriageway has subsided and requires substantial repairs.
The steady climb continues past fields and a wind farm and after two bends to the right and one to the left the road ends at a T-junction on the B3314. This is very near the Camelford Station junction of that road and the B3266 passed previously in Boscastle.
This route is substantially busier in the summer months because of holiday traffic.