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Coose Trannack

Trannack nr Helston

Woodland Trust wood

  • Coose Trannock is a Woods on your Doorstep woodland created to commemorate the millennium.

    Credit: Jennifer Oakes

  • Breathe in the coconut scent of gorse flowers.

    Credit: Sabena Jane Blackbird / Alamy Stock Photo

  • See how many bees and butterflies you can spot on the brambles bordering the wood.

    Credit: Ben Lee / WTML

Nestled on high ground north of the Lizard Peninsula, Coose Trannack is a young broadleaved woodland with open grassland and sweeping views.

This budding site is one of our 'Woods on your Doorstep' woodlands created to commemorate the millennium.

Features

  • Public access
  • Broadleaved woodland

How to get to Coose Trannack

Coose Trannack is located near the village of Trannack, around 1.6km (1 mile) from Coverack Bridges. and north of Helston. 

From Helston, take the B3297 towards Coverack Bridges. Turn left to Trannack and continue until you reach Trannack Primary School.

The nearest bus stop is on Redruth Road opposite Franchis Farm, Wendron.

Visit Traveline for more information.

Turn onto the B3297 and continue along a country road. Pass a sign on the right for Coverack Bridge and a red telephone box on the left. As you enter Trannack turn right just before the school.

Please take care as there are no footpaths along the narrow road.

Look out for gorse and the cheerful splash of yellow flowers.

Credit: Sabena Jane Blackbird / Alamy Stock Photo

Facilities and access

Coose Trannack is accessible via a footpath that runs along a narrow lane to the right of the school and through a pedestrian gate into the wood. Further along, this footpath deviates into the wood, before leaving it again at its northernmost corner.

There is no parking at the wood but limited parking is available on the nearby road. Sometimes the school allows parking in its car park. Please ensure that you do not park in front of the management gate.

Toilets are available in Helston at the Guildhall, Parade, Coronation Park and Helston Monument.

Wildlife and habitats

Coose Trannack stands on exposed high ground that slopes to the south and forms a prominent feature in an otherwise relatively unwooded landscape. Because of the location of this site, many of the trees have developed a stunted and windswept appearance.

Animals

The plants here offer shelter and nesting sites for many species. 

Trees, plants and fungi

This wood is surrounded on three sides by dry-stone walls and hedge banks that are made up of gorse, bramble and other shrubs. Look out for the small clump of Monterey Pine in the northeast corner. These were planted to replicate hilltop clumps of these resilient trees that are now established across the county.

Look out for:

Habitats

As well as young broadleaved woodland, the 3.5-hectare site is made up of three open grassland areas which offer spectacular views across the Lizard, Mounts Bay and Penwith areas. Other habitats here include rough grassland, wide rides, mature trees and hedgerows. 

Explore:

About Coose Trannack

The name Coose Trannack was chosen by the community as it is old Cornish for 'wood of Trannack' or 'wood at Trannack', or 'to hunt or chase game out of the woodland'. Every year, the wood is filled with the sound of pounding feet as children from a number of primary schools come together to race in the Coose Trannack cross-country run.

Things to do in Coose Trannack

Explore the network of wide grassy tracks and hidden pedestrian paths which provide an enjoyable walk through the wood. Head up to the glades to be rewarded with spectacular views out across the south Cornish coast from the Fal estuary, over the Lizard and Mounts Bay, to West Penwith.