St Agnes Heritage Coast Walks - St Agnes Beacon
This circular walk visits St Agnes Head before climbing St Agnes Beacon and visiting the fascinating Wheal Coates tin mine on the Cornish coast. It's a beautiful area with yellow gorse and purple heather prominent features in the late summer months. The area also has a fascinating mining history with atmospheric coastal ruins dating from the early 19th century. It is often referred to as Poldark country because of the associations with the historical novels by Winston Graham and the television series starring Aidan Turner.
There's a car park on the headland where you can start your walk. After exploring the headland the route then climbs inland to St Agnes Beacon. The hill stands at a height of 189m (620 ft), commanding fabulous views over the surrounding coast and countryside. After descending the beacon the route then heads to the Wheal Coates tin mine. The mine is one of the highlights of the area with dramatic ruins overlooking a beautiful coastline. It was opened in 1802 and closed in 1889 when the price of tin fell.
The route then heads along the coast to visit Chapel Porth where there is a lovely beach. From here you follow the coast path back to the St Agnes Head car park.
To extend your walk you can head south and visit the Chapel Combe valley and the popular village of Porthtowan. Heading north east along the South West Coast Path will take you to Perranporth.
St Agnes Head - St Agnes Beacon - Wheal Coates Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
St Agnes Head - St Agnes Beacon - Wheal Coates Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
St Agnes Head - St Agnes Beacon - Wheal Coates OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
St Agnes Head - St Agnes Beacon - Wheal Coates Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
The Perranporth to St Agnes Walk will take you to the headland from the nearby town of Perranporth. It's about a 5 mile walk to the worthy settlement where you will find a splendid pub right on the beautiful beach.
Just south of Newquay you can pick up the Holywell to Crantock Circular Walk to visit the lovely Holywell Bay and the secluded beach at Porth Joke.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Cornwall Walks page.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
St Agnes from St Agnes Beacon. This photograph was taken from the Trig Point on St Agnes Beacon and looks east over the village of St Agnes. This photograph illustrates the number of 20th century houses which have been built out over the landscape surrounding the mainly 19th century village. Although almost impossible to see on this low resolution version of the photograph there are at least four old mine engine houses scattered amongst the houses.
St Agnes Head. Bawden rocks can be seen in the distance.
View west from St Agnes Beacon. Showing Beacon Cottage Farm and beyond, on the coast, the old engine houses of Wheal coates mine.
Wheal Coates. The Whim Engine house (on the left of the picture) overlooks the Towanroath pumping house and was built in 1880 and lies close to the stamps and whim engine house built earlier in 1872-73(on the right).
Footpath on St Agnes Beacon. Heather and Gorse make a colourful scene.
Clifftop near St Agnes. Mining and quarrying has scarred the landscape here but after a time heather and gorse take up residence on the waste ground.
View south from Carn Gowla. The 300 foot cliffs on a morning of sea mist.
Newdowns Head. Newdowns Head with Perran Beach in the distance