Cornish Walks: St Agnes to Perranporth
Sweeping sea views, a sandy cove tucked away in a valley, rugged copper cliffs, relics of Cornwall’s mining history and a surfer’s paradise with the UK’s only bar on the beach. This long and extremely hilly walk from St Agnes to Perranporth is a must for any coastal adventurer with an interest in history and love of beautiful beaches.
Walk details
- Time - 1 hour 45 mins (each way)
- Distance - approx 4.5 miles (each way)
- Location - north coast
- Highlights - coastal views | beaches & coves | historic landmarks | abandoned mines
Source: Google Maps
Starting point & parking
- Start - St Agnes TR5 0LX
- Finish - Perranporth Beach TR6 0JN
I prefer to walk from St Agnes to Perranporth, rather than vice versa, mainly so I can reward myself with a drink in The Watering Hole or an ice-cream on Perranporth Beach before heading back. However, there are plenty of pay and display car parks in Perranporth so you could do it either way.
I normally park in a little layby along the B3285 road. If you put postcode TR5 0LX into your sat nav, you should find it. It is just a short three minute walk along the main road before you take a left onto a country path with a wooden sign directing you to ‘Blue Hills’ public footpath. This is where your walk begins.
NOTE:
There is also an extremely small National Trust car park ‘Trevellas Cove Car Park – TR5 0XP‘ with limited space. (Dislaimer: I haven’t personally parked here before.)
Trevellas Porth Beach and the ‘Blue Hills’ Valley
If you’ve parked where I suggested, after a ramble down some country lanes you’ll arrive to birds eye views of Trevellas Porth Beach. A steep descent brings you to a valley with stone chimneys and a beautiful cove.
The sheltered vale gets its nickname ‘Blue Hills Valley’ from the remnants of the Blue Hills Mine, scattered around the trickling stream that runs into the sea.
This destination alone is enough to keep you occupied for hours, admiring artefacts of Cornish mining days gone by. At low tide pay a visit to the neighbouring inlet, Trevaunance Cove.
Once you’ve enjoyed exploring Trevellas, brace yourself for a heck of a climb! Not for the faint hearted, make your way to the top of a near-vertical ascent up the valley. The views (and hike up the hill!) will take your breath away.
Keep an eye out for abandoned mine shafts, now covered with wire pyramids.
When admiring the raw beauty of the coast, you may notice the deep red colour of the cliff faces. Tin and copper mining was a hot commodity back in the 1800s.
The terrain is very uneven and stony, so make sure you’re wearing comfortable shoes.
Cligga Head Mine and the WW1 Dynamite Factory Ruins
One of the most fascinating elements of the walk from St Agnes to Perranporth is Cligga Head. Steeped in over 2000 years of history, Cligga Mine once operated here. Giant ore-boulders fallen from the cliff face were hauled up in big baskets to be mined for tin. Small, retired quarries can also be discovered, but the most intriguing of all is the link to the dynamite industry.
Up until 1893, only mining-related activities were recorded to have taken place at Cligga Head. However, the location’s proximity to the mines and the slope of the land made the conditions ideal for the opening of the British and Colonial Explosives Factory.
The factory was shortly taken over by Alfred Nobel, a Swedish chemist and engineer famous for the invention of dynamite and founding the internationally recognised and prestigious Nobel Prize.
During World War I, the site played a part in the manufacturing of hand grenades and shells, staffed predominantly by local women.
During World War II, 300 tons of the mineral wolframite were mined at this site and used as a strategic asset. A valuable source for the metal tungsten, it was used to produce armour-piercing shells. However, when cheaper options for importing tungsten were discovered in 1945, the site closed.
Standing amongst the remains, you can imagine what once stood proud and tall perched upon the cliff head.
A booming empire. The latest in chemical discovery. Miners working tirelessly come rain or shine, heaving hefty baskets of tin-laden boulders. Anxious workers during the peak of both World Wars doing their bit on the Cornish cliffs. There is certainly a sense of cultural importance and an eery sense of abandonment up there.
Perranporth Beach
After walking through thousands of years’ worth of Cornish history, and over 4 miles of coastal path, if you’re anything like me, the prospect of an ice-cream on the beach will seem like bliss.
The last stretch of the coastal path is pretty steep. If you’re scared of heights – just don’t look down! As you arrive at the north Cornish seaside resort town, your efforts will be rewarded.
Perranporth is home to one awesome beach, and an even cooler beach bar, plenty of ice-cream shops, cafes and restaurants, as well as gift and souvenir shops galore!
Perranporth Beach is a hot-spot for surfing, epic sunsets and live music, courtesy of The Watering Hole, the one and only beach bar found in the UK.
Enjoy roaming around the town, rest your legs and relax on the beach or take a dip in the sea, before heading back to St Agnes the way you came.
Additional Info
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Dog friendly? - Trevellas Porth Beach is dog friendly all year round. Perranporth Beach is dog friendly, but in July and August dogs much remain on their leads. The walk itself would be suitable for dogs, but worth bearing in mind the length of the walk and the steep cliff edges and occasional narrow paths.
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Child friendly? - I wouldn't recommend bringing small toddlers or children on this walk, there are some seriously steep hills. For slightly older children it may be suitable, but parents should be aware there are lots of sheer drops.
- Public toilets? - Public toilets can be found at Trevaunance Cove (next to Trevellas Porth) and in Perranporth.
Walked from St Agnes to Perranporth before? What was your highlight?
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