This week, I explored the coastal path at St Agnes Head and was blown away by the sight of the Cornish coastline. With an expanse of sea on the horizon, views across to St Ives to the West and the iconic tin mines rising into the sky, it truly is postcard perfect. I continue to be amazed that although I’ve grown up in Cornwall, I’m still finding places I’ve never been to before. I love walking coastal paths and exploring new spots. And, of course, sharing them with you, too! Here’s why I recommend St Agnes for your next coastal walk.

St Agnes Town

St Agnes is a small town on the north coast of Cornwall, between Portreath and Perranporth. Set within an official Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the town is home to several beautiful beaches and a stunning coastal path which draws locals and tourists alike. It’s easy to see how such impressive scenery inspired the Poldark novels which later became a hit TV series. With a few independent shops, cafes and bars, St Agnes is a classic, rural Cornish town. Despite its appeal to tourists, the town has thankfully resisted the urbanisation and modernisation which usually disrupts the charm of local villages. It remains a quaint and authentic place for a day out.

St Agnes Head & Coastal Path

There are lots of walking routes in and around St Agnes. With plenty of parking in the village and out towards the National Trust site of Wheal Coates, you can plan as short or as long a walk as you’d like.

On our recent visit, my friend and I parked in Reppers Coombe car park by Trevaunance Cove beach and walked out of town along the road. Being a February morning, the road was quiet and fairly safe for walking. I imagine in the summer it would be a lot busier. We walked until level with Wheal Coates Tea Room at which point we turned towards the coast.

Following the coast path west, we came upon Wheal Coates Mining Heritage site (more on that shortly). After exploring the mining site and marvelling at the stunning views across to St Ives, we walked back to town via the South West Coast Path. This was simply stunning. Walking along, we admired the unrivalled view across the sea and enjoyed seeing the bright yellow gorse spike up against the grey sky and blue sea. We were fully immersed in nature, and it was so peaceful.

The coast path runs along a sharp cliff drop, with no fencing to protect you and not many passing places. So, if you’re not confident with heights or walking in such environments, I would suggest considering a different route (or at least do your research beforehand). Wearing sensible walking shoes and clothing is obviously advised, too, as well as taking a bottle of water!

The route we took was a decent walk. In total, the round-trip took us about 2 and a half hours. By the time we got back to St Agnes town, we were ready for a pasty!

Wheal Coates Tin Mine

Wheal Coates is a remarkable landmark. Set in the cliffside, the location is home to the spectacular ruins of several tin mines and engine houses. Their chimneys reach up into the sky, providing a picture-perfect glimpse back in time to an older Cornwall. With the sea as a backdrop and views west towards St Ives, this really is an impressive place to visit. Wheal Coates is officially recognised as an UNESCO World Heritage site and is looked after by the National Trust. There’s plenty of National Trust parking nearby for a fee, however, the site itself is free to visit.

Recharging after the walk

We had a fantastic morning exploring the St Agnes coast. We walked a long way – and longer than was necessary thanks to being unprepared and getting lost! On our return to the village, we picked up pasties from St Agnes Bakery for lunch. This was just what we needed to replenish our energy. The pasties were delicious, and I’ll definitely be going back soon to try their giant sausage rolls which looked amazing. They had several vegetarian and vegan options too which is great as it means there’s something to suit everyone’s taste. Take a look at the pictures on their Instagram page to get a glimpse of their delicious creations!

Final thoughts

I loved exploring St Agnes, the coastal path and the tin mines this week. It was so refreshing to get out and explore somewhere new, and to be immersed in the stunning scenery and sea air.

There are lots of beautiful walks which continue in each direction, including up St Agnes Beacon, but this route was enough for us. Maybe next time, we’ll do a slightly different course to see the sights from a different angle. There are plenty of resources online offering alternative walking routes around the area.

I’m looking forward to my next adventure. Help me decide where to visit next: what’s your favourite place of interest or walk in Cornwall? I’d love to hear – let me know in the comments below or send a message through my contact page. I’m always happy to hear from my readers!

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Before I go…

Did you know that we’re on Instagram, too?

Visit the account @acornishgirl to view more photos from this trip, among other stunning images I’ve captured of Cornwall. As the account is newly set-up, there’s not TONS to see just yet, but I promise I have a lot of great photos coming!

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