Cornwall

Botallack and Kenidjack coastal walk

Explore the industrial heritage of Cornwall's Tin Coast on a stunning walk across clifftop heathland. Starting with views of the famous Crowns Engine Houses, this circular route shows why the St Just area is so special. Listen out for the distinctive ‘cheow’ of passing choughs or catch a glimpse of basking sharks.

Near to

Botallack

Start point

Botallack National Trust car park, grid ref: SW365332

Watch your step

This walk explores exposed coast paths and industrial heritage. Please keep well back from cliff edges with steep drops, and be aware that there are old mine shafts.

Address
Botallack Count House, on the Tin Coast, near St Just, Cornwall, TR19 7QQ
Directions via Google Maps
On foot
Botallack Count House is just off the long-distance trail, the South West Coast Path.
South West Coast Path
Cycling
Take B3306 from St Ives or St Just to Botallack, take either turn into village and where the two roads meet, take track out to coast. Bike stand outside the count house.
By road
Leave the B3306 and enter the village of Botallack. As the road turns sharply, take the road on the bend. Follow the road as it turns into a track passing Botallack Manor on your right. Continue along the track to the car park just past the count house and workshop.
Dogs
Dogs welcome, but please keep them on leads through farmland, where cattle graze, and anywhere along the coast path.
Car park
Pay and display car park (National Trust members free). There is no overnight parking or camping permitted at Botallack.
Toilet
Toilet facilities are available at Botallack Count House during opening hours.
Café
The Count House Café (not National Trust) serves a variety of hot and cold drinks, cakes and snacks.
Cycle parking
Bike stands available by Botallack Count House.
Total stages: 8
Total stages: 8
Start point
Botallack National Trust car park, grid ref: SW365332
Stage 1
Start at the Botallack Count House next to the car park, where there's information about local mining and natural history. From the count house, turn right along the track.
The Crowns
The Botallack cliffs were once world-famous for their industry, in particular the Crowns engine houses perched on the cliff edge – the mine workings stretch far out under the sea. Botallack Mine was worked for tin and copper for over 500 years. Its sites include the early 20th-century arsenic works with its labyrinth of tunnels, the Victorian count house (mine office) where your walk starts, and the steel headgear on Allens Shaft.
Sunset behind the Crowns on the cliffs at Botallack | © National Trust Images/John Miller
Stage 2
Just past the headgear on the right, turn left by the coast path sign, following the path through the tin dressing floor and past the chimney. Continue past West Wheal Owles and Wheal Edward engine houses.
Stage 3
Following the coast path turn right, waymarked to Cape Cornwall and out to Kenidjack Headland. Here you can explore the Iron Age cliff castle to the north of the rifle butts, with views of Cape Cornwall in the background.
Dexter cattle graze Kenidjack Headland | © National Trust Images/Sarah Burch
Stage 4
From the rifle butts, the coast path leads down the hillside. Go over the stile where a waymark states 'mine shaft, danger of death'. Turn left onto the old quarry track, then take the path on the right that runs diagonally down the valley side.
Look out for the beautiful demoiselle at Catcher's Pool | © National Trust Images/Phil Bruss
Stage 5
Follow the track inland, past the Kenidjack arsenic works with its tall chimney on the other side of the stream. At the National Trust sign for Kenidjack, turn right again and continue on to Kenidjack hamlet.
Cape Cornwall, seen from Kenidjack Valley | © National Trust Images/Liz Abdey
Stage 6
Where the rough track ends and the metalled road starts, turn left and go up through the hamlet to a stone stile straight ahead. Beyond this, cross the field to another stile, and follow a narrow track between hedges.
Stage 7
To the left of the house straight ahead is Wheal Owles, a ruined engine house. Take the track beside the engine house on its right, cross the stile and head through the fields towards the coast. Cross the next stile back to the track above Wheal Edward.
Stage 8
At the junction, turn right along this ancient trackway with partial remains of the original cobbles. Turn left at the junction, which will lead back to the count house track, clearly visible in front of you.
End point
Botallack National Trust car park, grid ref: SW365332
Trail map
Map of the Botallack and Kenidjack coastal walk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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Place

Botallack

On the wild Tin Coast, the famed Crowns engine houses cling to the foot of the cliffs. Part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site and Poldark filming location.

Trail

Botallack mining walk

Discover Cornish mining heritage on this beautiful one mile walk around Botallack.

on the Tin Coast, near St Just, Cornwall, TR19 7QQ

01736786934

botallack@nationaltrust.org.uk

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