Cornwall

White Rocks to St Agnes Beacon loop

This circular walk follows a gentle stretch of South West Coast Path from St Agnes Head to Wheal Coates before looping back via St Agnes Beacon. People have been coming to this spot for more than 6,000 years, ever since Mesolithic hunters first stopped here – scatterings of their flint weapons and tools have been discovered beyond the car park boulders. There are also foundations of Second World War ammunition stores and gun emplacements, where Bofors guns were mounted and used by trainee gunners.

Near to

St Agnes Head

Start point

St Agnes Head main car park, grid ref: SW699513

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 2.8 (km: 4.48)

Duration2 hours

Dog friendly***

*Rough pathways with several steep inclines. For further details, please see Terrain
**Rough pathways; some parts of the trail accessed via stile. For further details, please see section marked Access.
***Dogs welcome. For further details, please see section marked Facilities.

Address
Near St Agnes, TR5 0NS
Directions via Google Maps
On foot
The South West Coast Path runs through this area and there is a good network of paths from St Agnes village. See Ordnance Survey explorer map 104 for details.
By road
From the A30, at Chiverton Cross roundabout, take B3277 for St Agnes. At the roundabout at the entrance to St Agnes village, turn left and follow the brown tourist signs continue around the beacon for parking at Wheal Coates and St Agnes Head.
Total stages: 8
Total stages: 8
Start point
St Agnes Head main car park, grid ref: SW699513
Stage 1
Head south onto the coast path at the far end of the White Rocks car park. Continue along the path, taking in the panoramic views south past Porthtowan and Portreath and on to Godrevy Point and St Ives beyond.
Stage 2
After the capped mineshaft take the waymarked coast path leading down to the right and follow it, bearing right again at the next junction to reach the Towanroath Engine House.
Stage 3
Retrace your steps up the coast path, take a hairpin bend to the right, and follow the path up the slope to the Wheal Coates complex.
The coast at Wheal Coates | © National Trust Images / Hugh Mothersole
Stage 4
Leave the mine along the gravel path to the left of the chimney stack and head east, with St Agnes Beacon directly ahead. Walk through Wheal Coates car park towards the road. Turn left, walk along the road for a short distance, then take the first right to Beacon Cottage Farm touring park.
Stage 5
Follow the lane to reach the farmyard, then walk through the yard between the barns to reach the far end. Go through the signposted gate, cross the field to the far corner, and over the stone stile. Follow the path, ignoring other paths to left and right, then bear left uphill towards the beacon's summit.
Stage 6
Descend from the summit, taking the left-hand path heading north west. When you reach the road at the foot of the beacon, cross over and go down the lane opposite.
Stage 7
Take the lane on the left after the sentry box and continue along it to reach a stile. Walk over the steps and onto a path running along the edge of the heath.
Stage 8
Follow the path in a straight line, ignoring routes to either side, to reach your starting point.
End point
St Agnes Head main car park, grid ref: SW699513
Trail map
White Rocks to St Agnes Beacon trail | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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