First Image
Second Image More images
More (6)
Home> Walks> England> Cornwall and Isles of Scilly> On St Agnes Beacon

On St Agnes Beacon

Recommended by
Our view
"Experience dramatic coastal cliffs and a superb viewpoint."
Walk directions

Join the coastal footpath from your clifftop parking place. Follow the stony track across Tubby's Head. Branch off right on to a narrower path (acorn signpost) about 100yds (91m) before old mine buildings (Wheal Coates mine). Cross a stone stile and continue to Towanroath mine engine house.

About 80yds (71m) beyond Towanroath, branch off right at a junction and continue to Chapel Porth Beach.
View all directions
Location
Nearest postcode:
Additional information
  Terrain  - Good coastal footpaths and inland tracks
  Landscape  - Dramatic coastal cliffs and a high heath-covered hill
  Dog friendliness  - Dogs on lead through grazed areas. No dogs on Chapel Porth beach
  Parking  - St Agnes Head. Several parking spaces along the clifftop track - start the walk from any of these
  Toilets en route  - Chapel Porth Beach
Walks in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Dog-friendly walks in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
About the walk
The breathtaking sea cliffs of St Agnes Head are well hidden from above. There is no easy view of them, unless you are a very skilled rock climber. On St Agnes Head and on Carn Gowla, the cliff that runs south from the headland, vast 300ft (90m) high walls of rock soar from an restless sea. They do...
Read more
Been on this walk placeholder

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more
Walking in Safety placeholder

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more
Get an AA guide placeholder

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more
About the area
Cornwall has just about everything – wild moorland landscapes, glorious river valley scenery, picturesque villages and miles of breathtaking coastline. Known for its popular surfing spots, the region provides ample opportunities for water sport enthusiasts, and for those who prefer to stay on land, visitor attractions like the Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan offer a lovely day out.
Explore Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Area image

Nearby places to stay

View all (8)
Caravan & Camping
Beacon Cottage Farm Holidays
★★★★★
awardawardawardawardaward
"A peaceful and family orientated park with sea views...."
  • Launderette
  • Ice pack facility
  • Picnic Area
  • Shop onsite
Guest Accommodation
Driftwood Spars
★★★★
awardawardaward
"Full of character and with a great atmosphere, even has its own brewery...."
  • Rooms 15
  • Free TV
  • Direct Dial
  • Wifi
Hotel
Rosemundy House Hotel
★★★
award
"The garden with swimming pool is a haven in warmer weather...."
  • Family rooms: 3
  • Free TV
  • WiFi available
Nearby places to stay
Beacon Cottage Farm Holidays
Beacon Cottage is part of a traditional Cornish working family farm. It’s situated in an Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the Heritage Coast and the Southwest Coast Path pass nea...
★★★★★    Rating
Driftwood Spars
Partly built from shipwreck timbers, Driftwood Spars is an 18th-century building that attracts locals and visitors alike. The attractive bedrooms, some in an annexe, are decorated in a ...
★★★★    Rating
Rosemundy House Hotel
Rosemundy House Hotel is an elegant Georgian house that's been carefully restored and extended to provide comfortable bedrooms and spacious,, inviting public areas. The hotel is set in ...
★★★    Rating
Presingoll Farm Caravan & Camping Park
An attractive rural park adjoining farmland, with extensive views of the coast beyond. Family owned and run, with level grass pitches, and a modernised toilet block in smart converted f...
★★★★    Rating
Bodannon Beach House
Bodannon apartment features a good number of thoughtful, homely touches throughout, and is only five minutes’ walk from Porth and Fistral beaches. A super place for a family holiday. Yo...
★★★★    Rating
Bodannon
Bodannon apartment features a good number of thoughtful, homely touches throughout, and is only five minutes’ walk from Porth and Fistral beaches. A super place for a family holiday. Yo...
★★★★    Rating
Old Basset Cottage
‘Old Basset’ holiday accommodation is the original 17th century farmhouse on Wheal Basset Farm. Now completely renovated to a very high standard it sleeps up to 4 people and has its own...
★★★★    Rating
Old Basset Cottage
‘Old Basset’ holiday accommodation is the original 17th century farmhouse on Wheal Basset Farm. Now completely renovated to a very high standard it sleeps up to 4 people and has its own...
★★★★    Rating
View all (8)
Places to eat nearby View all
Driftwood Spars
Pentire Hotel
Dune
   AA Rosette Award
The Alverton Hotel
   AA Rosette Award
Places to eat nearby
Driftwood Spars
Pentire Hotel
Dune
   AA Rosette Award
The Alverton Hotel
   AA Rosette Award
Ugly Butterfly by Adam Handling
   AA Rosette Award
Restaurant RenMor
   AA Rosette Award
Pennypots
   AA Rosette Award
The Greenbank Hotel
   AA Rosette Award
View all
Route details
2hrs
Dog-friendly
Difficulty:
Medium

Gradient:
Moderate


Distance:
5 miles (8kms)

Ascent:
623ft (190m)

Stay in the area  
Eat or drink nearby  
Discover more walks in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
If you like this walk, you can try more routes in the area.
Find more walks in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

On St Agnes Beacon

Recommended by
Our view
"Experience dramatic coastal cliffs and a superb viewpoint."
Walk details
2hrs
Dog friendly
Difficulty:
Medium
Gradient:
Moderate
Distance:
5 miles (8kms)
Ascent:
623ft (190m)
Walk directions

Join the coastal footpath from your clifftop parking place. Follow the stony track across Tubby's Head. Branch off right on to a narrower path (acorn signpost) about 100yds (91m) before old mine buildings (Wheal Coates mine). Cross a stone stile and continue to Towanroath mine engine house.
1 of 7

About 80yds (71m) beyond Towanroath, branch off right at a junction and continue to Chapel Porth Beach.
2 of 7

Cross the stream at the back corner of the car park and follow a path up Chapel Combe. Keep straight ahead when the main path bends sharply right. Pass below a mine building and where the path forks among trees, go left and over a short footbridge.
3 of 7

Turn right along a track and where it bends left beyond Chapel Porth Farm gate, go right along another track. In 50yds (45m) keep ahead at a junction. After passing some houses the track becomes a path. Keep ahead at a fork. Go through a gateway, follow the field-edge, then turn left through a kissing gate on to a wide track.
4 of 7

At a junction, turn left and then right at Willow Cottage and go up to a public road. Turn right and keep ahead at the next junction. In 300yds (274m), next to the entrance of the Beacon Country House Hotel, go up a stony track on the left, signed 'The Beacon'. After 75yds (69m), at a junction, turn left. The track becomes a path just past a cottage. At a staggered junction keep straight uphill to the summit of St Agnes Beacon.
5 of 7

From the summit of the Beacon take the left of two tracks then shortly afterwards follow the left-hand track of two again, heading northwest down to a road. Turn right along the road to reach a seat.
6 of 7

Go down the track opposite the seat. Where the track bends right, keep straight on down a path directly to the edge of the cliffs, then turn left at a junction with the coast path and return to the car park.
7 of 7
Location
Starting point
Nearest postcode:
Additional information
  Terrain - Good coastal footpaths and inland tracks
  Landscape - Dramatic coastal cliffs and a high heath-covered hill
  Dog friendliness - Dogs on lead through grazed areas. No dogs on Chapel Porth beach
  Parking - St Agnes Head. Several parking spaces along the clifftop track - start the walk from any of these
  Toilets en route - Chapel Porth Beach
Walks in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Dog-friendly walks in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
About the walk
The breathtaking sea cliffs of St Agnes Head are well hidden from above. There is no easy view of them, unless you are a very skilled rock climber. On St Agnes Head and on Carn Gowla, the cliff that runs south from the headland, vast 300ft (90m) high walls of rock soar from an restless sea. They do...
Read more
Been on this walk placeholder

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more
Walking in Safety placeholder

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more
Get an AA guide placeholder

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more
About the area
Area image
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Cornwall has just about everything – wild moorland landscapes, glorious river valley scenery, picturesque villages and miles of breathtaking coastline. Known for its popular surfing spots, the region provides ample opportunities for water sport enthusiasts, and for those who prefer to stay on land, visitor attractions like the Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan offer a lovely day out.
Explore Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

Nearby places to stay

View all (8)
Caravan & Camping
Beacon Cottage Farm Holidays
★★★★★
awardawardawardawardaward
"A peaceful and family orientated park with sea views...."
  • Launderette
  • Ice pack facility
  • Picnic Area
  • Shop onsite
Guest Accommodation
Driftwood Spars
★★★★
awardawardaward
"Full of character and with a great atmosphere, even has its own brewery...."
  • Rooms 15
  • Free TV
  • Direct Dial
  • Wifi
Hotel
Rosemundy House Hotel
★★★
award
"The garden with swimming pool is a haven in warmer weather...."
  • Family rooms: 3
  • Free TV
  • WiFi available
Nearby places to stay
Beacon Cottage Farm Holidays
Beacon Cottage is part of a traditional Cornish working family farm. It’s situated in an Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the Heritage Coast and the Southwest Coast Path pass nea...
★★★★★    Rating
Driftwood Spars
Partly built from shipwreck timbers, Driftwood Spars is an 18th-century building that attracts locals and visitors alike. The attractive bedrooms, some in an annexe, are decorated in a ...
★★★★    Rating
Rosemundy House Hotel
Rosemundy House Hotel is an elegant Georgian house that's been carefully restored and extended to provide comfortable bedrooms and spacious,, inviting public areas. The hotel is set in ...
★★★    Rating
Presingoll Farm Caravan & Camping Park
An attractive rural park adjoining farmland, with extensive views of the coast beyond. Family owned and run, with level grass pitches, and a modernised toilet block in smart converted f...
★★★★    Rating
Bodannon Beach House
Bodannon apartment features a good number of thoughtful, homely touches throughout, and is only five minutes’ walk from Porth and Fistral beaches. A super place for a family holiday. Yo...
★★★★    Rating
Bodannon
Bodannon apartment features a good number of thoughtful, homely touches throughout, and is only five minutes’ walk from Porth and Fistral beaches. A super place for a family holiday. Yo...
★★★★    Rating
Old Basset Cottage
‘Old Basset’ holiday accommodation is the original 17th century farmhouse on Wheal Basset Farm. Now completely renovated to a very high standard it sleeps up to 4 people and has its own...
★★★★    Rating
Old Basset Cottage
‘Old Basset’ holiday accommodation is the original 17th century farmhouse on Wheal Basset Farm. Now completely renovated to a very high standard it sleeps up to 4 people and has its own...
★★★★    Rating
View all (8)
Places to eat nearby View all
Driftwood Spars
Pentire Hotel
Dune
   AA Rosette Award
The Alverton Hotel
   AA Rosette Award
Places to eat nearby
Driftwood Spars
Pentire Hotel
Dune
   AA Rosette Award
The Alverton Hotel
   AA Rosette Award
Ugly Butterfly by Adam Handling
   AA Rosette Award
Restaurant RenMor
   AA Rosette Award
Pennypots
   AA Rosette Award
The Greenbank Hotel
   AA Rosette Award
View all
Stay in the area  
Eat or drink nearby