Holywell to St Piran's Oratory circular walk

Holywell to St Piran's Oratory

A circular walk from Holywell Bay along the rugged coastline to Perran Beach and across the dunes to the mediaeval relics of St Piran's Oratory, Church and Cross, returning via the Penhale Sands nature reserve which is carpeted in cowslips during spring.

Get the app to guide you around the walk

Phone showing walk for purchase
Download the (free) app then use it to purchase this walk.
Phone showing Google navigation to start of walk
The app will direct you to the start of the walk via satnav.
Hand holding a phone showing the iWalk Cornwall app
The app guides you around the walk using GPS, removing any worries about getting lost.
Phone showing walk directions page in the iWalk Cornwall app
The walk route is described with detailed, regularly-updated, hand-written directions.
Person looking a directions on phone
Each time there is a new direction to follow, the app will beep to remind you, and will warn you if you go off-route.
Phone showing walk map page in the iWalk Cornwall app
A map shows the route, where you are at all times and even which way you are facing.
Phone showing facts section in iWalk Cornwall app
Each walk is packed with information about the history and nature along the route, from over a decade of research than spans more than 3,000 topics.
Person looking at phone with cliff scenery in background
Once a walk is downloaded, the app doesn't need wifi or a phone signal during the walk.
Phone showing walk stats in the iWalk Cornwall app
The app counts down distance to the next direction and estimates time remaining based on your personal walking speed.
Person repairing footpath sign
We keep the directions continually updated for changes to the paths/landmarks - the price for a walk includes ongoing free updates.

either as a GPS-guided walk with our app (£3.29) or a PDF of directions (£2.79) Example of directions

A circular walk from Holywell Bay along the rugged coastline to Perran Beach and across the dunes to the mediaeval relics of St Piran's Oratory, Church and Cross, returning via the Penhale Sands nature reserve which is carpeted in cowslips during spring.

Highlights

  • The Holy Well - an amazing natural series of basins created from dissolved minerals
  • Long, sandy beaches at Holywell Bay and Perranporth
  • Rugged coastline around Hoblyn's Cove
  • Panoramic views from the coast path
  • St Piran's Oratory - thought to date from the early mediaeval period
  • St Piran's Cross - thought to be over 1000 years old
  • Remains of St Piran's Church, itself nearly as old
  • Penhale Sands - the tallest dunes in Britain and largest in Cornwall

Considerations

  • Route includes paths close to unfenced cliff edges.

Buy walk

Sign in to buy this walk.

This walk is in your basket. Proceed to your basket to complete your purchase.

My Basket Remove from basket

You own this walk.

Price: £

Buy now Add to basket

An error occurred while checking the availability of this walk:

Please retry reloading the page. If this problem persists, please contact us for assistance.

Reload page

Vital statistics

  • OS Explorer: 104
  • Distance: 7.4 miles/11.9 km
  • Steepness grade: Moderate
  • Recommended footwear: Walking boots, trainers in summer
  • Pub: ✓

Location

Map showing the location of this walk

Pubs on or near the route

  • The Treguth Inn

either as a GPS-guided walk with our app (£3.29) or a PDF of directions (£2.79) Example of directions

Please recycle your ink cartridges to help prevent plastic fragments being ingested by seabirds. Google "Empties Please" to get freepost bags.