Walks in Cornwall on the Mining Trails

Walks in Cornwall on the Mining Trails

Enjoy the walks by being guided by the app

Phone showing walk for purchase
Download the app and use it to explore the walks and to purchase a guided route.
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 a phone or wifi 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.

These are routes that include parts of the Mining Trails (formerly Mineral Tramways) network of trails in the area between Portreath and Devoran. Also see the Mining Heritage walks for a broader list and the Clay Trails for walks on the trails in the St Austell China Clay area.

  • 6 miles/9.6 km - Easy

    Twelveheads and Chacewater

    Poldice Mine

    Twelveheads and Chacewater

    6 miles/9.6 km - Easy

    A circular walk in the Copper Kingdom of the Old World where the majority of world's copper came from during the 18th and 19th Centuries

  • 3.4 miles/5.4 km - Easy-moderate

    Wheal Maid and Poldice Valley

    Taylor's Engine House

    Wheal Maid and Poldice Valley

    3.4 miles/5.4 km - Easy-moderate

    A circular walk in the area described in Victorian times as the richest square mile anywhere on Earth

  • 4.3 miles/7 km - Easy-moderate

    Tehidy Woods to Deadman's Cove

    Bassets Cove

    Tehidy Woods to Deadman's Cove

    4.3 miles/7 km - Easy-moderate

    A circular walk through the wildlife reserve and bluebell woodland of Tehidy Country Park to Deadman's Cove and the North Cliffs, where many sailing ships were wrecked before the Godrevy Lighthouse was built.

  • 6.2 miles/10 km - Easy-moderate

    Gwennap Pit and Carn Marth

    Gwennap Pit

    Gwennap Pit and Carn Marth

    6.2 miles/10 km - Easy-moderate

    A circular walk through an area steeped in mining history, with panoramic views from Carn Marth and the almost legendary Gwennap Pit which became so famous that even the neighbouring mine was renamed to Cathedral

  • 5.9 miles/9.5 km - Moderate

    Carn Brea and the Great Flat Lode

    Tors on Carn Brea

    Carn Brea and the Great Flat Lode

    5.9 miles/9.5 km - Moderate

    A circular walk along the Great Flat Lode, where the Basset family made their fortune from the rich mineral reserves, to Carn Brea where they built a hunting lodge balanced on a tor in the style of a castle.

  • 5.2 miles/8.4 km - Moderate-strenuous

    Portreath and Tehidy Woods

    Portreath Beach

    Portreath and Tehidy Woods

    5.2 miles/8.4 km - Moderate-strenuous

    A circular walk along the rugged North Cliffs hiding smuggler's coves such as Ralph's Cupboard, to the sandy beach and historic mining port of Portreath, returning via the bluebell woodland of Illogan and Tehidy Country Park.

  • 7.3 miles/11.7 km - Strenuous

    Portreath to Wheal Tye

    Coastline at Portreath

    Portreath to Wheal Tye

    7.3 miles/11.7 km - Strenuous

    A circular walk along the rugged coast from Portreath towards Porthtowan passing small coves and remnants of the clifftop mines beside the old RAF base, and returning via the horse-drawn tramway that brought fortune to Portreath harbour, where its "lighthouse" and "monkey house" remain from the shipping activity.

Download the iWalk Cornwall app and use the QR scanner within the app to find out more about any of the walks above.

Walker on cliffsYou can share tips and ask for recommendations for walks in our Walks in Cornwall facebook group.