South Wheal Frances, Great  Flat Lode	Portreath Incline, off Portreath Branchline	Wheal Uny, Redruth and Chacewater Trail

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INTRODUCTION

Coast-to-Coast

Great Flat Lode

Redruth and Chacewater

Portreath Branchline

Tresavean Trail

The Alternative Coast-to-Coast Walkers Trail

Oliver's Tolgus Trail

Redruth - The Missing Link

CORNWALL REVIEWS INDEX and SITE CONTENTS

The Mining Trails (formerly Mineral Tramways Trails)

In 2006 UNESCO World Heritage status was granted to large areas of the mining landscape of Cornwall and West Devon.  While much of the credit for this achievement must go to organisations like the Trevithick Truat and the National Trust, and to many concerned individuals, Cornwall County Council acted as a major driver.  Indeed their Mineral Tramways Project has, in its way, underpinned the whole business by opening up access to many of the inportant sites in the Camborne/Redruth area.  We first discoverd about the existence of mineral tramways when walking around Minions on Bodmin Moor and finding double lines of granite setts.  When we learned about the opening of the first Mineral Tramways - the Great Flat Lode and the Coast to Coast - we walked those and loved them.  In 2006 work began to open up another 20 miles - the Portreath Branchline, the Redruth and Chacewater Railway Trail , the Tresavean Trail, the Tolgus Trail,  and a Tehidy Trail through Tehidy Park from Portreath.  Opening of all these was originally planned for 2008.  As so often with grand publicly funded projects, the timetable slipped and they weren't fimished until 2010.  The Tolgus Trail was abandoned.  More details in the box below and under individual trails.

Carn Brea Mine, at the start of the Great Flat Lode Trail

Websites Mining Trails (download guide & map) and Mining Heritage

UPDATE AUGUST 2010:   Despite a grand launch of the new trails, held at the Elm Farm Cycle Centre at Cambrose on 26 September 2009, the new trails didn't open until 2010.  The Redruth and Chacewater is complete, linking the Coast-to-Coast at Twelveheads with the Great Flat Lode and Redruth Church Town.  The Portreath Branchline was the last one finished and now links Portreath to the Great Flat Lode at Brea Village, thus completing a new longer, and more interesting, route from Portreath to Devoran.  Sadly it looks like the Portreath Incline will not after all be the crowning glory of this trail but, at least, there is an alternative route down to Portreath from Gwel-an-Mor.  The 2 mile Tresavean Trail, off the Redruth and Chacewater, was completed some while ago. The Tehidy Trail is also complete but is not really a Mining Trail.  My own Tolgus Trail runs from the Coast-to-Coast at Scorrier and links Wheal Peevor and Tolgus Tin with the Coast-to-Coast at Bridge.  My Alternative Coast-to-Coast incorporates the Portreath Branchline, the Great Flat Lode, the Redruth and Chacewater, and the final part of the Coast-to-Coast.

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Coast-to-Coast - Portreath to Devoran - Cyclists 12 miles, Walkers 16¼ miles

During winter 2006 I had walked the Copper Trail around Bodmin Moor.  In May I walked St. Michael's Way and the Saints Way, both coast to coast trails.  In June 2006 I added in another trail, this one from Portreath on the north coast to Devoran on the south.  The trail, open to cyclists and horse riders as well as walkers, follows horse-drawn tramways that once served the rich tin and copper mines to the east of Redruth;  first the old Portreath Tramroad to Scorrier, then the Redruth and Chacewater Railway to Devoran.  It is easy walking, gentle gradients take you up to only 300 feet at Scorrier.  The 12 mile cyclists route is completely straightforward.  My longer 16¼ mile walkers route includes off-trail paths between Bridge and Scorrier;  the Loops, shown on the official map;  and some alternative paths between Poldice and Twelveheads.  My walkers route also includes a great deal more interest:  Wheal Peevor Mine, Hawke's Shaft Engine House, Wheal Busy Mine,  Poldice Arsenic Calciner, and Penpol Creek are the major sites.  There are informative storyboards along the way, not least at Portreath harbour and Devoran.  Waymarking is tasteful and good.  There is ample opportunity for refreshment along the way, see box below.  You may be able to walk the trail in one go using public transport.  First Bus 43 and 44 links Portreath Beach with Redruth Station.  First Bus 47 (Not Sunday) links Redruth Station with Devoran.

The first waymarker at Portreath

Now go to the full Coast-to-Coast Trail (link not working yet)

REFRESHMENTS ALONG THE WAY:  2 pubs, 2 seasonal cafés, Portreath.  Bridge Inn, Bridge.  Bike Barn at Elm Farm near Cambrose.  Smokey Joe’s café Scorrier (just before the A30 crossing).  Plume pub (food all day), Crossroads Hotel and Fox & Hounds pub (all day F & S only), Scorrier (all a little off the walkers route).  Bissoe Cycle Hire café, Point Mills.  Old Quay Inn, Devoran.

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The Great Flat Lode Trail 7½ miles - 8½ with Countryman detour

The 7½ mile multi-user trail, a little to the south of Camborne and Redruth, circles Carn Brea hill, around what was once one of the busiest tin and copper mining areas in the world.  The trail consists of well-laid tracks on former mineral tramways.  Signage is good and there are only two minor climbs along the way.  Three detours are suggested.  The first is to climb Carn Brea Hill, easily identified by its Castle and eye-catching Bassett Monument.  The short second is to see St. Euny church at Redruth Churchtown.  The third is for lunch at the ordinary-seeming but quite excellent Countryman Inn at Piece (good value hot baguettes and super giant Cornish pasties).  Because the climbs take you up to around 650 feet, the views are terrific for much of the time.  For fans of industrial remains there is a lot of interest along the way (see below) so what could be walked in two hours may well take 4 or 5.  There is a large car park at South Wheal Basset, small one at Seleggan Smelter and some parking at Brea village but we prefer to use the little car park at Cowlin's Mill, near Tincroft Mine, just south of the railway at Pool, as this makes the Countryman a convenient lunch break.  There was once a Tramways Centre at Cowlin's Mill but now go to King Edward Mine or to Cornish Mines and Engines in Pool for information.  A good lunch alternative is the Brea Inn in Brea village.

Marriott's Shaft at South Wheal Frances mine

Mining Trails Map --- Interest along the trail and more Images

Major Interest and More Images of the Great Flat Lode Trail

I have walked the Great Flat Lode Trail on many occasions - and have walked parts of it when walking the Land's End Trail or visiting Carn Brea.  I like to leave the trail sometimes to take in additional interest, so this item includes some off-trail sites.  The sites are listed in clockwise order, starting at Cowlin's Mill.  St. Euny Church:  Just off-trail at Redruth Churchtown;  medieval tower but Georgian nave;  fascinating graveyard with massive mining family tombs; impressive lych gate with two coffin rests.  Wheal Uny Mine:  Just off-trail, on emerging from woodland after Redruth Churchtown;  two impressive engine houses, surrounded by heather.  Seleggan Smelter:  Just off-trail;  when you reach the road after Wheal Uny, turn right down the hill;  minor remains of Cornwall's last operating tin smelter, closed 1931; small car park.  Wheal Basset:  Substantial remains of major copper mine;  good storyboard, large car park.  Wheal Basset Stamps:  Off-trail in Carnkie village;  leave trail after Wheal Basset at Hillside Farm lane, into Carnkie village, right on road, site on left;  major remains of ore-crushing and preparation site. South Wheal Frances:  Marriot's Shaft is the finest ruined site on the trail;  remains of Boiler House, Compressor House,  Miner's Dry, Smithy and winding engine house and the bases of ore bins;  good storyboard;  leave the trail here for the Countryman pub.  Further on you pass the engine houses of Pascoe's Shaft and Daubuz's Shaft. King Edward Mine:  An important museum at the site where the Camborne School of Mines used to be based;  the Mill is complete and the tour includes a fascinating museum and some working machinery;  very helpful and informative staff.  Brea village:  Here the Great Flat Lode Trail links with the Portreath Branchline Trail;  as the Great Flat Lode trail leaves the village, good view of South Crofty, only working mine in Cornwall, re-opened in early 21st century, exploratory work progressing.  Brea Inn pub.  Williams Shaft:  Off-trail, up steep hill SW from Brea village;   worth a visit just for the remains of the Morgan's patent traversing engine that operated winding gear. Tincroft Mine:  The last site before you get back to Cowlin's Mill;  delightful romanesque architecture. Cornish Mine and Engines:  Major National Trust museum in Pool, ½ mile north of Cowlin's Mill;  at Taylor's Shaft, film, displays, models, massive 52 ton beam engine;  at Michell's Shaft, across the road, a working beam engine.

Nicely executed romanesque arches at South Tincroft	This striking building was the ore crusher at South Wheal Frances

UPDATE OCTOBER 2009   At last I have seen cyclists on the Great Flat Lode Trail.  In September 2009 Jane and I attended King Edward Mine's Open Day, which we enjoyed.  To fill out our day we walked the Trail from King Edward to South Wheal Frances and back, lunching at the Countryman at Piece.  To our surprise we saw a group of about 15 cyclists on the trail, clearly enjoying themselves.  We also saw a family on hired bikes.  The children were finding it very hard going - the trail is by no means  flat - and we think they probably gave up and turned back.

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Redruth and Chacewater Trail - Redruth Churchtown to Twelveheads

I had walked, as far as was possible, the line of this route in November 2006.  Then in August 2007 Jane and I joined a superb guided walk on part of the projected route.  Our guides were mining men Eric Rabjohns and Mark Kaczmarek and Trevithick Society industrial archaeologist Kingsley Rickard - all most informative, knowledgeable and entertaining.  Now that the route is complete in 2010, I have walked it a couple more times, first following the official cyclists route, then devising my own, much improved, alternative for walkers.  The R & C links with the Great Flat Lode trail at Wheal Buller but really starts at Redruth Churchtown.  It should have started in Redruth itself, linking there with the ill-fated Tolgus Trail, but that's another story.  At its southern end it joins the Coast-to-Coast Trail on its way to Devoran.  Interest along the way includes St. Euny's church, Wheal Uny mine, Pennance Consols engine house, fascinating Carharrack village and its shute, Wheal Maid Valley, United Downs mine and its massive and colourful tailings dam and a glimpse of the amazing County Adit.  The disappointment about the official route is that, from Pennance Consols, the Trail follows a low level route to Carharrack, using a fast and dangerous road part of the way.  That, and the great views afforded, is why I have devised an alternative walkers route

Part of the massive tailings dam in Wheal Maid Valley

Redruth and Chacewater Trail - The Walkers Detour

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Follow the official from Redruth Churchtown.  But do first take a look at St. Euny's Church and, after leaving the woodland near the top of the hill, do take a look at the engine houses of Wheal Uny mine.  Continue on the trail to cross the busy A393 and follow Carn Marth Lane to just past Pennance Consols engine house.  At 71317/40578 ignore the forward trail waymark and bear left uphill to the summit at 71697/40841, by a pool in a quarry on your left.  At the cross track, go right downhill on a bridleway, crossing a minor road, and at 72565/41248, with cottage on L, go R through kissing gate and bear L on central path through light woodland, through a kissing gate and down to a cattle stile at 72741/41287.  Continue down on a track and tarmac lane to a triangular green and Carharrack Shute at 72847/41261.  Go R on Shute Hill down to road from Pennance and cross to the official cycle route at 72811/41074.  Go L but then ignore trail sign pointing R and follow track and road into Carharrack village.  Just before main road, cross Wheal Damsel Road on L and and take footpath past Methodist Chapel (1815) and Sunday School, to Chapel Terrace   Go R down Chapel Terrace, L on Church Street and fork R on Church Row to 73225/41486 by bus shelter and phone box.  Go R on  Squire Lane and follow it to a cross track T  at 73448/41177.  Turn L to rejoin the offiial cycle route.

It's all shown clearly on OS104 Redruth and St. Agnes

Horse riders heading down from Carn Marth summit

The Portreath Branchline - Portreath to Higher Brea

The Portreath Branchline Trail  links Portreath with Illogan, Camborne/Pool and Higher Brea and links with both the Tehidy Trail and the Great Flat Lode Trail.  A branch of the important Hayle Railway, the Portreath Branchline opened in 1836, carrying freight and passengers, and continued in use as a freight line until 1936.  The most important feature was the steep incline plane at the Portreath harbour end.  Sadly, it seems that the viaduct at the foot is not to be restored and used but an alternative route has been created up past Feadon Farm to the trail's junction with the Tehidy Trail.  The trail starts from Portreath Harbour (good storyboards).  A fairly steep path climbs 250 feet up the Feadon Valley.  After that it's all fairly level going.  There is quite a lot of road, and not a lot of interest, on the way to Park Bottom.  After that it's nearly all off-road.  The interest starts after going under the A30:  handsome contemporary buildings at Cornwall College;  interesting little Tuckingmill Park;  a delightful 1843 Wesley Chapel and charming terraces of cottages in Tuckingmill;  a route through scrub following the tiny Red River to Higher Brea, itself an attractive village;  and disused and contemporary mine features at South Crofty.  I have devised three small detours (see box below) that improve the route for walkers.  Horse riders may not like a couple of busy road crossings.

Sadly, it seems that the incline plane may never be part of the route

Portreath Incline, looking down to Portreath

THREE SMALL DETOURS FOR WALKERS:   1.  Where the track from Trengove Farm bears R, continue forward on a path to the road from Bridge to South Tehidy.  Cross this, then cross the next road (East Lodge to Sparnon Gate) and go R on Woodbine to a path leading to Spar Lane, to rejoin the official trail.   2.  After Cornwall College, cross busy Tolvaddon Road on the light-controlled crossing.  Ignore the trail sign going left;  instead go right, towards A30, for a pedestrian entrance to Tuckingmill Valley Park on your left.  This heads down then left to pass mining remains that the official route misses.  When you leave the park, unless you want the visitor centre to the left, head slightly right to follow duckboards past a pond, then go left on Tolgarrick Road to rejoin the official trail at Tuckmill Valley Hotel.  3.  If, on reaching Brea village, you are plannng immediately to join the Great Flat Lode Trail, try this one.  At the southern end of what I call 'Red River Park' (between Tuckingmill and Brea), before reaching the foot tunnel under the railway, follow South Crofty's security fence to the twin engine houses of Dolcoath Mine.  Go right over the bridge over the railway.  Here the Great Flat Lode Trail goes left and ahead.

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The Tresavean Trail

In August 2007, after doing a circular walk up and around Carn Marth, Jane and I took a short walk along the 2 mile Tresavean Trail.  We hadn't expected much of it so were pleasantly surprised.  This was part of a link from the famous early Hayle Railway to Tresavean Mine.   From the small car park on Lanner Hill by the domed reservoir the trail leads roughly south-south-west uphill.  Partly in a cutting, but mostly in the open, views towards  Carn Marth and over Lanner village open out, as the trail climbs, to include more distant United Downs.  At the far end of the trail a section of old rail has been laid on granite setts and a polished granite block carries a brief explanation of the trail.  Except as a dog walker, this little trail is scarcely worth walking on its own.  However, now that the Redruth and Chacewater Trail is fully open, you can easily fit the Tresavean Trail in as a handy detour from it.  The two link close to Lanner Reservoir.   There is a small car park on the Redruth and Chacewater, opposite Lanner Reservoir.  I have really only included the Tresavean Trail as it is an official Mining Trail.  I can't really recommend it though, if you are a dog walker, you may find it convenient;  some do.

Tresavean Trail - Jane strides out through a cutting

Parking close to Lanner Reservoir

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The Alternative Coast-to-Coast Trail for Walkers - 16¼ miles

The official Coast-to-Coast Trail is a superb route for cyclists, almost straight as an arrow for its 11½ miles from Portreath to Devoran, utilising first the old Portreath Tramroad and then part of the former Redruth and Chacewater Railway.  Most cyclists will tend simply to use the direct route, omitting the Wheal Busy and Little Beside Loops, which I include.  The official route omits superb sites such as Wheal Peevor and much of Poldice Mine;  I include them.  For walkers, the big drawback  of the official route is the sheer volume of cycle traffic at holiday times and the unhappy tendency of too many to treat it as a race track.  I have therefore devised an alternative Walkers Coast-to-Coast, following the official route overall but detouring, wherever possible, to avoid the cyclists and to include some unmissable sites.  A total of some 10¼ miles of my route manages to avoid the direct cycle route.  I have also extended the Walkers Route from Devoran on to Point Quay, where the Redruth and Chacewater actually terminated, and on to the head of Penpol Creek.  The resulting route is a substantial 16¼ miles but, with easy walking, most will prefer to do it in one day.  I also offer a further possible low tide extension to Restronguet Point, following the foreshore from Penpol Creek for a total of 17½ miles.  A seasonal ferry crosses Restrouguet Creek to the Pandora Inn.

Route Directions  --  Interest  --  Devoran  --  Useful Information

Wheal Peevor, calciner remains and engine houses

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The Walker's Alternative Coast-to-Coast Route Directions - use OS Explorer 104 and 105

Portreath Harbour to Cambrose - 2.10 miles  Start at the furthest NE corner of Portreath Harbour at 65489/45483.  Follow the official cycle route as far as the beginning of Cambrose.  0.25 miles after crossing the lane to Cambridge Farm, at 68647/45379 at 2.10 miles, leave the cycle trail by a whitewashed cottage on L. .  Forge Manor Farm and Wheal Peevor Walkers Detour – Cambrose to Wheal Peevor – 2.34 miles  Bear R on a tarmac lane down to the Porthtowan road at 68704/45319 at 2.15 miles.  Go R on the verge for 100 yards.  Cross to the entrance of The Galley.  Bear R over a bridge, then L on a tarmac lane, initially with houses on L, heading overall just N of E.  (From here it is a continuous easy climb to 360 feet at Wheal Peevor).  The lane continues as a bridleway track, between hedges, passing Forge Manor Farm and a Caravan Park.  At 2.72 miles the track bears R and L.  At 69814/45350 at 2.89 miles go through a gap to the road from Lower Forge.  Cross the road to a FP sign and over a stile into a stableyard.  Keep R to a gate and follow the RH hedge to a stile to the road from Forge Farm at 69918/45296 at 2.97 miles.  Cross the road and continue on a narrow path (FP sign) between high hedges to its junction with a track at 70209/45066 at 3.21 miles.  Go R on the track between hedges.  After Sims Croft Farm the track becomes a path.  At 70498/44749 ignore a track on L and continue on a well made track between high hedges.  The track turns R at Manor Meadows, L at a WM at Hawke’s Croft at 3.58 miles.  At 70733/44487 at 3.72 miles it joins a road at a T.  Here go R, following a Wheal Peevor sign, on a well made track roughly WSW.  At 70364/44263 at 3.99 miles, the track bears L and goes through a gap (gate missing) on to the Wheal Peevor site, then winds downhill to the bottom at a T (track R leads W towards North Country) with a quarry on L, at 70372/44187 at 4.05 miles   Turn L, roughly ENE through the Wheal Peevor site, preferably going L at a fork for the greater interest.  Leave Wheal Peevor at the main entrance opposite the Car Park at 70890/44258 at 4.44 miles.  Wheal Peevor to Wheal Rose  at Scorrier - 1.07 miles Go roughly S on the road to X-roads (former Chapel opposite) at 70978/44096 at 4.56 miles.  Go L (MT granite post), roughly E on dead-end Radnor Road, passing Radnor Golf Club.  At 71795/44125 at 5.04 miles, the lane ends at Finnagon’s Rest.  Continue on a narrow tarmac path through woodland, noisy A30 road to R.  At 72156/44407 at 5.35 miles the path ends (sign back to Wheal Peevor).  Go forward on the footway of a lane, passing a small CP on R (MT Portreath Tramroad storyboard) at 72178/44495 at 5.42 miles, and passing another small CP on L, to the road by the entrance to Rodda’s Creamery at 72162/44576 at 5.48 miles.  At MT granite post (Wheal Rose) go R on footway towards A30.  Continue to MT WM (Wheal Rose Farm), at 72193/44553 at 5.51 miles.  Loops route to Poldice – Wheal Busy and Little Beside Loops Wheal Busy Loop – 2.90 miles  Go L, following Wheal Busy WM, cross the road and continue on the footway along Blackwater road, passing Dales showroom and Smokey Joe’s Café , to Mitchell Webber depot.  At MT sign (North Treskerby Mine) at 72691/45003 at 5.93 miles, go R to cross the road and the bridge over the A30 and the railway.  Ignore a bridleway on R and continue, going L at an MT granite post (Hallenbeagle).  The route is clearly signed, eventually passing the former Wheal Busy School and Wheal Busy Bible Christian Chapel (1863) at 73838/45219 at 6.89 miles.  It continues clearly signed to a large open CP area at Wheal Busy Downs, passing the former Wheal Busy Workshops and on to cross a road at a Wheal Busy Downs sign at 73805/44688 at 7.40 miles.  From here follow blue bridleway WMs to another road at 73432/44479 at 7.70 miles.  The signage is now clear again, passing Hawke’s Shaft engine house at 73384/44202 at 7.90 miles and entering Unity Wood to follow a sometimes muddy track, winding downhill past capped mine shafts and shallow pits.  You reach the Coast-to-Coast cycle trail at an MT granite post at 73515/43537 at 8.37 miles.  Go L on the cycle trail for 75 yards to an MT granite post (Trefusis Shaft) at 73568/43500 at 8.41 miles.  Little Beside Loop  - 0.92 miles Go R following MT WM on the Little Beside Loop.  Signage is clear and the route takes you past Poldice Cottages and eventually to Poldice Mine.  Leave the tall chimney to your R and continue downhill to the cycle route at a Poldice Mine storyboard at 74146/43070 at 9.33 miles. Poldice to Twelveheads – 1.49 miles  From the Poldice Valley storyboard, ignore the cycle track and head back up towards the tall chimney stack.  Shortly, at 74090/43017, a track goes L though the ruined Poldice arsenic buildings (worth exploring) and continues at medium level, roughly parallel to the cycle trail, to a MT granite post (Bissa Pool) at 74723/42960 at 9.83 miles.  (Or you could continue up to the tall chimney stack and turn L on a less clear high level route to Bissa Pool)  At Bissa Pool tracks fork, the official trail takes the R fork but walkers should take the L fork down into the valley, rejoining the cycle route at 75191/42503.  Now follow the cycle route with the infant Carnon River below to your left.  At 75525/42264 at 7.66 miles, a granite stile on L leads to a grating over County Adit, but there is a better view of it further on.  Continue to an MT granite post (Twelveheads) at 75951/42185 at 10.82 miles, where the Redruth and Chacewater Trail enters from the right.  Twelveheads to Devoran  - 3.87 miles  Ignore the Devoran direction sign and cross the lane to follow a minor road uphill for a short way into Twelveheads village.  At 76014/42299, immediately after the Methodist Chapel, (entrance to Maple Barn on your L) go R on a narrow tarmac path.  Cross a concrete FB over a stream and at 76063/42324 go R uphill on a quiet narrow tarmac lane.  At 76164/42118 at Hillside Cottage Wheal Widden go forward on a wide rough track.  Pass the County Adit on your L (take care if eploring) then, in a few yards, cross a tarmac track (the cycle route) at 76261/41915 to follow a clear path (no WM) gently downhill.  This path winds through scrub and light woodland, roughly parallel to the tarmac path, re-joining the official route at the beginning of the large Bissoe Cycle Hire CP at 76871/41608 at 11.82 miles.   Go through the CP, passing Bissoe Bike Hire and Café, and continue to the road at an MT granite post (Points Mill) at 77000/42502 at 11.92 miles.  From here follow the cycle route all the way to Devoran, passing first the remains of Point Mills Arsenic Works and later going under Carnon Viaduct (storyboard) and the A39.  At 79362/39062 (MT WM Portreath 11, Devoran Quay ¼) Market Street goes up L to the church and St. John’s Terrace. At this point you might think of using a byway shown on OS 107 and Cornwall Council Mapping web site.  Don’t, it is blocked halfway along by a garden.  Pass Devoran Village Hall (storyboard in the porch).  Continue to the end of Quay Road at 79714/38991 at 14.69 miles.  Here, where the official trail ends, if you go L uphill you will find the excellent Quay Inn.  Devoran Quay Road to head of Penpol Creek – the low tide route – 1.55 miles NB:  If the tide is in too far, you will have to take the road to Carnon Mine on Trallack’s Creek. Ignore the FP sign pointing along a path between hedges.  Instead, go forward (no cycles), with the creek in view to your right, passing boats and gigs on your L, then passing the stone Ore Hutches on your L at 79816/38919, to the granite bollard at the very end of Devoran Quay at 79984/38844 at 14.88 miles.  Follow the Quay round L to 2 steps down to the foreshore.  Follow the foreshore round, with the water (or mud) of Restronguet Creek on your R, to 79952/38939 at 14.97 miles where a signed FP comes in on your L.  Go R on a fairly clear FP and cross (with care)  three sets of stepping stones to the remains of Carnon Mine by the foreshore at 80288/38824 at 15.13 miles.  Go L up the short slope to a footpath sign at the road at 80292/38847 at 15.24 miles.  Go R on the road (quiet, except in rush hour) to Point, with occasional good views over Restronguet Creek, passing a former lime kiln at 80955/38593 at 15.36 miles, and go R on to Point Quay at 81013/38497 at 15.80 miles.  Follow along the Quay (cast iron bollards) back to the road and go R on the road, passing former wharves on your R all the way to Penpol. At 81222/38897 at 16.09 miles a signed footpath goes R, down 5 steps to the foreshore, and over stepping stones (at low tide), passing remains of a former tide mill on R.  Continue on the road, passing an interesting storyboard on R above Bone Mill Pond, to the bridge at the head of Penpol Creek at 81300/39011 at 16.24 miles.  Extension to Restronguet Point – along the foreshore – 1.31 miles Those interested in continuing to Restronguet Point (making 17.55 miles in all) will find that, at low tide, it is possible to follow the foreshore all the way.  But beware, the last 200 yards from a large raised quay may be impassable except at true low tide.  As, all along here from Penpol boatyard, property is private, be sure you can get all the way round, otherwise you may have to retrace your steps to the boatyard.   If in doubt, from Penpol Boatyard follow the quiet lane up through the Trolver Croft Estate.  Where the lane goes R down to the creek, take the L fork to follow a path to Porthgwidden and Harcourt, then go R downhill on the road to Restronguet Point.  A seasonal ferry, operated by King Harry Ferries, now operates from Restronguet Point to the Pandora Inn on the opposite bank.

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The Walker's Alternative Coast-to-Coast - Interest

Storyboards: The cycle trail is dotted with storyboards, the first at the harbour at Portreath, the last at the village hall in Devoran.  They cover the tramroad routes, the mines, the owners, the engineers and, where relevant, the flora and fauna.  They are extremely informative and the walkers route passes most of them.   Portreath:  Now a very ordinary down-market little resort, blessed with a safe sandy family beach.  However, it has an important industrial history as an 18th and 19th century port, a major player in the tin and copper trade, serving mines around Redruth and Camborne.  An important tramway ran from Redruth and is now part of the Coast-to-Coast Trail.  A steep inclined plane also ran down from the western side.  The port declined in the 20th century and the harbour is now used by a small fishing fleet and pleasure boats.  Wheal Peevor:  Conservation of Wheal Peevor was one of Cornwall’s major contributions to the World Mining Heritage Site.  No expense was spared in consolidating the engine houses, and creating access around the site and a small car park.  It is a particularly important site because of the three surviving engine houses.  Not only that, it also has remains of an ore crusher, buddles and an arsenic calciner - and more that will remain hidden beneath the furze and bracken.   Wheal Rose:  Little remains of this former copper mine, except an engine house, converted to a home.  Rodda’s Creamery produces one of Cornwall’s best known exports, Cornish Clotted Cream.   Michael Williams of Scorrier:  In 1845 Williams was in London when he heard of the meteoric rise in the price of tin.  He took the London to Exeter coach, hired a horse, rode to Redruth, beating the Quicksilver Mail, and purchased all the available tin and made his fortune.  His Scorrier House is passed on the cycle route.  Wheal Busy:  Worked for around 220 years until the 1920s.  It used Newcomen engines, replaced in 1777 by Cornwall’s first Boulton and Watt engine.  Over the years Wheal Busy produced 100 thousand tons of copper ore and 27 thousand tone of arsenic.  Remains to be seen today date from Victorian times and include engine house, boiler house, arsenic calciner, and carpenter’s and smith’s workshops.   Hawke’ Shaft:  The engine house, shortly before you enter Unity Wood, is said to possess Cornwall’s tallest existing mine chimney.  Never a very successful tin mine,  it was used by Truro School of Mines for training.   Unity Wood:  Over 400 years of mining from late medieval times.  Shallow shafts, dump shafts;  other features include coffin shafts following narrow lodes near surface.  In the 19th century there was a safety fuse works in the wood.  Little evidence of recent mining remains today.   Poldice Mine:  Originally a tin mine, rich deposits of copper were worked in the 18th and 19th centuries.  The major remains that you see here, however, are of later arsenic working.  The high quality arsenic was exported world-wide as an insecticide, a sheep dip, leather cleaner, poison gas, green pigment and glass.  clarifier.  The Portreath Tramroad effectively terminated here but, when the Redruth and Chacewater Railway opened, it provided transport to the more convenient port of Devoran.   Point Mills:  The Cornwall Arsenic Company, operated a works for a century ending 1914.  The arsenic refined was famed for high quality throughout Europe and beyond.   Carnon Valley Nature Reserve:  An experimental mine water treatment plant was built in this valley, providing invaluable information on mine water treatment.  Now it is a nature reserve.  Over 9000 tons of spoil were removed, 7000 tons of inert material imported., creating more than 30 ponds.  The stone circle known as Dansen Maen (dancing stones) incorporates two seats.  At nearby Wheal Jane more than 500 million litres of contaminated water is still treated every month.   Carnon Viaduct: Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s Great Western Railway branch line from Truro to Falmouth was competed in 1863, four years after his death.  It incorporated two tunnels and eight viaducts.  That over the Carnon Valley was the most impressive, 96 feet high and 756 feet long with 11 stone piers topped by timber track supports.  This remained in use the 1930s.  Brunel’s piers still stand.   Great County Adit:  Brainchild of John Williams, owner of Poldice Mine, it drained more than 40 mines in the Redruth and St. Day mining areas through 38 miles of tunnels, draining around 13 million gallons a day.  These mines, thanks to the Redruth and Chacewater Railway, had been the making of Devoran as a port but disastrous floods in 1876 caused the neglected County Adit to release thousands of tons of water, carrying rubbish and silt downriver to Devoran, blocking navigation to all but the lowers quays.

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The Walker's Alternative Coast-to-Coast - Devoran, Point and Penpol

Cornwall’s best example of a planned 19th century settlement, mineral port, trading village and a place for the genteel to retire, survives as a charming commuter village.  In 1838 it was Cornwall’s busiest mineral port, 20 ships a week carrying copper ore to South Wales. It imported Scandinavian timber, Russian tallow, Indian jute, Welsh coal and pig-iron.  130 ton ships were built on Restronguet Creek and from 1850 regular steamers traded.  The port continued in use until 1916.  In 1785 embankments were built, creating a tide free area for tin and copper streaming of material brought down by the County Adit.  Streaming ceased in 1811 but shafts were sunk in the silt and while ships sailed overhead, miners worked below.   The walled enclosures (ore hutches)  were used to store the ore awaiting shipment.  Some now store small boats, others are incorporated into gardens.   Carnon Mine engine house was built 1824 to drain a submarine mine.  The mine closed in 1828 after the railway complained about obstruction of navigation.  Three boat rudders stand by the engine house.  The quay and storehouses at Point and Penpol were built in 1817 to export copper and import coal.  A lead smelter by the wharves has gone now.  In 1829, a dam was built for a tide mill, with sluices to scour the channel by the wharves.  A corn mill stood further upstream.

Boats by the quay at Devoran

The cycle trail ends at Devoran.  The walker's alternative continues.

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The Walker's Alternative Coast-to-Coast - Useful Information

Parking:  Portreath Beach CP, may be some free on Beach Road.  CP by the village hall in Devoran.   Intermediate Parking:  Bike Barn near Cambrose (off route).  Wheal Peevor.  Wheal Rose, small CP by Rodda’s entrance + one down other side of road with MT storyboard.  Little Beside (on the Loop).  Two small CPs at Twelveheads.  Large CP at Bissoe Cycle Hire.  Large CP at Old Dunstan’s Bridge on the Carnon Downs to Frogpool road.   Signage:  MT = Mining Trail.  MT WM = Granite Waymarker.  WM = Waymark.    Intermediate Distances:  Cambrose 2.10 miles.  Wheal Peevor CP 4.44 miles.  Wheal Rose MT WM 5.51 miles.  Trefusis Shaft MT WM 5.51 miles.  MT WM Poldice Mine 9.33 miles.  Bissoe Bike Hire 11.90 miles.  Devoran Quay 14.69 miles.   Ascent/Descent:  Gradual up to 360 feet at Wheal Peevor.  Undulates between 250 feet and 400 feet to the Poldice Mine chimney stack.  Very gradual down from Poldice chimney stack to sea level at Devoran.    Refreshments:  2 pubs, 2 cafés, Portreath.  Bridge Inn, Bridge.  Bike Barn at Elm Farm near Cambrose (on the cycle route).  Smokey Joe’s Scorier (before A30 crossing).  Plume (food all day), Crossroads Hotel and Fox & Hounds (all day F & S only), Scorrier (all a little off trail).  Bissoe Cycle Hire, Point Mills.  Old Quay Inn, Devoran.   Public Transport.  First Bus 43 and 44 links Portreath Beach with Redruth Station.  First Bus 47 (Not Sunday) links Redruth Station with Devoran;  I have never tried these so can't be sure they tie up.

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Oliver's Tolgus Trail - Wheal Rose to Portreath - 5 miles

The earliest Mining Trail maps showed the Tolgus Trail going from the centre of Redruth for a couple of miles to link up with the Coast-to-Coast at Cambrose and passing by Tolgus Tin at the Treasure Park tourist site. Ideally, it would have included the replica Murdoch Flyer at the Tesco roundabout in Redruth, the remains of Tolgus Calciner on New Portreath road, and Tolgus Tin at Treasure Park on New Portreath road.   I was always dubious about this one and my early attempts to walk its probable route held little promise and could see no way that it could work as an off-road trail.  Gradually, as new maps were published, the plan diminished to just a short link between Tolgus Tin and the Coast-to-Coast at Cambrose.  By that time it seemd pointless, except as a means of enticing people to buy jewellery at Treasure Park.  Eventally it was abandoned when the money ran out.  However, it seemed to me a worthy idea to try to include the fascinating, but poorly manned, Tolgus Tin site on a Mining Trail.  So, with the aid of OS104 and a bit of wishful thinking, I went to investigate the possibility of a walkers trail that would include both the superb Wheal Peevor mine and Tolgus tin.  It worked.  So below are the route directions for Oliver's Tolgus Trail.

The Waterwheel at Tolgus Tin

Route Directions for Oliver's Tolgus Trail.  Interest along the way.

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Oliver's Tolgus Trail - Route Directions
Wheal Rose at Scorrier to Portreath Harbour, via Wheal Peevor, Tolgus Tin and Bridge

Wheal Rose, on the official Coast-to-Coast at Scorrier, to Wheal Peevor - 1.07 miles From the trail marker (Wheal Rose Farm) at 72193/44553, head S along a lane with Rodda’s Creamery on your R, passing a Portreath Tramroad storyboard in a small CP on your L.  After 280 yards at 72156/44407 take the FP (sign Wheal Peevor) SW, parallel to the A30.  At Finnagon’s Rest the path ends, continue W on a lane, passing Radnor Golf Club, to a trail marker opposite a former chapel on the L.  Go R on a minor road for 210 yards to the E entrance to Wheal Peevor Mine (CP opposite on R) at 70890/44258 at 1.07 miles.  Wheal Peevor to Tolgus Tin – 1.45 miles Go through the hunting gate into the Wheal Peevor site.  Head roughly W on the main track through the site, passing pumping and winding engine houses on L, stamps engine house on R.  The track then winds mostly downhill, passing the arsenic calciner site on R.   At 70371/44188 at 1.49 miles a track comes in from R from the lane NE from Radnor (this links there with my Walkers Coast-to-Coast route).  Continue down to a hunting gate at the western entrance to the Wheal Peevor site at 70338/44172 at 1.52 miles.  The track continues, narrower, heading uphill roughly W, woodland on R, scrub on L, then between high hedges.  About 100 yards before houses on L and R, come to a crossing track at 69899/44157 at 1.80 miles.  Go R on a broad track downhill, roughly N, for about 100 yards to a FP sign on L at 69895/44234 at 1.85 miles.  Go L, roughly W, on this path between hedges (once a track but vegetation has narrowed it through lack of use) undulating down to the road from Redruth to Lower Forge at 69673/44277 at 1.99 miles.  (View from here L to Carn Brea)  Go L on the road for 30 yards to 69666/44253 at 2.01 miles.  Go R on a broad track downhill between hedges, passing Wheal Mary House on R at 69528/44253 at 2.10 miles.  At South View House at 69438/44274 at 2.16 miles the track bears L downhill to a fork at 69396/44284 at 2.18 miles.  Go R on a broad track downhill through scrub, heading roughly NW, passing a coalyard on R.  The track then bears L over a bridge over a dried-up stream, then R down to The Track ('ultimate dirt jump cycle track').  Continue for a few yards to cross another bridge over the dried-up stream and on to a road at Parc Erissey Industrial Estate at 69145/44466 at 2.41 miles, opposite Cornish Coffee.  Go L on the footway, roughly W to the road from Redruth to Portreath at 68985/44454 at 2.52 miles.  (When The Track is open, walkers could avoid 200 yards of road by going through their car park; café there)  Cross the road, slightly diagonally R.  (Here a track (barrier) goes L to the back of Tolgus Tin.  If visiting, go L to a grassy entrance or to the main Treasure Park entrance;  café in Cornish Gold)  Tolgus Tin to Bridge and Portreath – 2.31 miles Follow a track through scrub, crossing a bridge over a stream (this once powered Tolgus Tin streamworks) to a fork at 68923/44465 at 2.56 miles.  (L fork is a tarmac lane to the N end of Treasure Park site).  Keep R on the track, passing at 68885/44473 a sign “permissive path, walkers and horse riders only”.  Continue uphill to a concrete track at Higher Laity Farm at 68697/44444 at 2.71 miles.  Go R and L through the farm and continue up to Old Portreath Road at 69496/44420 at 2.85 miles.  Go R on Old Portreath Road (so quiet you almost never see a vehicle on it) downhill, passing Laity Farm at 67738/44878 at 3.41 miles, then passing converted Laity Mill, to the main Redruth to B3300 Portreath Road at 67577/44391 at 3.51 miles.  Go L on the road for about 100 yards, passing Bridge Motors and passing an old milestone (Portreath 1, Redruth 3) to 67478/44902 at 3.57 miles.  *Cross the road to take a short narrow path L uphill through woods to the Coast-to-Coast trail at attractive Hillside Cottage at 67438/44908 at 3.58 miles.  Follow the Coast-to-Coast Mining Trail to the far end of Portreath Harbour with its excellent Portreath storyboards, at 4.83 miles. *For refreshments, continue on the road to Bridge Hill (signed Illogan ½) at 67390/44881.  Turn L for the Bridge Inn.  After, continue on the road for about 100 yards.  Cross the road to an old sign to Portreath Tramroad at 67331/44896.  Go R up a wide track to 67400/44905 at the junction with the Coast-to-Coast Trail (R Cambrose, Scorrier and Devoran, L Portreath) by Hillside Cottage.  Adds about 200 yards.

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Oliver's Tolgus Trail - Interest along the way

Wheal Peevor:  Part of the great North Downs complex, Wheal Peevor is a particularly important site because of the three surviving engine houses.  Not only that, it also has remains of an ore crusher, buddles and an arsenic calciner - and more that will remain hidden beneath the furze and bracken.  The mine worked intermittently for a hundred years or so until around 1890, producing vast quantities of tin.  It re-opened to mine wulfram in 1911 but soon closed again.  Good storyboards are located in key positions and viewing platforms are in place.  A very impressive site. The Track:  You pass The Track shortly before reaching Tolgus Tin.  It describes itself as “home to the finest outdoor biking facility in the United Kingdom … 5-acre floodlit site offering a physical challenge for riders of all ages and abilities.”  There is everything there – a BMX race track, a Slopestyle course, a Wall Ride, and a Foam Pit for extreme tricks.  Own bike or hire;  tuition available.   Tolgus Tin:  Here is a wealth of original machinery, in situ in a former tin-streaming works.  Once owned and run by the now-defunct Trevithick Trust, it is now owned and operated by Treasure Park, sadly undermanned and with no working machinery.  That said, the machinery is fascinating anyway.  It includes waterwheels, a Cornish stamps, shaking tables, a round table, a trommel and one seriously ancient artefact, a 16th century mortar stone.   Treasure Park:  Very much a “tourist attraction”, catering to coach-loads of visitors to Cornwall, vast sales areas feature gold, silver and other jewellery.  We were slightly surprised to find that it really isn’t a tourist trap and that quality and value are better than we had expected.  Whether it will appeal to trail users is another matter entirely.   Bridge:  The charming village includes handsome Georgian Laity Farm, converted Laity Mill,  attractive Tregony House and the Bridge Inn, a local with good simple food.

Wheal Peevor Pumping House

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Redruth - The Missing Link – Partly Off-road - 3¼ miles
From the Mining Trails south of St. Euny’s Church, Redruth Chuchtown to Tolgus Tin

The original plans for the Mining Trails would have seen the Redruth and Chacewater continue into Redruth, and a Tolgus Trail extend that from Redruth to Cambrose, passing Tolgus Tin.  Disappointed that these routes never happened, I felt I should devise a route to replace them.  Here it is. *Start at the Great Flat Lode Trail sign at 69171/41070, at the northern end of the Redruth and Chacewater Trail, on the minor road from Churchtown to Carnkie.  Go north on the road for about 270 yards to St. Euny’s church, Redruth Churchtown, at 69156/41269.   (Note former Feathers Inn opposite; might that have been a case of thirsting after righteousness?)  *If you have come down the path and track from Hind’s Shaft, Wheal Uny, on the GFL and R&C Trails, you will join this route at Trevingey Road at 69417/41516.  Go right on Church Lane, alongside the cemetery, to Trevingey Road at 69264/41424.  Go right uphill on this road to Coach Lane.  Go left on Coach Lane for few yards to 69227/41569.  Go right down Church Lane (a tarmac footpath) to West Street.  Go right on West Street for 75 yards to the traffic lights in Redruth centre at 69691/41945 (¾ mile).  Go left on Chapel Place to Redruth Health Centre and there go left on an unsigned tarmac footpath, between high security fences, to a lane.  Go right downhill on the lane and pass between gate pillars for a few yards to 69397/42257.   Go left, over a clapper bridge, and left again on an unsigned tarmac footpath, passing Tesco on your right, to Tolgus Vean at 69209/42385.   Cross Tolgus Vean, then immediately cross Tolgus Place (or Hill) to 69241/42433, with the Murdoch Flyer replica on the roundabout to your right (1¾ miles).   Go left down Tolgus Place (or Hill), passing under the A3047, to Old Portreath Road at 69172/42756.  Go left uphill on Old Portreath Road to the Cornish Arms pub, then right on another minor road to the crossroads at 69060/43771.   Go left on New Portreath Road, then left into Treasure Park, leaving it to the right of Tolgus Tin, over grass to rejoin the road.  Continue for a short way to a small open area on the left at 68968/44459, opposite the road into Parc Erissey (3¼ miles).  Oliver's Tolgus Trail crosses here, going left for Bridge and Portreath and right for Wheal Peevor and Scorrier.

The Lych Gate at St. Euny's Church

The route in the reverse direction

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From Tolgus Tin to the Mining Trails south of St. Euny’s Church, Redruth Chuchtown

With the above instructions, I am sure you could figure it out.  Here it is anyway. Start at the small open area opposite Parc Erissey turning (The Track) on B3300 Redruth to Portreath road at 68968/44459.  Go right on road towards Redruth.  After 200 yards, go right over grass into the Treasure Park site by Tolgus Tin and through the car park to the vehicle entrance.  Go right on the road to the cross-roads at 69060/43771, and right on the Illogan road for about 550 yards to the Cornish Arms at Sparnon Gate.  Go left on Old Portreath Road, finally under the A30, to New Portreath Road at 69150/42851.  Go right up Tolgus Hill, under A3047, to the Murdoch Flyer roundabout, opposite Tesco, at 69241/42433.  Cross Tolgus Hill, and cross Tolgus Vean to 69209/42385 (1¾ miles) to take a tarmac footpath alongside Tesco.  Just before the end of the path, at 69397/42257, cross a clapper bridge and go right between gate pillars on a lane uphill for about 75 yards.  Go left on a tarmac path between security fences, with the former Redruth Brewery on your left, to Chapel Place.  Go right on Chapel Place to the traffic lights at Redruth centre at 69691/41945 (2½ miles).  Go right on West Street for 75 yards then left uphill fairly steeply on a footpath, Church Lane, under the railway, to Coach Lane at 69227/41569.  Go left on Coach Lane, then right on *Trevingey Road downhill to 69264/41424.  Go left on a wide tarmac lane, Church Lane again, alongside a cemetery on the left, to St. Euny's Church, Redruth Church Town, at 69156/41269  (3 miles).  (Note the former Feathers Inn opposite;  was this a case of thirsting after righteousness?)  Go left on a minor road for about 270 yards to 69171/41070, to join the Great Flat Lode and Redruth and Chacewater Trails at the GFL sign (3¼ miles).  *If heading directly for the Great Flat Lode Trail or the Redruth and Chacewater Trail, on Trevingey Road, opposite  Blights Fish and Chips, you could go left on a footpath which bends right and left to continue as a track fairly steeply uphill to Hind’s Shaft engine houses, Wheal Uny Mine, and on to join the trails at 69347/40702.

The Murdoch Flyer replica in Redruth

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