St Agnes – guide for visiting this lovely village on the North Coast of Cornwall in 2023
St Agnes might be a small village, but surrounding the village are some of the best beaches in the whole of Cornwall. We've been publishing lots of guides about Cornwall locations recently, but perhaps none of them fit the description of 'hidden gem' as well as St Agnes. In this guide we'll be outlining the best things for you to see and do, all updated for 2023. Let's get into the guide:
Where is St Agnes?
What is there to do during your time in St Agnes?
St Agnes is a great place to visit, here are some of our favourite things for you to check out:
Trevaunance Cove
As we mentioned in our introductions, St Agnes is all about amazing beaches. Trevaunance Cove is the main beach at St Agnes but still feels like a well-kept secret. It's great for just a simple walk, but if you're looking to do some interesting things then Trevaunance Cove is also great for that - rockpools can be explored by kids, at low tide, you can walk up to the Trevellas Porth beach, and the remains of the old harbour are also worth a look. Parking is easy with several car parks, but walking there from the village is easy too.
Wheal Coates Tin Mine
This Cornish mining site originally opened in the early 19th century and ran until 1889. Sat atop the cliffs above Chapel Porth, these ruinous buildings are amazing to visit, and the views you'll enjoy from them are equally incredible. It's often described as the most beautiful industrial heritage site in Cornwall, and after a visit you'll understand why.
The Wheal Coates Tin Mining Walk is well worth a shot - this 1-mile circular route takes you toward the sea, back along the coast path, and back up and through the old tin mine buildings.
Chapel Porth Beach
Beneath the Wheal Coates Tin Mine is Chapel Porth, one of the most exposed beaches on the North Coast which can feel a little hectic at times but is guaranteed to blow the cobwebs out. Visiting Chapel Porth is all about choosing your moment - at high tide the beach is small and can actually feel a bit cramped, but the stoney beach is still worth exploring. However, you really want to visit at low tide, when the beach is vast and the sand stretches all the way to Lushingtons at Porthtowan Beach. There is only one road in and out of the beach, which means it has quite a secluded feel. In the winter it is especially quiet but the beach can feel really wild. Toilet facilities are there and dogs aren't allowed on the beach during Summer.
St Agnes Museum
This museum is run by volunteers and is a great place to visit. Originally opened in 1990, the museum is a fascinating collection of historical items relating to the local history of St Agnes and beyond. We'd actually recommend visiting the museum before heading to the mines in St Agnes, just so you can fully appreciate what you're looking at. Learn more here - stagnesmuseum.org.uk
Blue Hills Tin Streams
Blue Hills Tin Streams is closed at the moment which is why we've kept it until last, but once this attraction is open again we highly recommend you visit. At Blue Hills Tin Streams, tin is collected and processed and then turned into things like giftware and jewellery cast on site. Tours are available, and when they're back up and running again we highly recommend joining a tour - it is completely fascinating and the setting is amazing. Learn more here - cornishtin.com
Things to be aware of before visiting St Agnes
Like we mentioned previously, St Agnes is all about beach walks so if you're looking for something a little more fast-paced, head to Truro. Definitely make sure you pack clothes for all weather, especially if you're heading to Chapel Porth Beach!
If you enjoyed this guide, check out our other guides about places in Devon & Cornwall including Sidmouth, Kingsbridge, and Totnes.
Finn H
Finn is the editor of You Well and has been writing about travel, health, and more for over 10 years.