Carn Brea: A Walk In Cornwall’s Historic Heartland
Carn Brea: A Walk In Cornwall’s Historic Heartland is a glorious walk through mining country and was updated in October 2021. All the planning details are correct, including the all-important transport.
Explore Carn Brea In This Easy 8 Mile Circular Walk
Once upon a time Carn Brea Castle was a hunting lodge but is now a quirky restaurant
Carn Brea, Carn Marth and Gwennap Pit are the highlights of this fascinating walk in Cornwall’s industrial heartland on the outskirts of Redruth.
This walk takes you through some of the most fascinating rough and ready landscapes that make up part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site. You’ll see countless remains of tin mines, an 18th-century hunting lodge, two amphitheatres (always open) and spectacular 360° views out to the coast from two prominent hills. It’s one of my favourite Cornish walks away from the coast!
Try This Coast To Coast Route Through Mining Country Too
Carn Brea Hill, Castle And Monument
The route starts at Redruth Railway Station (with a car park) and heads out of Redruth up the prominent hill of Carn Brea, which is a distinctive landmark on the horizon that can be seen for miles around. There’s archaeological evidence of Neolithic enclosures as well as the 27 metre high Basset Monument (1863) and Carn Brea Castle to explore. (The Castle was an old hunting lodge built by the Basset family in the 18th century on the remains of a 14th-century chapel.)
Carn Brea Monument can be seen on the horizon for miles around
From Carn Brea To Carn Marth Hill And Amphitheatre
From Carn Brea the walk heads across to Carn Marth hill along old mining trails where you’ll see the remains of intensive tin mining, from chimneys to engine houses.
Views for miles on Carn Marth
Quarry pools
As you head up Carn Marth there’s an amphitheatre built into the hollow of an old quarry (where outdoor events are regularly held) and at the top are two flooded quarries that create large natural ponds, and of course there are spectacular views. You can see the sea on the north coast looking back across Carn Brea to Portreath, and out to Falmouth Bay on the south coast. Make your way around to the trig point for impressive 360° views across the countryside littered with the remains of tin and copper mining.
Far-reaching views to Falmouth Bay from Carn Marth
From Carn Marth To Gwennap Pit
The route then heads downhill and along narrow country lanes, between Cornish hedges filled with wildflowers to Gwennap Pit.
Gwennap Pit is renowned as the place where the founder of Methodism John Wesley preached to miners and their families from 1762, and is now part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site.
The Pit is a depression in the ground that’s thought to be caused by mine workings below, but the amphitheatre as it’s seen today was built to the memory of Wesley by local miners in 1806. It can hold up to 1500 people in its 12 concentric rings and it’s worth checking out the information boards to see old black and white photos of the Pit filled to the brim with miners – an incredible sight!
Exploring Gwennap Pit
From here the route heads back across fields and farmland to Redruth.
Thanks for reading and let me know what you think of this fascinating walk! You can find more of my favourite Cornish walks here:
Happy hiking
Stephie x
Plan Your Walk
Carn Brea: A Walk In Cornwall’s Historic Heartland
Updated April 2021
- Start and Finish: Redruth Railway Station SW 700 420
- Distance: 8 miles
- Difficulty: Easy
- Time: Half Day
- Terrain: Mostly off-road on footpaths, tracks (some rocky) and quiet country lanes. Several main roads to cross including the B3300 and the A393.
- Points of Interest: Carn Brea hill, Castle and monument, The Great Flat Lode mining trail, Carn Marth hill and amphitheatre, plus Gwennap Pit amphitheatre.
Travel
Map and GPX
- Map: OS Explorer 104 1:2500 Redruth and St Agnes
See the route and download my fully waymarked GPX file on OS Maps (free to download):
Amenities
- Full town amenities in Redruth
- Carn Brea Castle Restaurant
- Carn Marth Amphitheatre (for events)
- Gwennap Pit: Cornish Mining (for events)
Pin Me And Share Me
Let your friends and followers know about this awesome walk!
Where next?
Why not explore more of my short walks? There are day walks from 8 miles to 20 miles to explore. And if you fancy a short hike, try this 30 Mile Walk in Cornwall: Saints’ Way Cornwall, a glorious coast to coast walk from Padstow to Fowey. And it’s easily broken into 2 days.
