ArchavonStudio Guidebook

Sightseeing

South West Coastal Path

The South West Coast Path: The path runs 630 miles from Minehead in Somerset all the way around to Poole in Dorset and it’s well worth a crack if you have a lot of time to spare. These paths were cut by coastguards checking the lands for smuggling. You can walk the whole coast, rarely having to go more than a few hundred feet inland. On the basis that I’m planning these notes to cover no more than a day’s walk from St Just it’s fair to claim our stretch as the path from Gurnard’s Head on the north coast all the way around to Nanjizel past Lands End. There’s not a bit of this path that I’d miss out, although at times the up and down gets pretty hard.

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South West Coastal Path

South West Coast Path

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The South West Coast Path: The path runs 630 miles from Minehead in Somerset all the way around to Poole in Dorset and it’s well worth a crack if you have a lot of time to spare. These paths were cut by coastguards checking the lands for smuggling. You can walk the whole coast, rarely having to go more than a few hundred feet inland. On the basis that I’m planning these notes to cover no more than a day’s walk from St Just it’s fair to claim our stretch as the path from Gurnard’s Head on the north coast all the way around to Nanjizel past Lands End. There’s not a bit of this path that I’d miss out, although at times the up and down gets pretty hard.

Carn Euny Ancient Village

It still amazes me that you can stumble upon something as significant as this without paying and with hardly any signs either. Park at the foot of Chapel Carn Brea, walk up to the top for the view, then follow the footpath across the road from the car park until you get to the Iron Age settlement of Carn Euny, passing a holy well on the way. There are the remains of several houses clear to see, and a fogou to intrigue any enquiring mind.

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Carn Euny Ancient Village

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It still amazes me that you can stumble upon something as significant as this without paying and with hardly any signs either. Park at the foot of Chapel Carn Brea, walk up to the top for the view, then follow the footpath across the road from the car park until you get to the Iron Age settlement of Carn Euny, passing a holy well on the way. There are the remains of several houses clear to see, and a fogou to intrigue any enquiring mind.

Chun Castle

Chûn Castle and Quoit. The Iron Age hillfort dates from a few centuries BC and was probably in use for 400 years or so. While now it’s little more than a pile of stones it remains impressive. The twin walls were once twenty feet high, but much of the stone has been removed for local buildings. It commands far reaching views to both coasts, and round houses within the two outer walls can clearly be identified. Remains of a furnace containing both tin and iron slag suggest minerals were processed here two thousand years ago. The well still offers water and was used by locals until 1949. While the castle is the remains of something ancient, the quoit a couple of hundred metres away is two thousand years older! Quoits are burial chambers with massive capstones that are particular to the far west of Cornwall, and they’re usually in places of panoramic views – we’re dead a long time, so why not rest somewhere with a great view!

Chun Castle

Chûn Castle and Quoit. The Iron Age hillfort dates from a few centuries BC and was probably in use for 400 years or so. While now it’s little more than a pile of stones it remains impressive. The twin walls were once twenty feet high, but much of the stone has been removed for local buildings. It commands far reaching views to both coasts, and round houses within the two outer walls can clearly be identified. Remains of a furnace containing both tin and iron slag suggest minerals were processed here two thousand years ago. The well still offers water and was used by locals until 1949. While the castle is the remains of something ancient, the quoit a couple of hundred metres away is two thousand years older! Quoits are burial chambers with massive capstones that are particular to the far west of Cornwall, and they’re usually in places of panoramic views – we’re dead a long time, so why not rest somewhere with a great view!

Men-an-tol

One of the best known megalithic structures in Britain, the grand name simply means ‘holed stone’. The small site is worth seeking out, perhaps on a circular route to include Ding Dong mine and the Nine Maidens stone circle. I like to park at Carn Galver mine on the B3306 where there’s a little parking area, then walk up to the dominating Carn Galver (once believed to be the home of the gods) then follow the path to Nine Maidens and on to Ding Dong, then return via Mên an Tol.

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Men-an-tol

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One of the best known megalithic structures in Britain, the grand name simply means ‘holed stone’. The small site is worth seeking out, perhaps on a circular route to include Ding Dong mine and the Nine Maidens stone circle. I like to park at Carn Galver mine on the B3306 where there’s a little parking area, then walk up to the dominating Carn Galver (once believed to be the home of the gods) then follow the path to Nine Maidens and on to Ding Dong, then return via Mên an Tol.

Plain-an-Gwarry

This one’s so close to home it’s easy to forget. Behind Archavon, and at the true heart of the town is the Plên (The Cornish pronounce it Plain). This medieval amphitheater has been used for public events, in particular staging of the miracle plays. It is considered to by Britain’s oldest theatre. The big rocks in the space look as if they might have ancient significance, but were in fact used for hand drilling contests until recently.

Plain-an-Gwarry

This one’s so close to home it’s easy to forget. Behind Archavon, and at the true heart of the town is the Plên (The Cornish pronounce it Plain). This medieval amphitheater has been used for public events, in particular staging of the miracle plays. It is considered to by Britain’s oldest theatre. The big rocks in the space look as if they might have ancient significance, but were in fact used for hand drilling contests until recently.

Tregeseal Stone Circle

This is a short walk from St Just and will get you onto the barren yet beautiful moor with Carn Kenidjack at the top. There’s an alternative telling of the origins of this stone circle on The Cornish Way’s blog, look for the March 29th 2016 post entitled The Legend of Archavon.

Tregeseal Stone Circle

This is a short walk from St Just and will get you onto the barren yet beautiful moor with Carn Kenidjack at the top. There’s an alternative telling of the origins of this stone circle on The Cornish Way’s blog, look for the March 29th 2016 post entitled The Legend of Archavon.

Portheras Cove

The only sandy cove on the north coast before St Ives, Portheras is a hard but rewarding walk along the cliff path from St Just that passes the interesting remains of many mines, including the most recently working Geevor Mine, and the restored Levant. Portheras is a wide stretch of good clean sand. Boat Cove is a tiny sandy cove separated from it by rocks that are just about passable at low tide. There are often seals here. To drive head along the north coast towards St Ives and turn right for Chy Praze Farm just before Morvah, there’s an honesty box for paying for parking in a field. No lifeguard and no facilities, so be careful.

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Portheras Cove

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The only sandy cove on the north coast before St Ives, Portheras is a hard but rewarding walk along the cliff path from St Just that passes the interesting remains of many mines, including the most recently working Geevor Mine, and the restored Levant. Portheras is a wide stretch of good clean sand. Boat Cove is a tiny sandy cove separated from it by rocks that are just about passable at low tide. There are often seals here. To drive head along the north coast towards St Ives and turn right for Chy Praze Farm just before Morvah, there’s an honesty box for paying for parking in a field. No lifeguard and no facilities, so be careful.

Sennen Cove

The Blue Flag beach at Sennen Cove is definitely one of the jewels of the far west. A wide expanse of beach that is vast at low tide. We walk to Sennen from St Just now and then, but it’s a long stank! Follow either of the routes to Gwenver and keep going to the next beach. The sea is generally benign here, and there are lifeguards all summer. Sennen also has cafes, a pub, stores, surf schools and a gallery.

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Sennen Cove

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The Blue Flag beach at Sennen Cove is definitely one of the jewels of the far west. A wide expanse of beach that is vast at low tide. We walk to Sennen from St Just now and then, but it’s a long stank! Follow either of the routes to Gwenver and keep going to the next beach. The sea is generally benign here, and there are lifeguards all summer. Sennen also has cafes, a pub, stores, surf schools and a gallery.

Nanjizal Beach; Song Of The Sea Cave

It’s worth going to Nanjizel just for the stunning high cliffs between Lands End and there. At Nanjizel there’s a quiet beach that’s a mix of coarse sand and pleasingly rounded boulders, with caves and the beautiful arch, called the Song of the Sea. Walk to the beach from Lands End or from Trevescan where there’s a great café called the Appletree. Opposite the Appletree and to the left there’s a bus stop and the path starts behind it crossing a couple of cottages’ drives. There’s only one real junction to the path and at that take the right turn. There are no facilities or lifeguards at Nanjizel. There are often seals though.

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Nanjizal Beach; Song Of The Sea Cave

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It’s worth going to Nanjizel just for the stunning high cliffs between Lands End and there. At Nanjizel there’s a quiet beach that’s a mix of coarse sand and pleasingly rounded boulders, with caves and the beautiful arch, called the Song of the Sea. Walk to the beach from Lands End or from Trevescan where there’s a great café called the Appletree. Opposite the Appletree and to the left there’s a bus stop and the path starts behind it crossing a couple of cottages’ drives. There’s only one real junction to the path and at that take the right turn. There are no facilities or lifeguards at Nanjizel. There are often seals though.

Gwynver Beach

A good walk from St Just with a couple of picturesque routes. Gwenver (Gwynver) is quiet most days of the year because of the hard walk back to the car park at the end of the day. The sandy beach is a local’s favourite and has a lifeguard in the summer. Take care swimming there at other times as there’s often a rip current. Every adventurous child will love the rock pools at the north of the beach when the tide is low. You can walk to Gwenver along the cliffs from Cot Valley, or across the fields aiming for the hamlets of Trevegean and Tregiffian. There are no facilities at Gwenver.

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Gwynver Beach

South West Coast Path

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A good walk from St Just with a couple of picturesque routes. Gwenver (Gwynver) is quiet most days of the year because of the hard walk back to the car park at the end of the day. The sandy beach is a local’s favourite and has a lifeguard in the summer. Take care swimming there at other times as there’s often a rip current. Every adventurous child will love the rock pools at the north of the beach when the tide is low. You can walk to Gwenver along the cliffs from Cot Valley, or across the fields aiming for the hamlets of Trevegean and Tregiffian. There are no facilities at Gwenver.

Priest Cove

Not a beach in the sandy sense, but a great spot where the locals flock on a sunny day. Priest’s Cove is a working fishing cove and the slipway makes a good entry point for swimmers. It’s in the shadow of Cape Cornwall, Beaches Down here at the end we have mostly small sandy coves, and then Sennen, the jewel in our crown that breaks the rule. one of my favourite spots in the far west. There’s an ice cream van for much of the year in the National Trust car park above the cove, and there are toilets there too. In late July or early August look out for signs for Cape Sports, the annual swimming race in from The Brisons, the big rock in the bay – it’s only ever advertised in St Just and doesn’t happen if the weather is bad. To get to the cove walk down Cape Cornwall Street, or better still, across the fields.

Priest Cove

South West Coast Path

Not a beach in the sandy sense, but a great spot where the locals flock on a sunny day. Priest’s Cove is a working fishing cove and the slipway makes a good entry point for swimmers. It’s in the shadow of Cape Cornwall, Beaches Down here at the end we have mostly small sandy coves, and then Sennen, the jewel in our crown that breaks the rule. one of my favourite spots in the far west. There’s an ice cream van for much of the year in the National Trust car park above the cove, and there are toilets there too. In late July or early August look out for signs for Cape Sports, the annual swimming race in from The Brisons, the big rock in the bay – it’s only ever advertised in St Just and doesn’t happen if the weather is bad. To get to the cove walk down Cape Cornwall Street, or better still, across the fields.

Porthcurno Beach

Porthcurno Beach, located in the far west of Cornwall has won many awards and it's easy to see why. With gorgeous fine soft white sand washed by a sea that turns turquoise in the sun and high cliffs on both sides providing shelter, it's an oasis of stunning natural beauty. It does get really busy in the summertime.

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Porthcurno Beach

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Porthcurno Beach, located in the far west of Cornwall has won many awards and it's easy to see why. With gorgeous fine soft white sand washed by a sea that turns turquoise in the sun and high cliffs on both sides providing shelter, it's an oasis of stunning natural beauty. It does get really busy in the summertime.

St. Michaels Mount

It’s as beautiful as it looks. A fairy tale island castle still lived in by the St Aubyn family. It’s National Trust owned and there are boats across to it when the tide is in.

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St. Michaels Mount

Harbour View

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It’s as beautiful as it looks. A fairy tale island castle still lived in by the St Aubyn family. It’s National Trust owned and there are boats across to it when the tide is in.