St Agnes Beacon and Wheal Coates Circular
Cornwall
St Agnes Head is a stretch of National Trust heath and cliff on the north Cornish coast, where the open ground around the Beacon gives a dog with good recall some welcome freedom. This 4.9km circular walk leaves the St Agnes Head car park and climbs through heather and gorse to the summit of St Agnes Beacon, where the view takes in a huge sweep of the north coast. It then drops south-west to Wheal Coates, whose engine houses stand on the cliff edge above Chapel Porth, including the Towanroath shaft engine house with its chimney perched just above the sea. The return follows the South West Coast Path north along the clifftop, with views towards Porthtowan. There is about 157 metres of climbing, mostly on the pull up the Beacon, and the paths are narrow and bumpy in places with a short stretch of minor road.
This is a dog friendly walk with more open ground than most in Cornwall, and the heath on and around the Beacon gives a dog with good recall some freedom. There is one field used for cattle grazing and one stile beside a gate. Keep dogs close on the coast path, where the edges are unfenced, and around Wheal Coates, where old shafts pepper the cliffs. There is no shade and little water. Chapel Porth beach has seasonal dog restrictions. There is a cafe at Chapel Porth, a short detour, and toilets there in season.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 4.9 km (3.0 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 1 hr 40 min
- Walk Type
- Coastal, Historic, Heathland
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Moderate
- Livestock Risk
- Moderate
- Facilities
- Cafe (not National Trust) and seasonal toilets at Chapel Porth, a short detour; pubs and cafes in St Agnes.
- Parking
- St Agnes Head car park, National Trust; Wheal Coates and Chapel Porth car parks are alternatives.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to St Agnes Beacon and Wheal Coates Circular, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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All dog friendly stays in CornwallFrequently Asked Questions
Is St Agnes Beacon and Wheal Coates Circular dog friendly?
Yes, it scores 7 out of 10 for dog friendliness. Dogs are welcome on the National Trust land at St Agnes Head and the heath gives more space than most Cornish clifftop walks. The score reflects the unfenced cliff edges and old mine shafts, one field of grazing cattle, no shade, and seasonal dog restrictions on the beach at Chapel Porth.
Can dogs be off lead at St Agnes Beacon and Wheal Coates Circular?
In places. The heathland around St Agnes Beacon is open enough for a dog with good recall to have some off-lead time, as long as no livestock is around. Put your dog on a lead through the cattle field and keep it close along the coast path and around Wheal Coates, where there are unfenced cliff edges and old mine shafts.
What should I know before visiting St Agnes Beacon and Wheal Coates Circular with my dog?
The walk is short but has a steady climb to the Beacon and narrow, bumpy paths on the coast. Carry water for your dog, as there is no shade. Chapel Porth beach has seasonal dog restrictions. Parking is at the National Trust St Agnes Head car park, with a second National Trust car park at Wheal Coates. Toilets and a cafe are at Chapel Porth, just off the route.
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