Engine Houses, Moorland Trails, and Industrial Heritage
A UNESCO World Heritage Site where rugged countryside meets the Atlantic coast.
The Cornwall & West Devon Mining Landscape, recognised by UNESCO in 2006, is one of the most distinctive places in England for walking holidays and outdoor adventures. Once the centre of the world’s tin and copper industry, this heritage site stretches across ten separate areas — from the cliffs of St Just and the harbours of Hayle to the moorlands of Bodmin Moor and Dartmoor. Today, engine houses, miners’ cottages, and old quarries sit among dramatic scenery, making it a fascinating destination for walkers.
Trails wind past clifftop engine houses at Wheal Coates, through industrial harbours at Charlestown and Hayle, and across open moorlands dotted with shafts and spoil heaps. Historic mines such as Geevor, Levant, and South Croftybring the past to life, while walking routes link landscapes where human endeavour and natural beauty are inseparably bound. This is a landscape for slow exploration — where coast paths, moorland ridges, and mining villages tell stories as rich as the veins of ore once dug from the earth.
South West Coast Path (Mining Heritage Sections)
Sections near St Just, St Agnes, and Porthtowan showcase engine houses against dramatic sea cliffs.
Mineral Tramways Trails
A 37-mile network of multi-use trails connecting former mining districts between Portreath and Devoran.
Tamar Valley Discovery Trails
Circular walks exploring the river valleys, orchards, and mines of the Cornwall–Devon border.
Caradon Hill Trails
Routes across Bodmin Moor linking old quarries, mine workings, and panoramic viewpoints.
It spans ten areas across Cornwall and West Devon, including St Just, St Agnes, Gwennap, Bodmin Moor, and the Tamar Valley.
It represents the world-leading role Cornwall and West Devon played in mining, with landscapes and technology exported worldwide.
The South West Coast Path at St Agnes Head or Botallack offers iconic cliff-top engine house views.
Yes — short coastal walks, cycle routes, and visits to heritage sites like Geevor Tin Mine are great for families.
Spring and summer bring wildflowers to the cliffs; autumn and winter highlight the drama of the coastal heritage sites.