St Agnes Things to See and Do

St Agnes Beaches

The main beach in St Agnes is Trevaunace Cove, once a busy harbour where copper was loaded, bound for Swansea. Today, it is a beautiful spot, sheltered by rocky cliffs and with some good Atlantic surf for boarders. Trevaunance is kid-friendly, dog-friendly and a great place to grab a local beer (more about this in a minute). The nicest way to get to the cove is via “Stippy Stappy”, a jumbled row of 18th century sea captains’ cottages that lead steeply down towards Peterville Woods and Quay Road.

National Trust-managed Chapel Porth Beach is simply stunning, and has a welcoming cafe. Along the coast, Porthtowan is a long sandy beach much loved by both families and surfers. If you’re looking for a bit of peace, try lovely Trevallas Porth (although be aware, this is the only one of the four St Agnes beaches without seasonal lifeguard cover).

Surfing in St Agnes

It would be a shame to holiday in St Agnes without at least having a go at surfing! Head down to Breakers at Trevaunance Cove, who offer lessons for rookies and kids as well as improver sessions for more experienced boarders. You can also hire boards, SUPs and wetsuits from Breakers.

Alternatively, take to the water with Koru Kayaking. Their kayak adventure tours last about two hours, and are a wonderful way to explore the St Agnes Heritage Coast. On a warm day, the tour includes stopping at a secluded beach for a refreshing swim.

Thinking of the weather, if you need a sporty indoor alternative for a rainy day, Mount Hawke Skate Park is close to St Agnes.

St Agnes walks

What strikes most people about the North Cornwall coast is how colourful it is, the heathland bright with squill, vetch and gorse against the blue sea, which seems to glow even on the dullest days. St Agnes is surrounded on its non-sea sides by lush green farmland and mixed woodland.

This lovely four-mile walk takes in both coast and heath, with some incredible views from St Agnes Head and St Agnes Beacon. For a more coastal walk, catch the bus north to Perranporth and walk the five miles back to St Agnes, taking in the Blue Hills and the remains of an old dynamite works. Explore the heart of the local mining heritage with a walk around Wheal Coates mine, which has some of the most spectacular ruined industrial architecture in Cornwall.