Walks & trails around St Austell
The Pentewan Valley Trail, the Clay Trails and the coast path — distance, surface and parking for each, in plain terms.
St Austell's everyday walking and riding happens on the trails around the town — the river valley down to Pentewan, the Clay Trails over the old mining country, and the coast path along the bay. Here's each one in plain terms: how far, what's underfoot, where to park.
Arrive at Eden by bike or on foot and entry is discounted
Pentewan Valley Trail
The default family ride: a flat, mostly traffic-free path along the St Austell River from the edge of town to the beach at Pentewan, on the line of the old Pentewan railway.
Carrying on to Mevagissey leaves the flat valley — the continuation is partly on lanes with a long climb, and a steep drop into the village.
- Distance
- About 3.5 miles one way
- Surface
- Mostly hard surface, flat the whole way
- Good for
- Walking, cycling and pushchairs — a safe ride for all ages and abilities
- Start from
- The southern edge of St Austell, with easy joins at London Apprentice and King's Wood; the Pentewan end is by the village
- Parking
- Pentewan village, King's Wood, and small car parks along the B3273
- Facilities
- Cafés and toilets in Pentewan; bike hire at the Pentewan end (Pentewan Valley Cycle Hire)
- Map
- Open in maps
Green Corridor: St Austell to Wheal Martyn
The link between town and the Clay Trails: a gentle climb from Tremena Gardens up to Wheal Martyn, past abandoned clay driers and their tall brick chimneys.
- Distance
- About 2 miles one way
- Surface
- Surfaced, with a gentle slope most of the way
- Good for
- Walking and cycling; an easy introduction to the clay country
- Start from
- Tremena Gardens in St Austell, or start at Wheal Martyn and walk down
- Parking
- Wheal Martyn (China Clay Country Park) car park
- Facilities
- Café and toilets at Wheal Martyn
- Map
Clay Trail: Wheal Martyn to the Eden Project
The big one — surfaced trails through the heart of the clay country, with views over working pits, mica dams and St Austell Bay. The history of the industry is laid out under your feet.
- Distance
- 5 miles one way
- Surface
- Surfaced gravel for year-round use; some steep slopes, with the steeper stretches signed
- Good for
- Walking, cycling and horse riding
- Start from
- Wheal Martyn (China Clay Country Park), two miles north of town on the B3274
- Parking
- Wheal Martyn car park
- Facilities
- Café and toilets at Wheal Martyn and at Eden
- Map
Clay Trail: Bugle to the Eden Project
From the old mining village of Bugle across the heathland of Treskilling Downs, past the woods and lakes of the restored clay landscape, ending at Eden.
- Distance
- 4 miles one way
- Surface
- Surfaced, relatively easy with one moderate climb
- Good for
- Walking, cycling and horse riding; Bugle is on the Newquay branch railway, so it works car-free
- Start from
- Bugle village — the trail starts near the centre, a short walk from Bugle station
- Parking
- In Bugle village
- Facilities
- The Bugle Inn near the start; café and toilets at Eden
- Map
Clay Trail: Par Beach to St Blazey
A short, flat trail from the beach through the marshes of the old river estuary — Par shipped china clay around the world from the 1830s — and the St Andrew's Park nature reserve.
The continuation from St Blazey to Eden is a walking-only footpath — cyclists use nearby Cornhill Lane, which is quiet but hilly.
- Distance
- 3 miles one way
- Surface
- Surfaced and mostly flat
- Good for
- Walking and cycling only — this one isn't suitable for horses
- Start from
- Par Beach car park, or Par railway station
- Parking
- Par Beach car park
- Facilities
- Toilets at Par Beach
- Map
Coast path: Charlestown to Porthpean
An easy clifftop stretch of the South West Coast Path linking the Georgian harbour at Charlestown to the swimming beach at Porthpean, passing the 1793 Crinnis Cliff Battery.
- Distance
- About a mile each way
- Surface
- Clifftop footpath — uneven in places, with steps
- Good for
- Walkers of most abilities; not pushchair or wheelchair territory
- Start from
- Charlestown harbour or Porthpean beach
- Parking
- Charlestown's main car park, or the small car park at Porthpean
- Facilities
- Cafés, pubs and toilets in Charlestown; toilets at Porthpean
- Map
Coast path: Porthpean to Black Head and Pentewan
The wilder stretch: the coast path climbs around Black Head — a windswept headland with an Iron Age cliff castle and views over the whole bay — then drops towards Pentewan, with Mevagissey a further stretch on.
- Distance
- Around 4 miles one way to Pentewan
- Surface
- Cliff path with real climbs and descents — proper footwear, and allow longer than the distance suggests
- Good for
- Walkers comfortable with hills and steps
- Start from
- Porthpean beach
- Parking
- Small car park at Porthpean; park in Pentewan and walk it the other way if you'd rather finish near a café
- Facilities
- Nothing between Porthpean and Pentewan — carry water
- Map