St Agnes to Holywell

This morning we took a taxi to St Agnes, a tiny hamlet along the coast, as there were no buses. This 8-mile walk wiped us out. 

Just below the trail head.

The trail starts with steps up to the top of the headland.

View down toward St Agnes beach.

Across the top and down the other side.

Once we get down to the bottom and cross the tiny stream, we realize that we might have been able to climb over these rocks from the beach on the other side.

St Agnes was a big tin mining region in the 1830s, but when the price of tin fell in the 1870s, the smaller mines were forced to close. Mining continued in the larger mines until the 1940s, and today the area still has lots of mine shafts and remnants of engine house. This photo shows the top of an open mine shaft, with signs all over reminding walkers to stay on the path.

The landscape is totally different in this area; it looks like Mars.

We reach Perranporth, a huge glorious beach. The South West Coast Path goes across the beach (or up across the dunes) and continues way down at the headland at the top of the photo.

Now we're up in the dunes, totally different terrain from this morning!

This path killed us.

This path just went on and on and on. Finally, we reach Holywell beach, the end of our walk. We are wiped out.