St. Just and Area
Click on the map for a printable PDF (247KB)
Shining Land, Silver Sea
St. Just is an ancient market and mining town set in the West Cornish coastline facing the Atlantic.
Shakespeare described Britain as “This precious stone set in the silver sea”.
St. Just is a rough diamond, set in a shining land bounded by the silver sea.
Walking it Off
Hidden coves and beaches. Stunning scenery, breath taking views. Mining and agricultural history. The many walking routes around St. Just take in all of these and help you walk off our cream teas and cakes!
The Cook Book to Carn Bosavern
Click on the map for a printable PDF (230KB)
Time: 15 minutes, depending on how long your legs are
An easy walk for all, although it can be slippery and muddy if wet
Turn right towards the centre of St. Just. Go past the War Memorial, the Co-op and the Commercial Hotel until you reach Fore Street. Walk up the street on the right-hand-side – tread carefully as the pavement is very narrow.
Keep on going, past St. Just Garage, across the entrance to South Place to where the main road turns left up the hill – at the corner, on the right-hand, there is a small set of steps leading to a narrow lane.
Go up the steps, along the lane, to the T-junction. Turn left and then immediately right, between No. 33 and No. 34, into another short lane. This will bring you onto the road leading up to Carn Bosavern. Walk to the top of this road and take a right across a stony car park. Follow the path and climb over a lwo wall – there are makeshift steps, but take care.
Once over the wall, take either the left or the right route until you reach the rocks themselves.
Facing seaward, to your right lies the town of St. Just from on high, to your left, the vast countryside.
Extra care must be taken with children, as the rocks can be slippery when wet. It is open to high winds!
You can return via the route you came by.
Carn Bosavern to Cot Valley
Click on the map for a printable PDF (724KB)
Time: 45 minutes, approximately
An easy route but take care on the narrow roads. Some muddy terrain
There are two footpaths on the seaward side of the Carn, one going straight down and the other over a low wall to the North. Both take you to a road. Take care, as the paths can be slippery if muddy. At the bottom of either path, take a right leading onto the road, followed by a left, into Carrallack Lane. Follow this downhill until you reach a junction at the bottom. The main road curves to the right. You take a left, following the tarmac farm road all the way to the end, where there is a bench if you need it! There is a breathtaking view of the Brisons.
To the right is “Scrabbly” Lane. Follow this to the bottom, but take care, this is fairly uneven and a moderate descent. At the bottom, take a right along a muddy footpath to a road. Note the beautiful garden on your left. Take a left downhill but beware of traffic (very little) and the steep blind corner.
You are now in Cot Valley. Follow the road to the sea, taking in the scenery – plants, stream, wildlife and particularly the old mine workings. Do not tread off the stated paths as unmarked shafts lurk in the undergrowth. The road ends at a small sand and boulder beach, Penanwell, also known as Nanven, with its distinctive Putty Rock and rounded stones. For the adventurous, a coastal path leads to Sennen to the South. Take care as the sea can be extremely dangerous on a rough day and the coast path becomes slippery.
There is a legend that Joseph of Arimathea and the boy Jesus landed at Penanwell and walked up Cot Valley on their way to Glastonbury.
If you wish to extend your walk, you can find further routes and maps in our An Uncommon Place book.
