Rinsey Head Circular - a short walk using the South West Coast Path



Short Walks (up to one day) Suitable for Heritage Suitable for Scenery
Walk name: Rinsey Head Circular
: Rinsey Head Car Park
Finish location: Rinsey Head Car Park
Distance: 4 miles (6km)
Grade Moderate
Terrain Undulating Coast Path with firm surface. One moderately strenuous climb
Circular Walk: Yes
Free from obstacles & steep gradients: No

Walk description:

Leaving Rinsey Head car park, take the Coast Path heading east towards Porthleven with views stretching down the length of the Lizard peninsula. The impressive Wheal Prosper engine house, built in 1860, stands before you – evidence that this area was once a hive of mining activity. Continue along the Coast Path for ½ mile, rounding Trewavas Head, until you come to the junction with another footpath just south of Trewavas Farm.

Step over the stone block that serves as a stile and start to travel west. In front of you will be spectacular views of Mounts Bay and the Penwith peninsula. Continue along the path as it leaves the track and travels through a field to a stone stile. Cross over the stile and continue along the well-worn path. You will have another opportunity to look down on the engine house at Wheal Prosper. The path will take you into the heart of the old mining hamlet of Rinsey.

Walk along the road from Rinsey and head towards Ashton. Just past the last house in Rinsey you will find a kissing gate on the left. Walk through it and continue along the path across a number of fields – keep a lookout for the old stone stiles in order to make sure that you are on the right track. Eventually you will come to the hamlet of Hendra.

At Hendra, turn left and follow the road as it heads down towards Praa Sands. You will be on this single track road for about ¼ mile so keep an ear out for oncoming traffic. At the end of the road you will reach the far eastern end of Praa Sands beach and the opportunity to rejoin the Coast Path. Start to head back east to where you started. As the path climbs up above Lesceave Cliffs you will yet again be able to see evidence of former mining activity. Continue along until you eventually return to the car park at Rinsey Head.

Public transport information:
First bus services to Ashton or Praa Sands. For details visit Traveline or phone 0871 200 2233
Toilets:
None
Nearest Car parks:
Rinsey Head (Postcode for Sat Navs: TR13 9SQ).
Nearest refreshments:
Praa Sands (summer only)
Further Information:
Tourist Information Centre at Helston, Tel: 01326 565431.
For more information about Wheal Prosper visit the Cornish Mining website
OS Explorer Map number: 102


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PICTURE:

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Click map to enlarge This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. The Countryside Agency. Licence Number: 100018881
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Anon  (21/07/2005)

I found this website earlier this year when I was looking for circular walks in Cornwall. Prior to my holiday in July I printed out this walk and, on 21st July, arrived at the car park for Rinsey Head.

My partner and I had a fantastic walk. The directions were very accurate and easy to follow. The grading of the walk was correct too. This is important to me because I have asthma and cannot manage everything that other people can. The description of what we might see on our walk was spot on too. However, we were really lucky and actually saw a pair of Choughs on the cliffs. We knew they were choughs because we had seen some at Paradise Park the previous day.

The scenery on this walk is spectacular and I got some fantastic photographs. You can't miss Wheal Prosper tin mine as you walk down from the car park. The view of the beach and the house on the opposite cliff is outstanding. The beach is lovely pale sand and the sea is a gorgeous turquoise colour. This walk was just right for me and I shall be re-visiting this one again and again. I shall also be trying out some of the slightly more strenuous walks on my next visit to Cornwall.

Highly recommended.

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