St Agnes, or Aggie as it is affectionately known by locals, is a coastal village in North Cornwall set between Porthtowan and Perranporth. Both a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a World Heritage Site, it flourishes a fascinating history alongside world-class attractions to create a magical setting for fairytale escapes. With a network of winding streets which flow down towards the famous Stippy Stappy road and sandy Trevaunance Cove, it is a picture of Cornish perfection.
A Guide to St Agnes
From Bronze Age secrets to the dreamiest live events in Cornwall, we’ve crafted a guide to St Agnes for dreamy days and oceanside soirees on the coast. Enjoy the full drama of Aggie’s wild coastline and bask in its hidden corners for a sojourn unlike any other…
History
St Agnes perches on Cornwall’s north coast and has been home to communities for thousands of years. With its heritage revealed by seven thousand year old flint tools, Bronze Age barrows, Roman earthworks and nineteenth century mines, its landscapes are moulded by the elements and chronicled by the workings of human hands. In recent history, St Agnes’ harbour was used to transport copper ore, coal, mackerel, and pilchards around the UK, before its walls were destroyed by stormy Atlantic waves in 1915. Perfect for those looking to lose themselves to St Agnes’ fascinating narratives, many of the area’s heritage sites are cared for by charities including the National Trust and can still be visited today.
Poldark Country
Spellbindingly beautiful, St Agnes and its surrounding landscapes heavily inspired the writings of the twentieth century novelist Winston Graham, the author of Poldark. Known as Poldark Country, it is decorated with sweeping coastline, silvery cliffs, white sand beaches and heather-tufted downs that evoke drama and paint the picture for real-life romances. If you have seen the much-loved TV adaptations, you may recognise famous local landmarks used as the backdrops of Poldark’s storylines, including St Agnes Head and the enigmatic ruins of Wheal Coates.
Places to Eat
The Sorting Office
The Sorting Office in Churchtown, St Agnes, is an independent coffee shop serving an array of foodie delights throughout the week. A former post office, it offers intimate interiors and outside seating for breakfast, brunch, lunch and coffee dates. Take a seat to savour the ambience or bundle up takeaway treats for a picnic on the beach. Temptation that’s hard to resist, bagels and smoothies are particularly popular here for their fresh, vibrant and wholesome tastes.
Genki
Genki is a hidden haven on Quay Road in St Agnes. A beach hut coffeehouse with a secret garden shrouded in greenery, it sets an idyllic scene for sumptuous foodie moments. On its menu, you’ll find a selection of carefully curated breakfast and lunch dishes, including everything from fruit-filled smoothie bowls to chilli-topped nachos. In the summer, Genki also hosts evening pop ups, so it’s worth keeping an eye on its seasonal events to avoid missing out.
Cornish Pizza Company
If you’re looking for delectable dough-based goodness to enjoy during your Cornish getaway, look no further than the Cornish Pizza Company. Multi-award-winning, this St Agnes-based pizzeria has been turning heads for over a decade and is loved by locals and visitors alike. Combining local ingredients with their own secret recipes, the kitchen’s team create oven-fresh pizzas (each named after a local mine) to takeaway, ready to be enjoyed on the beach or in your dreamy abode.
Driftwood Spars
Perfectly placed for post-swim refreshments is the award-winning Driftwood Spars. Home to a restaurant and microbrewery full of signature beers, this pub above Trevaunance Cove appeals to culinary and craft ale connoisseurs with a range of food and drink on tap. Lou’s Brew (made for the landlady) and Stippy Stappy (named after the village’s steep main street) are two of the most popular beverages, especially enjoyable when combined with a soundtrack of live music from the pub’s beer garden.
The Taphouse
The Taphouse is a well-known bar and grill on Peterville Square in the heart of St Agnes. Beckoning for meals throughout the day as well as evening celebrations, it creates a laidback environment for meals, cocktails, and special occasions. Using seasonal local produce, its menus present Cornish classics, seafood specials and innovative dishes infused with exotic inflections. Meanwhile, its calendar of events promises eclectic music and performances from local and national artists.
Schooners
Sandy toes, cold cans and hot pizza are all on the agenda at Schooners, a seafront beer and cocktail bar in St Agnes. Co-owned by the renowned Cornish brewing company, Verdant, this ambient hangout is one of the best places to go to soak up great vibes, great views and great food. Menus are wonderfully uncomplicated, focused on wood-fired sourdough pizza and light bites, adding to the simple, relaxed, and inviting nature of this seaside hub.
St Agnes Bakery
During a halcyon spell in St Agnes, a trip to St Agnes Bakery is a must. Traditional Cornish bakers since 1905, this incredible bakery has honed secret recipes over a century to create the most delicious sweet and savoury delights, including flaky Cornish pasties, giant sausage rolls and golden butter buns. Head over to grab some hot-from-the-oven goodies for your shoreside picnic or linger a little longer for a drink and treat in the café.
Beaches
Trevaunance Cove
Trevaunance Cove is St Agnes’ main beach, taking pride of place at the foot of the village. Shouldered by high cliffs and blanketed by golden sands, this family favourite is loved for its gently sloping shore that expands with each low tide to reveal lots of space to play. Lifeguarded in summer and dog-friendly year-round, it is also backed by bars and restaurants meaning that, whatever the weather, there is always somewhere warm and dry to savour the beach’s beautiful sea-view aspect.
Chapel Porth
Just over two miles from St Agnes and a mile from Porthtowan, Chapel Porth beach sits at the foot of an old mining valley and is overlooked by the striking remains of old engine houses. Dramatic in winter and Caribbean-esque in summer, its blue waters and powdery sands make for the most photogenic subjects. To get there, park in the National Trust car park close to the beach and wander down. You’ll find lifeguard service in summer, and there are seasonal dog restrictions from July to August each year. For added luxury, parcel up a picnic with treats from St Agnes Bakery.
Perranporth Beach
One of the best beaches for everyone from families to surfers and one of the top dog-friendly beaches in Cornwall, Perranporth beach is a salt-kissed dream. One of the longest beaches in Cornwall and home to the UK’s only official beach bar and restaurant, The Watering Hole, its wondrous accolades draw admirers from near and far. Drive the four miles from St Agnes and choose a spot atop its three miles of honey-coloured sand for coastal serenity.
Attractions
Wheal Coates
Wheal Coates comprises the remains of one of Cornwall’s most iconic engine houses, perched high on the cliffs overlooking the coast near St Agnes. First opened in 1802, it was an integral part of the county's tin and copper mining industry and once featured three engine houses, as well as employing dozens of people. Today, the skeletal remains of the mine can still be seen, silhouetted against a stunning backdrop of azure ocean and skirted by a network of tracks and coastal path.
St Agnes Head
St Agnes Head is a wonderful spot for walks on the North Coast. Served by a nearby car park and managed by the National Trust, this windswept headland lies just outside of the village and awaits for coastal forays. Used as an artillery range in World War Two and home to a lookout station for decades, its towering vantage point affords incredible views over the ocean. Lace up walking shoes and follow tails past the yellow and purple flowers of heather and gorse to admire the scenery.
St Agnes Beacon
Situated just behind St Agnes Head is St Agnes Beacon, where a stone beacon sits atop a Bronze Age barrow on a hilly pinnacle. Used during the Spanish Armada and Napoleonic War to warn of the threat of invasion, the beacon has occupied an important place in Cornish history for centuries and today resides in peaceful solitude atop its hummocky throne. To relish some of the best panoramic views over countryside and coast in Cornwall, enjoy a three mile circular walk from White Rocks to St Agnes Beacon.
St Agnes Museum
St Agnes Museum is located on Penwinnick Road and welcomes visitors of all generations to learn about the village and its past. Featuring carefully curated collections and artefacts, its exhibitions reveal the fascinating mining, maritime and social history of St Agnes and its surrounds, including as many as 6,500 items. Two particular highlights include the museum’s preserved leatherback turtle, intended to educate about plastic pollution, and photos and paintings showing life in St Agnes throughout the ages.
Pipeline Brewing Co
Found in St Agnes, Pipeline Brewing Company is an innovative craft ale brewery welcoming all those with a taste for hoppy perfection. Crafting an ever-evolving lineup of beers and brews from the best hops around, they boast a signature range of everything from lagers to IPAs to dark stouts. If you would like to experience Pipeline’s characterful batches for yourself, head over to their taproom close to the brewery in St Agnes.
Things to Do
South West Coast Path
The South West Coast Path around St Agnes follows the craggy grey hem of the north coast’s slate cliffs and beckons those with a desire to roam. Punctuating the skyline on one side, empty engine houses hark back to the mid-nineteenth century when St Agnes was one of the most industrialised corners of the world. Meanwhile, on the other side jewel-embellished seas glitter and dance in the sunlight, decorated by the white breakers of rolling waves. To really immerse yourself in St Agnes’ coastalscapes, while away the hours walking from the Blue Hills of Jericho Valley to Wheal Kitty, down to Trevaunance Cove and along the Beacon to Chapel Porth, working up an appetite for a delicious repast in a local restaurant.
Kayaking
A wonderful way to explore the waters around St Agnes is through kayaking. Especially memorable when guided by local experts such as Koru Kayaking, this captivating activity offers a magical introduction to lesser-known areas of the coast and promises life-long memories in the process. Take part in a two hour excursion to see secret archways, towering sea stacks, hidden beaches and if you’re lucky, a resident seal or two.
St Agnes Bolster Festival
The village of St Agnes has a lively calendar of events throughout the year. Perhaps the most famous, locals come together each May to celebrate Bolster Day with a colourful flurry of dance performances, live music, and parades with giant puppets. Shrouded in legend, the day’s activities regale audiences with the tale of a fearsome Cornish giant, Bolster, who was said to once live near the village and fell in love with a beautiful local girl called Agnes.
St Agnes Carnival
If you plan on visiting St Agnes in summer, time your visit with the much-loved St Agnes Carnival. Dating back over a century, the event has long been a highlight of the community’s social calendar and revolves around a procession with costumes and floats. Dance routines and performances from local bands and artists are amongst the lineup of entertainment, while local pubs and restaurants open their doors to welcome in revellers with hearty food and drink.
Breakers Surf School
Surfing is synonymous with life in Cornwall, with the lure of crystalline barrels drawing surfers from all over the world. If you haven’t tried surfing before or would like to practise your techniques, a luxury retreat in St Agnes is the perfect opportunity thanks to local surf schools such as Breakers Surf School. Based at Trevaunance Cove at the foot of the village, these salt-tousled pros promise hours of fun in the waves, guided by expert surf instructors.
Sky Bar
A renowned pop up bar and venue, Sky Bar has become a favourite fixture of summer activities in St Agnes in recent years. Springing up throughout the season, it hosts a range of events at various locations including New Downs Farm in St Agnes for fun-filled summer sundowners and star-studded nights. Tickets sell out quickly, so it’s worth keeping an eye on their upcoming programmes to secure yourself an evening to remember above the sapphire seas of the North Coast.
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