Welcome to Poldark country! The author Winston Graham lived in Perranporth for many years and obviously based his books on the surrounding landscape: rough cliffs, narrow coves, and old tin mines dominating the landscape.

There’s evidence of mining everywhere too: air shafts, tailing piles, building ruins. At first I wasn’t sure what the little pyramids were but eventually it clicked, and they’re everywhere.

Many of the mines are at the cliff edge; some sinking up to 200’ below sea level and in places > mile out to sea. This has advanced cliff erosion due to the honeycomb of mine shafts that are hiding beneath the shrubbery collapsing over time. There are warning signs everywhere to stay on the Path!

The most significant remains of the tin industry on today’s hike was walking right through the Wheal Coates site. Active from 1692, these buildings date from the late 1800’s…

The walking went well today, taking my time again and enjoying all those benches with views! There were a couple of big dips to contend with. The first seemed a bit pointless to me – going down/up behind the hiker below, only to go down again at the far beach. So, I went around!