What To Do In St Agnes

St Agnes in Cornwall offers a variety of activities and attractions for visitors. Here are some of the best things to do in St Agnes:

Collage of coastal scenes includes a path leading to old mine ruins, an information board, a beach, and turquoise waters with rocky cliffs.

St Agnes boasts a stunning coastline with natural beaches that are perfect for exploration and outdoor activities:

Dramatic Coastline

Walk the St Agnes Heritage Coast: This designated protected area offers spectacular cliff-top walks with breathtaking ocean views including St Agnes Head and …
Visit Wheal Coates Mine: This National Trust site features a cliff-edge engine house, providing insight into the area’s mining history and offering incredible coastal vistas
Climb St Agnes Beacon: This large hill towering over the village provides panoramic views along the coast and is an excellent spot for watching sunsets

And Beaches…

Trevaunance Cove: The main beach in St Agnes, perfect for swimming and surfing. Plenty of cafes and a wonderful pub to enjoy a lazy day in the cove
Chapel Porth Beach: A gorgeous beach great for swimming, with the added bonus of trying the local specialty “Chapel Porth hedgehog” ice cream from the beach café
Porthtowan Beach: A short drive from St Agnes, Porthtowan Beach is known for its expansive sandy shore and great surf conditions

Outdoor Adventures

For those seeking more active pursuits:

Surfing: Take a lesson with the highly rated Breakers Surf School to experience Cornwall’s famous waves in Trevaunance Cove
Cycling: Bring your own, or rent a bike, and ride the newly opened Saint’s Trail to Truro. Ask us for bike hire options.
Horse Riding: Book a ride at the friendly Goonbell Riding Centre for an equestrian experience suitable for all levels.
Kayaking: a magical way to see the dramatic beauty of Cornwall’s North Coast and hidden wonders, arches and caverns. Go with the wonderful Koru Kayaking

A man in gloves stands by a forge. Above, a knife is heated in the fire. Below, a finished knife rests on an anvil.

Make Something Cornish

Pareusi Kitchen Knives

Pareusi is Cornish for cook / make ready / prepare

Make your own stunning kitchen knife with Dan Maltwood who gave up his own 15 year cheffing career to open his very successful forge located on the South West Coast path near St Agnes Head and under the gaze of St Agnes Beacon.

Dan is known and loved by Rose in Vale for over 10 years. In fact he's part of the family. He used to work with us as a chef and now our current chefs use Dan's knives!

Many top professional chefs use Pareusi's knives, including Michelin star chefs, so you know your own kitchen knife will be a quality tool.

Dan's passion is infectious. You'll have an experience day like no other in an exciting forge with stunning views and take home your own wonderful unique handmade kitchen knife that you will treasure forever.

Staying With Us?

Staying with us? Tell us as soon as you book an experience day as we have special postponement terms for Pareusi customers. If Pareusi have to postpone your experience day, we will postpone your stay no matter which rate you have booked. For direct bookings only.

See terms and conditions

(search for Pareusi postponement)

Soak Up St Agnes Culture

Visit St Agnes Museum: Learn about the area’s rich history, including its mining heritage
Giant Bolster Pageant: Every year on May Day weekend the villagers of St Agnes re-enact the legend with a procession of the giant and all the characters from the story through the village and over the clifftops above Chapel Porth.
Explore the Village: Wander through St Agnes’ steep and narrow streets, discovering independent shops such as Churchtown Arts selling mostly Cornish and British designers, art galleries such as Jo Polack Art original pieces and prints, you can see her work in the gallery (we have lots of Jo Polack’s work in the hotel), cute cafes, places to stop for coffee, proper Cornish pubs and of course…
Stippy Stappy an historic row of nine Grade II Listed 18th-century cottages located in the heart of St. Agnes. This iconic terrace is well worth the walk down to reach Trevaunance Cove. It is steep so you can always come back on the road. The cottages were originally built for the men who worked in the local mining industry during the Victorian era

People guiding a large puppet up a hill; street view of a town; St Agnes Museum sign; scenic view of the town.

Collage of scenic night views including a ruin by the sea, a pub with a lit sign, and a building under a starry sky.

Evening Activities

As night falls, St Agnes offers unique experiences:

Stargazing: St Agnes Head is a designated Dark Sky Discovery Site, perfect for astronomy enthusiasts
Rose in Vale Night Sky: You don’t have to go far as we also benefit from being in our own valley. The stars are magnificent here! And we are wonderfully peaceful.
Enjoy Local Cuisine: Lots of choice from small cafes to lovely Cornish Pubs. See our page here for ideas of where to eat in St Agnes.

Remember to respect the local environment and follow any guidelines for protected areas. St Agnes offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, outdoor activities, and cultural experiences, making it an ideal destination for a Cornish getaway.