St. Agnes hotels

Hotels in St. Agnes

In a stunning position on the north Cornish coast in south-west England, St Agnes lies at the heart of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is a World Heritage Site.

History

St Agnes has a fascinating and rich history, mainly based around its mining heritage. The tin discovered here was of particularly high quality. Today, the Blue Hills Mine at St Agnes remains the very last production centre in the UK. Towering over the pretty village is the iconic profile of Wheal Coates, the evocative ruin that symbolises this once huge industry. The shaft goes all the way down to the sea, and at high tide you can hear the waves crashing through the metal grate on the floor. The mine itself is accessible through a cave on Chapel Porth beach when the tide is out.

From St Agnes hotels you can explore an area shaped by its great mining legacy, whether it's the haunting surrounding landscapes, the iconic mine workings, the old harbour, or the magnificent houses once owned by wealthy mine owners.

Beaches and Landmarks

The actual parish of St Agnes stretches ten miles inland across rolling hills and farm land, punctuated with the remains of once busy workings. Along the coast you will encounter wild cliffs and spectacular views, plus some special beaches. Porthtowan is a large sandy beach that is regularly awarded Blue Flag status, has nearby shops and cafés and is the perfect family friendly seaside escape. At the top of the pretty winding valley that leads up from here, you will discover Mount Hawke, a little village that grew from the copper mining boom, where there are pubs and shops.

Nearby is the fascinating village of Mithian, which is one of the oldest in Cornwall. Many of the houses are built from cob, which is simply clay reinforced with straw and horse hair, and are three to four hundred years old.

Poldark Country

The hugely successful Poldark novels that inspired the 1970s TV series and 2015 re-make were written by Winston Graham, who lived in Perranporth, just a few miles from St Agnes. The author drew a great deal of his inspiration from the ruggedly beautiful surrounding terrain and its unique industrial heritage. In fact Winston Graham gave permission for this evocative part of North Cornwall to be called Poldark Country!