| Home | St Austell Trail | Wheal Martyn Trail | Bugle Trail | St Blazey Trail | Pentewan Trail | Events | China Clay History | Your Questions answered | Contacts and Links |
Distance:
2 1/2 miles (4 km)
Means of travel:
Walk or cycle
|
|
| The Pentewan trail is quite flat and provides easy walking. It is many years old but recently has been developed and extended. It begins from the village of London Apprentice, just south of St Austell and leads to Pentewan beach. Along the route pathways branch out that will take you uphill into beautiful King's Wood. If arriving by car you can park at London Apprentice at the start of the trail. Bicycles are available for hire at Pentewan village. |  |
| The trail runs along the bed of an old narrow gauge railway from St Austell to Pentewan, which ceased to operate in 1916. Much of the main trail has been given a firm surface. You may prefer to walk or cycle the narrow pathway that runs parallel to the main trail, keeping alongside the White River. Smaller pathways branch off in various directions, interweaving through the woods. Although not strictly a clay trail, these trails arose directly from the mining industry. Pentewan was once a busy harbour and the remains of rail tracks leading to the harbourside where clay and other minerals were loaded onto boats, can still be seen. Railway sidings, now utilised for other purposes, are still in evidence as your approach Pentewan beach. |
 |
| Walk or cycle along these wooded paths until you arrive at the village of Pentewan. Here you can pick up the trail again alongside the river, past the old railway sidings, until you reach the open sea and the sands of Pentewan beach. |  |
History of the areaThe Pentewan Railway, running between St Austell and the Pentewan quayside, opened in 1830 and was operated by means of gravitation and horses. In addition to clay, tin was also exported and coal was imported. After 1874 the line was operated by steam locomotives. The operation closed in 1916 as the channel into the harbour at Pentewan silted up and became dry. Today you will find the harbour in Pentewan a home to swans and other birds, its waters held in by a lock gate, separating it from the dry channel that once flowed to the sea. |
 |
 |
Distance:
2 1/2 miles (4 km) Means of travel: Walk or cycle |