Holywell to St Piran's Oratory circular walk

Holywell to St Piran's Oratory

A circular walk from Holywell Bay along the rugged coastline to Perran Beach and across the dunes to the mediaeval relics of St Piran's Oratory, Church and Cross, returning via the Penhale Sands nature reserve which is carpeted in cowslips during spring.

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The app will direct you to the start of the walk via satnav.
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The app guides you around the walk using GPS, removing any worries about getting lost.
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The walk route is described with detailed, regularly-updated, hand-written directions.
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Each time there is a new direction to follow, the app will beep to remind you, and will warn you if you go off-route.
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A map shows the route, where you are at all times and even which way you are facing.
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Each walk is packed with information about the history and nature along the route, from over a decade of research than spans more than 3,000 topics.
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Once a walk is downloaded, the app doesn't need wifi or a phone signal during the walk.
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The app counts down distance to the next direction and estimates time remaining based on your personal walking speed.
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We keep the directions continually updated for changes to the paths/landmarks - the price for a walk includes ongoing free updates.

either as a GPS-guided walk with our app (£3.29) or a PDF of directions (£2.79) Example of directions

The walk starts from Holywell Bay where the sacred spring forming limestone cascades can be seen at low tide. The route follows the rugged coast around Penhale Head and Hobyln Cove to reach Ligger Point where there are panoramic views over Perran Beach and the St Agnes coastline. The walk follows the beach then climbs the dunes to St Piran's Oratory, thought to be the oldest religious building in mainland Britain. The return route is across Penhale Sands which is nationally important for wildflowers and butterflies.

Highlights

  • The Holy Well - an amazing natural series of basins created from dissolved minerals
  • Long, sandy beaches at Holywell Bay and Perranporth
  • Rugged coastline around Hoblyn's Cove
  • Panoramic views from the coast path
  • St Piran's Oratory - thought to date from the early mediaeval period
  • St Piran's Cross - thought to be over 1000 years old
  • Remains of St Piran's Church, itself nearly as old
  • Penhale Sands - the tallest dunes in Britain and largest in Cornwall

Considerations

  • Route includes paths close to unfenced cliff edges.

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Vital statistics

  • OS Explorer: 104
  • Distance: 7.4 miles/11.9 km
  • Steepness grade: Moderate
  • Recommended footwear: Walking boots, trainers in summer
  • Pub: ✓

OS maps for this walk

Click or tap on map for more info (blue=laminated)

Pubs on or near the route

  • The Treguth Inn

either as a GPS-guided walk with our app (£3.29) or a PDF of directions (£2.79) Example of directions

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