Discover Chacewater: Mining History and Trails

Chacewater combines a distinctive mining history with trails through a varied landscape. The hilly surrounding area is cut through by the Carnon Valley; the main settlement and the Chacewater Conservation Area are located in this valley. Farmland in steeply incised valleys meets rolling uplands, while heathland and woodland surround the fields. Those planning a trip combining culture, activity and historic sites will find a range of options for shaping their days.

Walking between the Valley, Uplands and Mining History

The network of paths around Chacewater comprises approximately 17.5 miles of public rights of way; three walking routes are presented here. The network includes footpaths, bridleways, restricted byways and Byways Open to All Traffic. A section of Chacewater Trail 1 runs along the bridleway PRoW 301/62/1 and leads to the Great Wheal Busy Downs area. The trail also leads to Station Road and turns off before the 7-arched Chacewater Viaduct. This information helps you distinguish between different types of paths and landscape impressions when planning, without having to limit your outings to a single route.

A particularly vivid option is the mining heritage trail around Chacewater and Wheal Busy. The circular walk is approximately 3.5 miles long, with an additional 1.5-mile detour possible. It begins at Wheal Busy, follows an old miners’ path through a valley scarred by mining and leads through farmland to Chacewater. The optional detour leads to Wheal Busy Chapel, a Bible-Christian chapel built during the region’s mining boom. The building is listed as a Grade II* building of historic interest. For travellers who prefer to explore historic landscapes step by step, this circular walk offers a clear connection between the route, local history and traces of mining.

Wheal Busy and the History of the Village

The eastern complex of Wheal Busy is significant as a mining landscape. Shafts and pits illustrate historic mining, while reservoirs and drainage channels show the former management of surface-water resources. The remains of Wheal Busy are well preserved; the Brunton calciner is particularly well preserved. Wheal Busy mine made a major contribution to the development of the village and the new parish of Chacewater. In this way, the history of the village is visible not only in individual buildings but also in the landscape itself.

The former Redruth and Chacewater Railway is also part of this historic picture. It was officially opened in 1826 and operated with horses until 1854. Today, its route can be followed because the railway embankment has been converted into a cycle path. The Redruth and Chacewater Railway Trail is 7.7 miles, or 12.4 kilometres, long, mostly level and routed away from roads; it occasionally crosses public roads. The former railway line enables cycling on an off-road route from coast to coast. A larger section of the Coast-to-Coast Mineral Tramway also runs through the parish of Chacewater. If you are travelling with different age groups, you can use the route length and the character of each path to decide whether an outing on foot or by bicycle fits better into your day plan.

Church, Village Character and Further Discoveries

Church of Saint Paul is a parish church; the parish was formed from Kenwyn in 1828. The church was rebuilt in 1892, with the exception of the tower, to a design by Edmund Sedding of Plymouth. Its four-stage, battlemented tower is the second-highest in Cornwall. A service is held at Church of Saint Paul every Sunday. About 25 metres north of the west end stands the Lych Gate, a Grade II listed building. This historic village character is complemented by many preserved nineteenth-century shopfronts.

When looking for accommodation in Chacewater, it is worth first deciding on the focus you want for your trip: would you like to explore the mining landscape and heritage trail, plan several walking sections or experience the Railway Trail by bicycle? You can then choose a holiday apartment or holiday cottage based on which outings are to shape your stay.

If you would like to compare other places, here are additional destinations for orientation: Probus, Newquay, Withiel, Launcells, Washaway, Stithians, Tintagel and Pendeen.

For the wider travel overview: Cornwall.