Coastal walk to Wheal Prosper and Trewavas mines from Rinsey

What can I say, I was well impressed with the Rinsey mines walk. My original plan was not to do this walk. It was to do a hike along the south west coast path from St Ives. It’s the first walk I ever did in Cornwall many years ago. Many years before I started this website. It’s the one that made me fall in love with the place and realise how gorgeous England is (actually, that’s a lie. The Jurassic Coast is where I realised. But I came over to Cornwall not so long after). It’s a fantastic coastal walk and I would love to have it on the website.

However, Ollie and I hadn’t had a good sleep that night. Plus we got up for sunrise at St Michaels Mount…..

Story time (if you don’t want story time, scroll down a bit for the logistics)

Funny story actually. We parked up at St Michaels Mount at about 5am. Ollie went off to shoot and I stayed in the car (it was cold out and I wanted to make coffee). Next thing I know, the car park security guy comes over. I panicked a little, wondering what we had done wrong. We were parked a little wonky, maybe that was it?

Then this happened….

He starts accusing us off being foreign press. And made sure to let me know that the security camera has been watching us from the moment we entered and he is now calling the police. I was a bit shocked and humoured at the same time. I assured him that we were not, whilst he continued to read the number plate out to someone over the radio. He let me know the police were coming.

Once Ollie got back, we left. I’m not sure what happened with that one. We both laugh about it still.

Update: I have since found out that they were shooting the Game of Thrones prequel over there.

Back to the point….

Anyway, the point I’m trying to make is that we were both tired and didn’t fancy an aggressive coastal hike. As we were nearby the Wheal Prosper and Trewavas mines, we decided to have a little walk around there.

You could call it a consolation walk.

It wasn’t one I had planned to do for the website. Looking at the trail on the map, it seemed pretty short and self explanatory.

I decided to track it and take photos just in case though. I’m glad I did.

A bit about Trewavas Engine House

The engine houses of Trewavas mine along the rugged cliffside on the walk from Rinsey.

The remains of two engine houses perched precariously on the side of a cliff, used to produce copper back in the 1800’s. At its peak it employed around 200 miners. These appear a bit further along in the walk, in quite a sudden magnificent way.

A bit about Wheal Prosper mine

Wheal prosper engine house in Cornwall, behind the yellow flowers, with the blue sea in the background.

Not as close to the edge as the other, but an impressive sight from the Rinsey car park. This one was used to produce tin and copper. It wasn’t very successful and only operated for 6 years in the 1800’s.

Fun Fact: It was featured in Poldark

Logistics for the coastal walk to Wheal Prosper and Trewavas mines from Rinsey

Start/Finish: Rinsey car park

How to get there: The easiest way to get here is by car. The car park is located on Rinsey Lane which is an offshoot of the A394, which links to the A30 and A39. If this is not possible, then you could catch a bus to the start of Rinsey Lane. It is served by bus numbers U4, 251 and 337. U4 runs between Falmouth and Penzance. I’m not sure about the others.
Distance: 2 miles
Type: Circular

Time: Under an hour
Difficulty: Easy peasy
Terrain: Grass, dirt and gravel trail. Some rocky bits

Elevation: There are a lot of ups and downs, but they are short. You will gain about 128m.
Amenities: Car park. I came across 1 scenic bench on route.
Tips: Perfectly acceptable to walk this one in regular old trainers. If you have the time, you could continue the walk along the coast path to reach Porthleven.

Map for the coastal walk to Wheal Prosper and Trewavas mines from Rinsey

Click on the top box to open in your Google Maps.

A guide to the coastal walk to Wheal Prosper and Trewavas mines from Rinsey

So, Ollie decided to stay in the car (and have a nap) for this one. As I said earlier, we were tired. Despite me promising him it was a short one, he didn’t trust me. He says that whenever I say a walk is short, it is the opposite.

Wheal Prosper mine

There is a trail leading straight out of the car park. Standing at the entrance, you will see ahead of you the Wheal Prosper mine.

The gravel path leading through a hedge on the left and brick wall on the right. A hill is visible in the distance with the blue sea to the right of it.

Now, instinct is to go straight. But don’t. Take a right and walk downhill. You will have a peak to Rinsey Head and a house on the cliff edge to the right, and lovely cliffyness to the left.

A house partially visible past the hill, with the blue sea behind it on the Wheal Prosper walk from Rinsey.

A hill as it leads to the rocky cliffside and to the blue sea on the Rinsey mines walk.

The trail will curve to the left and take you further down to a lovely rest spot.

A dirt path leading downhill towards the rocky cliff side which meets the blue sea.

I texted Ollie to come down here to rest. He didn’t.

From here, you will see a trail continuing along the cliff edge. I started it, but didn’t get very far before turning back. It was a bit too close to the edge for my liking. I don’t trust cliff edges. You know, because they crumble and stuff.

A narrow grass trail leading uphill along the edge of Rinsey Cliff in Cornwall.

Although, someone has since told me that these ones don’t crumble. Not like the chalk cliffs where I am from.

You should notice, right next to the rest spot, and again, a bit further back form it, is a trail leading up. These will take you up to Wheal Prosper mine for a bit of up close and personal.

A dirt trail leading uphill through the grass on the walk to Wheal Prosper engine house in Cornwall. — .

Walk along Rinsey cliff

Take the path that leads away from it (in the direction away from the car park) and you will walk the next bit along a narrow trail on the side of the hill.

A dirt trail running through the grass on the side of the hill of Rinsey cliffs. The blue sea is on the right.

A narrow winding trail on the side of the hill leading to Wheal Prosper Engine house. The sky is blue with a few white clouds. — Looking back.

Trewavas cliff and Trewavas mine

Walk through an opening in the stone wall to enter the next cliff path, and then make your way uphill on a rocky/gravelly path.

A dirt trail running through the grass. There a some rocks next to the trail. The blue sea is just visible on the right ahead.

At the top you will see the trail split up. Take the one on the right (keeping to the coast).

A flat bit of land with two dirt trail running through it. There are a couple of large rocks on the trail. — See that right trail there.

As you make your way over the hill you will be greeted with a stunning view of the Trewavas Mine Engine houses along the coastline.

Walk towards Trewavas mine

You should notice some rock steps here. Go over them.

There will be an option here to take a trail that loops back. I considered it as I figured the view of the engine houses would be best from afar. I didn’t really need to go right up to them….but something told me to keep going.

So I did.

I’m glad I did.

If you want to do the same, then follow the trail along the coast as it leads you right up to the Trewavas mine. Walking along here, at some point take a look back for a dramatic view of the coastline and ruins.

A view of the mine ruins on the side of Trewavas Cliff on the walk from Rinsey. The side next to the cliff is blue.

It gets better.

Keep walking past the Trewavas mine and tower, where on the other side you will see the trail go up the hill.

the trail leading through the bushes next to Trewavas mine in Cornwall.

Again, at this point I considered not going up. The whole point of doing this walk today instead of the one from St Ives was that I wasn’t in the mood for hilly.

But I went up.

Again, I’m glad I did.

Once up the top I got an even better view of the ruins along the cliffy coastline.

The rugged cliffside with the ruins of the Trewavas engine house on the walk from Rinsey. The sea is blue. — .

Walk back to Wheal Prosper mine

At the top, the trail will loop back (or alternatively, keep going straight to reach Porthleven).

If taking the trail back, follow it along, and past the junction you passed earlier. Continue straight and you will reach three gates.

A dirt walking trail leading through the grass with the ruins on Trewavas mine to the left.

A dirt trail as it splits in two through the grass. There are a couple of large rocks at the trail junction.

The large dirt, grass trail leading to two metal gates with fields on the other side. The sky is blue with a few white clouds.

It wasn’t clear which one to take. I looked at the map and decided it was the left gate. However, as I went to climb over the rock steps, I saw them….

The cows

All chilled out and menacing looking. I studied the map again to see If I was wrong about this way.

I wasn’t.

Then to see If there was another rout I could take.

There wasn’t.

So I made my way through the cow field. One (or rather both) eyes on them until I was far enough away that I could outrun them if they decided to attack.

A group of cows sitting in the grass with the blue sea in the background, when walking in Cornwall.

At the end of the cow field there are some more rock steps to get you out. The next bit is a mix of narrow path and grass towards the Wheal Prosper mine

A stone wall with stone steps leading over it.

A narrow dirt trail leading through the grass and yellow bush flowers. — .

Walk back to Rinsey car park

When you are near to the Wheal Prosper mine, look out for a path that takes you straight down to it. I missed it at first (you will see the little offshoot on the map).

A view of Wheal Prosper engine house tin mine through the green and yellow shrubbery, on the walk from Rinsey.

A dirt trail leading down to Wheal Prosper Engine house tin mine in Cornwall. The blue sea is behind it.

Then from there just make your way back along the path to the car park.

More walks in Cornwall

After this walk (on the same day) I did a walk that involved more mines and some ancient stone. It was kind of by accident (I will explain in that post – coming soon…or not. Its written, I just haven’t got around to finishing it yet)

So much for not doing too much walking today.

Not too far from here, you could try the Mousehole to Lamorna walk. It is more challenging than this one, but has the coolest rocks. If you head over to St Ives, then you should try the coastal walk to Zennor. It’s definitely more challenging. This one has some big rugged impressive cliffs.

If you head over to the west coast, you should check out the walk to Bedruthan Steps. Honestly one of the most stunning beaches I have seen. You could also try out the Porthcothan Treyarnon coves walk right next to it. Maybe even join them together for a nice big coastal walk.

One of my favourite walks so far in Cornwall (or ever) is the walk from Tingtagel to Bossiney. It’s located in North Cornwall. Very hilly. Very Game of Thrones esque.

Another favourite(s) of mine are the Looe to Polperro and Fowey to Polperro walks. It’s a really gorgeous bit of coastline, and both these walks finish in Polperro which is the most gorgeous little fishing village I seen. You will find these walks over on the east coast.

Another good one in North Cornwall is the walk to Gunver Head. A really cool flame shaped rock.

For other walking ideas, you could check out the National Trust Website.