North Coast Jewels
Jan 05, 2022
A tour in the wild North Coast of Penwith to take you back in time to Cornwall’s industrial heritage.
If you’re looking for a challenging workout which takes in the best of West Cornwall’s industrial heritage, then this is the route for you!
As you leave the south coast of Penzance, you’ll head north cross-country to the little village of Zennor which falls within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Stop off for refreshments at The Tinner’s Arms, (a cosy drinking hole built in 1271 to accommodate the masons who built St Senara’s church), or cool off with a legendary Cornish ice cream from Moomaid of Zennor.
After a pit stop here, you’ll head onwards for just a few short miles to Gurnard’s Head, right on the beautiful north coast. You can also visit the ever popular Gurnard’s Head inn, where you can eat or drink something delicious before heading onto the next part of your cycle.
Your next main port of call will be Pendeen. To get there, your journey takes you across ancient Cornish moorland and through the small village of Morvah. Pendeen gets its name from the headland on which Pendeen Lighthouse stands, just a mile from the village—it’s an amazing place to look out from when the air is calm and the seas are stormy.
From here it’s definitely worth taking a trip to Levant and Geevor, both Cornish Mining World Heritage Sites. Your journey on the wild Tin Coast also takes in the National Trust site of Botallack where you will see the famous Crowns Engine Houses clinging to the foot of the cliff. Botallack is also part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage site, and it was a regular filming location for the BBC’s popular Poldark series.
Get back in the saddle and head onwards to Cape Cornwall, where dramatic ocean and coastline views are offered from this stunning headland. If time and your legs allow, you should visit Porth Nanven, otherwise known as Cot Valley, which is famous for its ‘dinosuar egg’ big boulders which have protected status. Your final destination of St Just is just half a mile from here, and after all that cycling, you’re sure to be hungry so why not treat yourself to a traditional Cornish pasty from one of the family bakers and butchers located in the town square. Once refuelled you’ll be ready to hit the road again and make your way back to Penzance, unless you have pre-booked a collection for one of the RideOn team to pick you and your e-bike up and bring you back to our Penzance hire shop. If that’s the case, you can relax and spend more time exploring the town, which is home to the Jackson Foundation (Kurt Jackson Gallery), and the parish church which houses the Selus Stone, a 5th century inscribed relic.
