Portreath to Tobban Horse circular walk

Portreath to Tobban Horse

A circular walk along the rugged coast from Portreath towards Porthtowan passing small coves and remnants of the clifftop mines beside the old RAF base, and returning via the horse-drawn tramway that brought fortune to Portreath harbour, where its "lighthouse" and "monkey house" remain from the shipping activity.

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Download the (free) app then use it to purchase this walk.
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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 follows the coast path from Portreath towards Porthtowan passing the small coves and remnants of the clifftop mines. The route turns inland at Tobban Horse and follows small lanes across Nancekuke Common. The walk then joins the Mining Trail back to Portreath which was once a tramway along which goods were moved by horses between the port and the mines near Camborne.

Highlights

  • Rugged coastline overlooked by the "lighthouse"
  • Wildflowers and wildlife on the coastal heath and along the wooded tramways
  • Mining heritage and minerals on the waste tips
  • Sandy beach at Portreath

Considerations

  • Route includes paths close to unfenced cliff edges.

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Vital statistics

  • OS Explorer: 104
  • Distance: 7.3 miles/11.7 km
  • Steepness grade: Strenuous
  • Recommended footwear: Walking boots
  • No stiles: ✓
  • Pub: ✓
  • Café: ✓

OS maps for this walk

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

Beaches

Pubs on or near the route

  • Portreath Arms Hotel
  • The Basset Arms
  • The Waterfront Inn

Adjoining walks

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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