Stithians to Kennall Vale

A circular walk in the valley of the River Kennall, where during Victorian times the cascading river was used to power gunpowder mills, five of which exploded in a chain reaction so violent that the roof of one was found a mile away.

Get the app to guide you around the walk

App Store

Download iPhone/iPad app from App Store

Scan with your phone to get the Apple app

Google Play

Download Android app from Google Play

Scan with your phone to get the Android app

Download the (free) app then use it to purchase this walk.

Phone showing Google navigation to start of walk

The app will direct you to the start of the walk via satnav.

Hand holding a phone showing the iWalk Cornwall app

The app guides you around the walk using GPS, removing any worries about getting lost.

Phone showing walk directions page in the iWalk Cornwall app

The walk route is described with detailed, regularly-updated, hand-written directions.

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.

Phone showing walk map page in the iWalk Cornwall app

A map shows the route, where you are at all times and even which way you are facing.

Phone showing facts section in iWalk Cornwall app

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.

Person looking at phone with cliff scenery in background

Once a walk is downloaded, the app doesn't need wifi or a phone signal during the walk.

Phone showing walk stats in the iWalk Cornwall app

The app counts down distance to the next direction and estimates time remaining based on your personal walking speed.

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

Fullscreen map

The route crosses fields from Stithians to follow the Kennall valley downriver, finally reaching the entrance to the nature reserve at the bottom of the woods. The walk follows the circuit through the reserve around the remains of the gunpowder mills before continuing to Ponsanooth. The return route is mostly on small lanes and returns to Stithians church via the pub.

Highlights

Industrial heritage of the gunpowder mills
Broadleaf woodland with autumn colours, fungi and spring bluebells
Woodland and river wildlife

Dogs

Dogs are likely to need help over some of the stiles on the route. Some but not all can be bypassed using adjacent gates.

The walk is available through the iWalk Cornwall app for Apple and Android for £3.29 which each include everything listed here.

This removes worries about getting lost by tracking you using GPS, reminding you when you need to follow the next direction and warning you if you wander off the route.

To install on your phone, search the app store for “iwalk cornwall” to download the (free) app. Then either use it to scan the code at the top-right of the page to locate this walk or search for the walk title in Walks Shop > Search All Walks.

Once you've installed the iWalk Cornwall app from the app store, click on the button below to locate this walk:

Open walk in iWalk Cornwall app

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Vital statistics

OS Explorer: 104
Distance: 6 miles/9.6 km
Steepness grade: Easy-moderate
Recommended footwear: walking boots; wellies after prolonged wet weather
Pub: ✓

OS maps for this walk

OS Explorer 104

Pubs on or near the route

The Seven Stars Inn
The Stag Hunt Inn

Points of interest

Links for this walk

Kennall Vale - the haunted woodland
Short URL: http://iwkc.co.uk/w/263

Walks nearby