St. Just-in-Penwith
OS Grid ref:- SW3731
The small town of St. Just in Penwith in the far west of Cornwall is the nearest town to Land's End.
The town has been a prosperous mining centre since Medieval times and experienced a boom during the Industrial Revolution. St. Just has many old grey stone terraced cottages and a large fouteenth century granite church which has an interesting wall painting of St. George and the dragon. The two storey Methodist church and Market House are also built of the local stone.
St. Just has a profusion of galleries, the King's Arms inn, next to the church dates from the fourteenth century. In the town square, near the clock tower stands the ancient 'plen-an-gwary' Cornish for playing place, where the Medieval mystery plays were once performed. It is now used for choosing St. Just's Carnival Queen.
Chun Quoit
The Tinner's Way an ancient trackway, runs from St. Just to St. Ives, and passes Chun Quoit and Chun Castle as well as old abandoned tin mines.
A walk from St. Just in Penwith
Distance 5 miles
Duration - around 3 hours
*Commencing at the large car park at St. Just-in-Penwith, proceed along the footpath beside the churchyard gate across the square.
*On reaching the road at Nancherrow Farm follow the narrow path on the left that runs down the Kenidjack Valley to the sea. Follow the coastal footpath which is signposted to the right, passing the ruined mines of Botallack and Levant.
*From Levant trace your steps to return to St. Just.
Towns and Villages of Cornwall