View from Carn Brea - Gwennap Pit to Gwithian

Essential Intel

This is a driving route with several separate stopping points, so Agents should plan to move between locations by vehicle and return to the vehicle after each stop before continuing to the next area.

The section of this Trail that visits Tehidy Country Park follows a route that is not accessible for dogs. The section on Carn Brea is very uneven and, unfortunately, this means that this Trail is not pushchair friendly. Appropriate shoes or walking boots are strongly recommended.

Some of the route uses very narrow, uneven lanes, including the last part of the road to Carn Brea. Take great care when driving, and watch out for walkers, horse riders or unicyclists. There are also sheer, unfenced cliffs near Hell's Mouth, including a 70-metre vertical drop to the foreshore, so keep everyone well back from cliff edges.

Navigating The Route

This is a driving Spy Mission from Gwennap Pit to Gwithian, taking in Carn Brea, with Agents helping top agents stop Dr Madden Badd, who has hacked giant Bolsterman's coding and threatens to use the machine to trample local pasty bakeries.

The operation covers 15 miles and should take 4+ hours to complete. You'll begin at Gwennap Pit, head on to Carn Brea, investigate South Wheal Frances, pass through Illogan village centre, follow the purple path around the lake in Tehidy Country Park, continue to Hell's Mouth and finish in the Gwithian zone.

This Trail is not wheelchair-friendly and is not pushchair friendly. The route covers a wide array of terrain, including very narrow lanes, uneven ground, steps at the rear entrance to Carn Brea Castle and a country park section around a deep lake with no safety fence.

Take great care when crossing roads, driving along narrow lanes, exploring Carn Brea - particularly when it is wet - and anywhere near cliff edges by the coast.

Getting There

By car: Start the mission at Gwennap Pit (TR16 5HF), using ///browser.pets.coping. The recommended parking option is The Star Inn, Vogue, St Day (TR16 5NP), using ///flattery.epic.shears. To find Gwennap Pit from here, follow signs along NARROW LANES to park in a small layby next to the 'Welcome to Gwennap Pit' sign.

Other stopping points and parking locations along the operation are the small layby next to the 'Welcome to Gwennap Pit' sign; Carn Brea (TR16 6SL), where you should park where you can; South Wheal Frances car park on Filtrick Lane (TR16 6JX); South Drive car park (TR14 0TS) in Tehidy Country Park; Hell's Mouth Cafe car park (TR27 5EG), where another clue can be found on the opposite side of the road; and the Red River Inn (TR27 5BW), where you can park for the final Gwithian zone.

By public transport: Make your way to Gwennap Pit (TR16 5HF) to begin the operation. This is a driving route with several separate locations, so plan how your squad will travel between each stop before setting off.

Need the Loo?

There are toilets in Tehidy Country Park, around Clue 14, making this a useful comfort stop part-way through the mission.

Bring Your Furry Sidekicks

Plan canine backup carefully for this operation. 🐾

The Tehidy Country Park section is not accessible for dogs. Elsewhere, the route includes very narrow lanes, uneven ground, road crossings, a deep lake with no safety fence and sheer, unfenced cliffs near Hell's Mouth, so keep four-legged recruits close and under control wherever they can join you.

Food & Drink Stops

Foiling a pasty-threatening mastermind takes proper field rations.

Refreshments are available in Illogan village centre, just before Clues 09-11. There is a cafe in Tehidy Country Park, around Clue 14, a nice pub at Clue 18, plus Hell's Mouth Cafe and the Red River Inn on the route.

The route specifically suggests bringing a picnic, and there are many perfect spots along the way if your agents prefer to refuel in the open air.

Want to Make a Day of It?

Gwennap Pit

The mission begins at Gwennap Pit, which was originally formed as the result of mining subsidence. Between 1762 and 1789, it became a favoured venue of John Wesley, who preached here 18 times and claimed an attendance of 32,000 on one occasion - quite the crowd for any undercover briefing.

Carn Brea

Carn Brea brings the operation to the monument and Carn Brea Castle, reached by very narrow and uneven road. The castle involves some steps at the rear entrance, and the area should be explored carefully, particularly when it is wet, but it is a memorable stop for Agents who like their intel with a dramatic view.

South Wheal Frances

South Wheal Frances adds a strong mining-history twist to the mission. It was one of the most productive mines extracting tin ore from the Great Flat Lode from the 1870s through to 1918, while during the earlier part of the 19th century, copper was its chief product. It was partially destroyed by fire in 1885 but rebuilt in 1897.

Tehidy Country Park

The Tehidy section follows a purple path around the lake and makes a good longer pause in the middle of the operation. The Basset family acquired Tehidy in Norman times and became rich and powerful during the mining boom of the 19th century. The house became an isolation hospital in 1915, was purchased by the County Council in 1983, closed in 1988 and converted to luxury apartments.

Gwithian Parish Church and the Red River

Near the final Gwithian zone, the route passes the Red River under Gwithian Bridge. It is one of the UK's most modified streams, flowing through the valley between Carn Brea and Carnkie and joined by the stream from Tehidy. Its name comes from the mining days, when it used to flow red with mineral deposits.