In Chacewater, mining history, historic buildings and trails through the hilly countryside come together. When planning a stay, you can choose what to focus on: Wheal Busy and the traces of mining tell the story of the town’s development, while churches, a chapel and a historic railway line offer further perspectives on its history. If you prefer to spend time outdoors, you can also find walking routes and a cycling trail.
Mining History in Chacewater
At the eastern complex of Wheal Busy, shafts and mine workings illustrate the area’s former mining activity. Reservoirs and water channels also show how surface water was used. The remains are well preserved; the Brunton calciner in particular is in good condition. Wheal Busy mine played a major role in the development of the village and the new parish of Chacewater.
Wheal Busy Chapel is also part of this chapter: it was built as a Bible Christian chapel during the regional mining boom and is a Grade II* listed building. Many 19th-century shopfronts have also been preserved in the village. Together, these buildings and traces of the past give the mining heritage a range of perspectives—from the landscape of the mine complex to individual buildings in the village.
Churches and Historic Buildings
The Church of Saint Paul is a parish church with a four-stage, embattled tower, the second tallest in Cornwall. The parish was formed from Kenwyn in 1828. In 1892, the church was rebuilt to a design by Edmund Sedding of Plymouth; the tower was not included in the rebuilding. A service is held at the church every Sunday. Check the current schedule before your visit.
The architectural ensemble also includes the lych gate, which stands about 25 metres north of the west end of the Church of Saint Paul. It is a Grade II listed building. The chapel, lych gate and parish church have different forms and designations; together with the preserved shopfronts, they draw attention to Chacewater’s architectural history.
Walking Trails and Landscape
The hilly countryside is cut through by the Carnon River valley, which contains the main settlement and the Chacewater Conservation Area. The landscape combines farmland in steep-sided valleys with rolling uplands. Heathland and woodland surround the fields. These contrasts also shape the surroundings through which the public paths run.
The network of paths around Chacewater includes about 17.5 miles of public rights of way; three walking routes are also featured. The network consists of footpaths, bridleways, restricted byways and Byways Open to All Traffic. The Mining Heritage Trail is about 3.5 miles long and forms a circular route. It starts at Wheal Busy, follows an old miners’ path through a valley scarred by mining, and leads through farmland to Chacewater. An optional detour of about 1.5 miles leads to Wheal Busy Chapel.
Explore the Former Railway Line by Bike
The Redruth and Chacewater Railway Trail offers another way to explore the region’s history. The railway officially opened in 1826 and was operated by horses until 1854. Today, you can follow the route of the former railway: its embankment has been converted into a cycle path, allowing you to ride off-road from coast to coast.
The trail is 7.7 miles, or 12.4 kilometres, long. It is mostly flat and runs off-road, though it occasionally crosses public roads. Unlike the circular Mining Heritage Trail, this route focuses on cycling along a former railway line.
When planning your stay, you can first decide whether you’d like to spend more time exploring mining heritage and historic buildings or on walking and cycling trails. Chacewater offers different perspectives: from the preserved mining complex and the architecture in the village to trails through valley and upland landscapes.
Discover more destinations: Saint Ives, Port Isaac, Colan, Marhamchurch, Perranporth, Porthallow, Mawgan Porth, Tintagel
For the main travel overview: Cornwall.
