Short answer: St Agnes Beacon is a 192m (628ft) National Trust hill with a Bronze Age barrow and trig point on top and views from St Ives to Carn Brea and Bodmin Moor. The nearest parking is about a 10-minute walk away; paths are uneven and steep in places. For a longer day, the "Beacon on the Coast" walk is 6.3 miles from Trelawney Road car park.
The Beacon is the hill behind St Agnes, and it's the best viewpoint on this stretch of coast. On a clear day you can see from St Ives round to Bodmin Moor.
192 metres (628 feet). The summit mound is a Bronze Age bowl barrow. The hill was later used for fire beacons, had an 18th-century prospect tower (long since collapsed), and got its Ordnance Survey trig point in 1937. There's a topograph to tell you what you're looking at.
St Ives and Godrevy lighthouse across the bay to the west, Carn Brea above Redruth, and Bodmin Moor to the east, with the engine houses of Wheal Coates on the cliffs below.
There's no vehicle access to the top. The nearest parking is about a 10-minute walk away and can fill on fine evenings. Paths are public footpaths, uneven and steep in places, and not suitable for wheelchairs. There are no facilities at the top.
The South West Coast Path's circular from Trelawney Road car park in the village is 6.3 miles, rated moderate, on good paths without exceptionally steep gradients, and described as particularly good for dogs. It takes in the Beacon and the coast path, with views over Godrevy and St Ives Bay.
Sunset. The Beacon faces west over the sea and is one of the best sunset spots on the north coast. Take a torch for the walk down.
Wheal Coates and Chapel Porth below, and a pint at the Driftwood Spars afterwards. Parking: St Agnes parking. Everything else: the St Agnes guide.
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