Mount Hawke - Porthtowan Loop

Route Overview & Local Insights

This 8.6km loop offers a quintessential Cornish running experience, blending fast-paced paved sections with rugged, technical coastal trails. Starting in the village of Mount Hawke, the route provides a gentle warm-up on quiet lanes before dropping into Porthtowan. Runners will encounter approximately 123m of elevation gain, with the most challenging climb situated along the South West Coast Path between Porthtowan and the iconic cliffs of Chapel Porth. The terrain is roughly 55% paved, making it a "hybrid" run that demands both road speed and trail agility, especially when navigating the rocky single-track paths that overlook the Atlantic.

Steeped in industrial heritage, this area of St Agnes is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, and runners will pass the dramatic engine houses that whisper stories of Cornwall’s tin mining past. Chapel Porth is famed for its "Starry Grange" and ruins that sit nestled in a valley of gorse and heather, which turns a vibrant purple and gold in late summer. The return leg through Chapel Combe offers a serene contrast to the salt-sprayed cliffs, guiding you through wooded valleys that were once bustling with mining activity but are now reclaimed by local wildlife and peaceful countryside tracks.