Wheal Francis, the Flat Lode and Carn Brea Loop

(S/E) Start at the Wheal Francis Car Park, head northeast and cross the minor road, continue along the track through a tunnel, keeping on the track for 1 km to gate.

(1) Access the gate to the permitted access footpath across the riding stable land. Follow it to another gate 1.5 km further. Ensure gates are kept shut and that the horses are not harmed.

(2) Left at the gate, down the road, and cross the road to the track opposite, care taken as there is a bend. Proceed down the track 1 km to the road into Churchtown. This is a narrow single-carriage lane, be mindful of traffic coming from either direction.

(3) St Uny Church and Lych Gate, are of interest. Their history is displayed on the information board. Continue out of Churchtown, turning left at the junction and down the hill. Opposite the village hall see stream and 10m up stream St Uny's Well.

(4) From the Well, walking west and up the hill, continue uphill past the housing and onto a track. At the top of the hill turn left (southeast) into a rough track. 750m as the track rises and levels out. Two paths on the right, take the first one up the hill, [if the other route is inadvertently taken it will lead to the top of the hill, but miss out (5)].

(5) The Castle Folly built into the rocks, an old hunting lodge, now a restaurant. Continue up, where the road meets a track up to the monument, look for stone circles, Iron Age Settlement.

(6) Iron Age Settlement, continue up to the monument passing some rocky outcrops on the left, care when climbing, see the weathered granite. This is just one location of many around the Carn.

(7) The monument, see inscription in the stone. Continue along the ridge of the Carn, care rocks can be slippery even when dry. The path across the top and down the west side path - be sure-footed during this section. Once off the hill and joining the path, turn left, southeast passing to a farm barn, see a gap in the hedge with a step over stone. Follow the path across the farm field, over a stile to a wall.

(8) The route climbs the wall, steps up to the field, proceeds across the field, this is a permitted footpath, farm crops should not be growing along the path. making the route towards Piece. The stile is in the corner of the field next to the inn.

(9) Over the stile and onto the road, head east-southeast along pavement to the end, cross the main road to grass verge to track on the right, follow track through the field and stile to Wheal Francis site and the car park to finish (S/E).

The route does have stiles and obstacles to negotiate.

There is a wall step up, stiles and step overs.

There are sections which follow the country lane and the need to cross a sometimes busy road, and observe the highway code.

Crossing farmland, there is a permitted path across the fields, even where there are crops, the route should be clear.

The whole area has a lot of history relating to the mining, including the church, which has a unique coffin rest and a very interesting information board.

1. Wheal Francis mining site.
2. Permitted Access path through the riding stable land
3. St Uny Church, Lynch Gate and information board
4. St Uny Holy Well
5. The Castle/Folly, now a restaurant
6. Stone Age settlement
7. Weathering rock, on top of Carn Brea
8. The Bassett Monument
9. The Sportsman's Inn