Carn Brea Trail 4 - Carn Brea Trail

The Carn Brea Trail takes in the oldest part of the Parish with neolithic and iron age sites.  Nearest pub is the Countryman at Piece.

Address: Carnkie tin mine, S Carn Brea, Carnkie

Lat: N 50° 21′ 50.48″
Long: W -5° 24′ 21.54″

OS Grid Ref: SW 68794 40036

Distance: 2 miles

Terrain: Moderate

Facilities available for this trail:

Parking – Parking at Carnkie tin mine, S. Carn Brea, Carnkie.

Picnic areas – there are a few places along the route to stop but the top is probably the best.

Eating and shopping – no store but tea shop at the top.

Public houses – none on route.

Accessibility

Family and children friendly – the route is very family friendly

Cycle Trail – short trail to cycle or walk.

Horse Riding Trail – parts of the trail are suitable.

Walking Trail – a moderate trail.

Disability access – not really suitable for scooters.

8th March 2017 12:58 pm

Carn Brea Trail 4

  • Author: Administrator
  • Created: 8th March 2017 12:58 pm
  • Updated: 1st May 2017 12:57 pm
Route type: Cycling/Walking Trail
Difficulty grade: Moderate
Disabled Friendly: Not Suitable
  • Distance 2 miles
  • Time 46 min
  • Speed 2 mph
  • Min altitude 531 ft
  • Peak 686 ft
  • Climb 203 ft
  • Descent 203 ft

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  • Distance Instructions
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Points of Interest

CARN BREA CASTLE AND MONUMENT

Private property. Allegedly dates from Norman times and was used as a hunting lodge by the Bassets for the deer park.

The monument is 90ft/27.5m high and 738ft/225m above sea level, it is inscribed ‘The County of Cornwall to the memory of Francis Lord de Dunstanville and Basset A.D. 1836’.

Location: SW 686 4085

NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT SITE

Situated on the eastern summit. This is the earliest known village in Britain and was inhabited around 3,000 BC possibly even 6,000 BC. There was a settlement of 150 to 200 people in rectangular wooden huts, surrounded by massive stone ramparts forming part of the same system as the other ramparts and enclosure on the western summit. The huts have been carbon dated to between 3109 and 2687 BC, which would make this settlement the oldest known in Britain. 700 or more arrowheads were recovered during the 1970-73 excavations, indicating an attack in the Neolithic period and providing some of the earliest evidence of armed conflict.

Location: On top of the hill eastern end. SW 687 408

WELL ON CARN BREA

Access difficult. Granite structure approx. 2ft/0.6m square beneath the northern rampart of the hill fort. Reputed never to have run dry, it was probably the traditional water source for the prehistoric and medieval communities. There are actually three wells on Carn Brea including the House of Water, which measured a depth of 45 fathoms (270ft/82.3m) in 1860, also the Giant’s Well which is located furthest west.

Location: SW 6860 4093