Cornwall


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-nbsp">WHY?&nbsp;</h2>



<p>A fabulous bustling large seaside village set in both a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a World Heritage Site. Once the centre of Cornwall’s tin and copper mining industry, it was voted best place to live in Cornwall in the Muddy Best Places to Live Guide 2021. The town has a good mix of period and modern properties from front-line detached contemporary houses selling in the millions to cute miners cottages; as the village has gained a reputation for a close knit community and for nurturing sustainable and creative businesses, prices are on the up (and up). </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eat">EAT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdTHNZ9bhRVCP1k6Uya9Ql8ID7hPfeMhsQogJtL-mKfRj6gCWJxWMOW-_VtjMULDW3EWdhtgLRdcfwJojM-fqGGx0LViLCnCgZ9p9qRQ1jPQTCS8xpN6digsGYr6ZyrZu5WGUukCEyCy2-WWORqjaMLQxG8?key=oVyimZJWOKQUfGlVVbEuUg" alt="Peterville Inn St Agnes Cornwall" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Peterville Inn</figcaption></figure>



<p>In the village itself, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/the_sorting_office/">The Sorting Office</a> is a must for coffee, brunch and lunch, or grab a pasty from the Muddy Award-winning <a href="https://www.stagnesbakery.co.uk/">St Agnes Bakery</a>. Fancy a Sunday roast, a quiet drink or dinner with mates? Don’t miss the <a href="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/the-peterville-inn-st-agnes-cornwall/">Peterville Inn</a>, named England&#8217;s best Pub of the Year at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence in 2024. Takeaway more your scene? There’s a handily placed pizza place and chippie. Head to the local sandy beach Trevaunance Cove and you’ll find renowned pub and micro-brewery <a href="https://www.driftwoodsparsbrewery.com/">The Driftwood Spars</a> and grab a pizza and a beer at the Verdant pop-up where Schooners used to be. If you’re after a cosy country pub with a big garden, locals rate the <a href="http://www.miners-arms.co.uk/">Miners Arms</a> in nearby village Mithian.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shop">SHOP</h2>



<p>No big chain shops but there is a Boots on the high street in the village. At Wheal Kitty up on the cliffs you’ll find global sea charity <a href="https://www.sas.org.uk/">Surfers Against Sewage</a>, plus coming back full circle, the surfboard factory first opened by Chops Lascelles is now back as Cord Surfboards under the ownership of youngest son, Markie (it is where Open Surf used to be). Sustainable clothes from <a href="https://finisterre.com/">Finisterre</a> are still designed at their HQ next-door, and you can grab a coffee /takeaway lunch from La Cucina to keep you going.</p>



<p>In the town you’ll find a lovely mix including a proper greengrocers as well as butchers, bakery and deli/ flower shop, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/trunk_deli/">Trunk</a>. As with everywhere in Cornwall, if you’re after big name high street brands you’ll need to head inland to a retail park or into Truro itself.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-amp-wellbeing">HEALTH &amp; WELLBEING</h2>



<p>Did we mention surfing is a big deal here? Breakers Surf School offers surf lessons down at Trevaunance Cove where you’ll also find <a href="https://stagnessurflifesavingclub.co.uk/">St Agnes Surf Lifesaving Club</a> holding regular training <a href="https://www.instagram.com/goonowngrowers/">sessions.</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/goonowngrowers/">Goonown Growers</a> is a local Community Market Garden who grow and sell local veg, and also host pop-up events.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-community">COMMUNITY</h2>



<p>The Miners &amp; Mechanics’ Institute is a much-loved community space in the heart of the village and is where you’ll find yoga classes and more, as well as a new café. St Agnes also has its own library branch.</p>



<p><a href="https://bolsterfestival.wordpress.com/about/">The Bolster Pageant</a> has been staged on the cliffs above Chapel Porth Beach for the past 20 years, taking place on the early May Bank Holiday weekend. Locals join the festivities including the procession of dressed up revellers drumming, along with a lantern parade, beacon and live music in the pubs afterwards &#8211; the event &#8220;tells the tale of the Giant Bolster, who having ravaged the locality and terrified the locals is finally brought his comeuppance by a fair village maiden&#8221;. </p>



<p>St Agnes carnival is held annually in August, and there’s usually a community fireworks event in November organised by the local pub. St Agnes has an array of groups to join including the St Agnes Theatre Players, choirs and sports teams.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nearby-attractions">NEARBY ATTRACTIONS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcO_ForG9ofMgxYs-Ysf2Z1zYDZhbNGTMZbKrihnVSA7yiIdSHXDNj4yebbBtML-RDpNXOXslA6LS3mE0mzNC04VS8FTRlG6h_caGl9onMEXraXq2GCz5UZhCpFgT-E8-7EI5fPyWZB_2Y2JqueKNE4I38?key=oVyimZJWOKQUfGlVVbEuUg" alt="" /></figure>



<p>The tin mines on the heritage coast between St Agnes and Chapel Porth make a lush walk – all that’s missing is Poldark striding along the rugged coastline. These days it is far more popular with walkers and, on the right day, hang gliders. Not sure if we’ve mentioned it yet, but surfing is also a big deal round these parts, with this part of the coast being good for waves especially at the beaches of Perranporth, Porthtowan and Chapel Porth. </p>



<p>St Agnes&nbsp;Head is a&nbsp;Dark Sky&nbsp;Discovery Site, meaning it has an official designation as a place <a href="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/best-places-to-go-star-gazing-cornwall/">great for stargazing</a> – fulfilling the criteria of accessibility as well as facing out away from the land, over the water into the Atlantic, so you can see the stars across the darkness of the sea.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-culture">CULTURE</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.mpecopark.co.uk/">Mount Pleasant Eco Park</a>, just south near Porthtowan, hosts gigs and festivals, and is also home to Canteen at the Eco Park, and you’ll also find <a href="https://ottersurfboards.co.uk/">Otter Surfboards</a> there, who build wooden boards. The St Agnes Museum in the village itself offers an insight into days past.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-average-house-prices">AVERAGE HOUSE PRICES</h2>



<p>Prices creep up (and up) to £576,062. Detached homes are pricier here, costing an average of £769,037 and representing the bulk of sales this past year. Terraced and semis were a more modest average of £295,714 and £265,333 respectively. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hot-property">HOT PROPERTY </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="563" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/Goundrys-St-Agnes-1000x563.jpeg" alt="This 2-bed Grade II listed thatch cottage located on the road down to the beach at Trevaunance Cove is On the market for £820,000." class="wp-image-34910" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/Goundrys-St-Agnes-1000x563.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/Goundrys-St-Agnes-800x450.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/Goundrys-St-Agnes-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/Goundrys-St-Agnes-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/Goundrys-St-Agnes.jpeg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">This 2-bed Grade II listed thatch cottage located on the road down to the beach at Trevaunance Cove is <a href="https://www.goundrys.co.uk/p/buy/Quay-Road-St-Agnes-TR5-0RS">On the market for £820,000</a>.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-schools">SCHOOLS</h2>



<p>If you’re after private education then it’s into Truro where <a href="https://www.truroschool.com/">Truro School</a>, and <a href="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/muddy-guide-to-the-best-schools-2-truro-high-school-for-girls/">Truro High School for Girls</a> are well rated, as are <a href="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/truro-prep-school-review/">Truro Prep</a> and <a href="https://www.polwhelehouse.co.uk/">Polwhele House School</a>, (also a prep, up to Y9).&nbsp;</p>



<p>For primary schools, there’s the <a href="https://www.stagnes.kernowlearning.co.uk/">local village school</a> St Agnes Academy, rated ‘outstanding’ by Oftsed, as well as Mithian School and Mount Hawke Academy. For secondary St Agnes is in the catchment for <a href="https://www.richardlander.co.uk/">Richard Lander School</a> at Truro, but there’s also <a href="https://www.redruth.cornwall.sch.uk/">Redruth School</a>, and the state secondaries at Newquay (Tretherras and Treviglas Academy). For post-16 students head to <a href="https://www.truro-penwith.ac.uk/">Truro and Penwith College</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-kept-secret">BEST KEPT SECRET</h2>



<p>Locals rate <a href="https://instagram.com/chapelporthnighthatch">Night Hatch</a>, the pop up foodie nights by chef Adam Vasey on Friday and Saturday nights at nearby Chapel Porth Beach Café. During the winter, catch him at ‘BEASTRO!’ at the MMI in the village where every Friday and Saturday evening the front room is turned into a pop-up bistro. His team is also opening a year-round neighbourhood café that serves simple super tasty food, great coffee called <a href="https://www.instagram.com/institutestagnes/">Institute</a>.</p>



<p><a href="https://instagram.com/risefierce">Rise Fierce</a>, an empowering women’s collective based around cold water swimming, set up and hosted by Aggie resident, Sophie Hellyer, run regular retreats in nearby Perranporth.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-commute">COMMUTE</h2>



<p>In common with a lot of coastal towns, St Agnes is a little way off the A30, but it’s a reasonably easy commute by car to Truro or Falmouth. Truro is the nearest mainline station where it’s a 4 hrs 44 mins up to London Paddington, or get the coach to London Victoria Coach Station from Newquay. It’s a 30 min drive to Newquay Airport, where you can catch a flight to London, Exeter or Dublin.</p>



<p><em>View the full <a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live">Top 300 Best Places to Live</a></em>.</p>


St Agnes

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