Explore the riches of Caradon Hill

South Caradon mining remains

Less than 4 miles from Cider Cottage is the old mining village of Crow's Nest, where a short walk will take you up to Caradon Hill.  Much of South East Cornwall can be seen from this fascinating part of Bodmin Moor, as well as distant views of the sea at Rame Head and Whitsand Bay.

Today, the peace and tranquility of Caradon Hill is home to relics of the former copper mining industry.  The remains of old engine houses, chimneys, spoil heaps and railway tracks are all waiting to be explored.

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West Caradon mine spoil tips

Mining relics to explore, South Caradon

Crow's Nest railway bridge

For hundreds of years, modest deposits of tin had been extracted on Caradon Hill, but in the late 1830s, rich seams of copper were discovered.  There followed a frenzy of mining for this valuable mineral, and during the 1850s and 1860s engine houses, with their tall granite chimneys, were erected across Caradon Hill to extract the copper and to pump ground water out from the mines.

Mining villages sprung up at Darite, Crow's Nest, Tremar and Pensilva, while the population of St Cleer increased by 400% between 1841 and 1861.

At its peak, there were 4,000 miners working in the South Caradon complex alone.  But a slump in the price of copper in the 1880s saw many of the mines close.

Whether it's a bracing walk, or a glimpse into a forgotten industrial landscape, this area is a must to visit during your stay at Cider Cottage.

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