Present day Cornwall has evolved from a rich history and culture and with over 50 miles of heritage coastline, stone circles, castles and a rich maritime heritage, it is a history worth of discovering and celebrating.

The Duchy as it is often called, is also known to many for its outstanding mining heritage, a fact which has recently been recognised internationally by UNESCO through their designation of World Heritage Site status to select mining landscapes across Cornwall and West Devon.

The Cornish Mining World Heritage Site comprises ten separate areas covering 19,600 hectares of land in former metal mining districts, developed during the period of interest 1700 - 1914.

These areas represent the highest concentrations of surviving buildings and landscapes created by the copper and tin mining industry.

The areas all represent distinct elements of the same underlying geological feature of Cornwall and Devon - the granite batholith from Dartmoor in the East to Penwith in the West - and the development of innovative deep mining technology and a distinct culture, which was exported across the world. Each of the ten areas both represents and contributes to the overall universal value of Cornish Mining, for which World Heritage Site inscription was sought.

The ten World Heritage Site areas in Cornwall are: St Just Mining District The Port of Hayle Tregonning and Gwinnear Mining Districts with Trewavas Wendron Mining District Camborne and Redruth Mining District with Wheal Peevor and Portreath Harbour Gwennap Mining District with Devoran and Perran and Kennall Vale St Agnes Mining District Luxulyan Valley and Charlestown Caradon Mining District Tamar Valley Mining District with Tavistock The dramatic scenery that has been left in the wake of the mining industry is evident. Walking these routes and experiencing the historic landscape at ground level is well worth it.

A walk from Chapel Porth to St Agnes at Botallack through preserved arsenic works or visit Cornwall's oldest working beam engine under steam at Levant, near St Just.

Go under ground at Geevor or South Crofty or at Poldark Mine near Helston.

If you want ancient reminders visit Rumps Cliff Castle, Polzeath or one of the many other examples of Iron Age fortifications. Prehistoric sites abound.

You are never far from the coast in Cornwall and water sports can be found all round the coast. You can even enjoy a seafari to see the wildlife around the coast.

3:10pm Wednesday 7th February 2007

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