Be guided through 6000 years of history in West Penwith

A new leaflet introducing walkers to one of West Penwith's most spectacular historic landscapes has been produced by Cornwall County Council Historic Environment Service, in partnership with the HEATH Project.

This self guided trail leaflet, "The Past in the Present", guides walkers through 6000 years of history. It focuses on the areas of Woon Gumpus, Chun Downs and Botallack, Truthwall, Carnyorth and Trewellard Commons, all near St Just.

These areas represent some of West Penwith's most impressive inland scenery. To many people these landscapes appear "wild" and "natural" but, in fact, as with all of west Cornwall's heathland areas, the landscape today has been created by thousands of years of human activity, traces of which are all around.

Ann Reynolds, Senior Archaeologist (Countryside Advice) at the Historic Environment Service, explained: "The trail introduces walkers to the variety of features which make up the rich legacy of human activity in West Penwith. These range from prehistoric ceremonial sites to the areas of moors and downs used by many generations of west Cornwall farming families for rough grazing and fuel gathering.

"The low-intensity grazing which the HEATH Project is re-introducing over parts of west Cornwall?s moors and downs will make many important archaeological features more visible and easier to understand and enjoy. It will also help to protect them from the damage caused by dense scrub and bracken growth."

In addition to a suggested walk route, and details of the various archaeological and historic features to be seen, the leaflet gives a short history of west Cornwall's downs and moors and advice on finding out more about historic landscapes. The guide has been produced with funding from the HEATH Project.

Copies of the free booklet will be available from various locations in west Penwith, including visitor centres, libraries and museums.