A new off- road trail has opened near Portreath as part of a project to open up links between the town and Redruth and to encourage active travel.

The Tolgus Trail begins near the Cornish Gold Centre, passing through the site of the former Tolgus Tin works and runs parallel with New Portreath Road.

Walkers, cyclists and horse riders can then connect with the popular Coast to Coast trail at Cambrose, to link up to more villages within the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site.

With the trail passing through historic mining landscape, construction has been sympathetic to the local surroundings with a new bridge built over Portreath stream.

Councillor Philip Desmonde, Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for transport, said: "We’re committed to providing the infrastructure to give residents and visitors options for how they travel. "This new section gives users access to some wonderful landscape previously hidden from view.

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"We plan to extend the trail into Redruth and feasibility work is already underway to review opportunities to link with Kresen Kernow and the railway station.

"Any future work will be subject to securing the necessary funds and potentially land, however we are carrying out the feasibility work now to put us in the best position to apply for funding when it becomes available.”

Mike Taylor from Cornwall Gold, said: "We’re so excited to see the new Tolgus Trail opening this Summer.

"It’s a beautiful route from Portreath to Cornwall Gold and we’re sure that both local residents and visitors will love this new, safe way to travel up and down the Portreath valley.

"We’re really looking forward to welcoming cyclists, walkers and riders into the Cornish Pantry restaurant for some well-deserved Cornish refreshments or to treat themselves to something special from Cornwall Gold."