PARISH WALK - Cusgarne Hill – Hicks Mill & return

3 miles, approx. 1hr.

• Start by leaving your vehicle in the large lay-by at the top of Cusgarne Hill (alongside the lane that used to lead to the Catteries).
• Set off on the road in the direction of the Industrial Estates & Refuse Site. Turn RIGHT up the lane beside ‘Kimberley Cottage’. At the cross lanes, turn RIGHT.
• Point of Interest – In the field on your right will be a small round house this was a Powder House, where explosives were stored for use in the nearby mines.
• Continue down past ‘Wheal Clifford Farm’, ignoring the lane on your left, on past ‘White Cottage’ and take the next RIGHT at a sort of crossroads of small lanes. Carry on down this lane until it meets Coombe Hill.
• Turn RIGHT down to the main Cusgarne – Bissoe road. RIGHT at the junction, then immediately LEFT down the steep slope. LEFT at the weir, there is actually a footpath sign here. You will have the stream on your left. Later along the path a leat will be on your left. This once served the Mill at Hicks Mill, opposite the Chapel, which you will now be passing.
• LEFT down the hill, over the stream, bearing right up to the main road. (You are now half way, but as it’s all been downhill so far, it’s uphill from now on!) RIGHT towards Bissoe, and LEFT after 30 metres, up Race Hill. LEFT almost immediately, taking the footpath that runs to the left of Woodgrove House.
• When the footpath meets the tarmac road continue up the hill passing ‘Fleetwood’ and ‘Hilltop Barn’. STRAIGHT ACROSS the junction at the top of the hill taking the footpath which is a long uphill stretch, eventually retracing your steps past ‘Wheal Clifford Farm’, (this time on your left). LEFT at the cross lanes back down to ‘Kimberley Cottage’ and back to the lay-by.