Carnmenellis

About Carnmenellis

This wind-scoured granite plateau marks the highest point in West Cornwall between Redruth and Helston. While communication masts dominate the immediate summit, the landscape retains a rugged, industrial character. Walkers reaching the trig pillar are rewarded with a sweeping perspective across both coasts, from St Ives Bay to the Lizard.

Key Statistics

Find It

Did You Know?

• •Derived from the Cornish Karn Menelys, the name likely translates to 'Cairn of the Court' or 'Stone of the Assembly.' This suggests the granite plateau served as a significant meeting place or administrative centre in the early medieval period.
• •The hill sits atop one of the five major granite intrusions forming the Cornubian batholith. This geological foundation fueled the region's intense industrial past; the surrounding slopes are dotted with the remains of 18th and 19th-century tin and copper mines.
• •On a clear day, the summit offers a rare 'double-sea' view of the Cornish peninsula. Looking north, you can see the turquoise waters of St Ives Bay, while turning south reveals the long sweep of the Lizard Peninsula and the waters of Mount's Bay.
• •Long before the arrival of the modern communication masts that now crown the hill, the summit was a site of prehistoric importance. Several Bronze Age barrows and remnants of ancient field systems are still visible in the surrounding rough grazing land.
• •Achieving Marilyn status usually implies a sense of isolation, but the cluster of high-tech transmitter masts at the summit ensures that while you might be high up, you are never truly off the grid.