Cornwall Historic Towns and Villages

Mevagissey is a traditional Cornish fishing village in St Austell Bay. The peculiar name tells something of the village's origins, for it is composed of the old Cornish words for Meva and Issey, two 6th century Irish missionaries. The two Irishmen came to Cornwall to convert the natives to Christianity. They must have made quite an impression! Mevagissey is a working fishing port, and the lanes leading down to the harbour are a delightful maze of twists and turns.
Mevagissey, Cornwall, England

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Morvah is a small village set in the idyllic landscape of the Penwith peninsula of western Cornwall. The medieval church of St Bridget dates to the 15th century. It was heavily remodelled in 1828, but stone from the earlier church was reused. A plaque commemorating the rebuilding hangs on the west wall.
Morvah, Cornwall, England

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Heritage Highlight: Chun Castle hillfort

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Morwenstow is an attractive coastal settlement - or, more accurately, a collection of scattered hamlets, just a few miles north of Bude. Morwenstow is famous for its eccentric Victorian vicar, RS Hawker, who built a hut out of driftwood into the side of the cliffs, where he would compose poetry. Among his most famous compositions was The Song of the Western Men, with its refrain, 'And shall Trelawney die?'.
Morwenstow, Cornwall, England

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Heritage Highlight: Morwenstow church

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An extremely picturesque fishing village, Mousehole makes regular appearances on glossy Cornish calendars, The village is a wonderful hotch-potch of narrow, twisting lanes and attractive cottages of dark grey stone. There is a delightful circular harbour and two small beaches. Mousehole is famous for Star-Gazzy Pie, a local fish delicacy made to remember a local fisherman named Tom Bawcock, who sailed out into a storm to catch enough fish so that the villagers would not die of starvation. The pie is traditionally served on 23 December, Tom Bawcock's Eve.
Mousehole, Cornwall, England

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Mullion is the largest village in the Lizard peninsula of southern Cornwall. The nearest major centre is the town of Helston, about 5 miles away. The most historic building in Mullion is the 13th-century church of St Mellanus, which boasts richly carved bench ends depicting scenes from the Bible.
Mullion, Cornwall, England

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Heritage Highlight: St Mellanus church and its medieval bench ends

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Mylor is an attractive fishing village on the west bank of Carrick Roads, just north of Falmouth. it is a centre for boating, with a popular yacht harbour for pleasure craft and easy access to the Fal River.
Mylor, Cornwall, England

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Heritage Highlight: St Mylor's Celtic cross

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Newquay is the most popular holiday resort in Cornwall, due in no small part to the amazing 11 beaches that surround Newquay Bay. The most sheltered beach is that at Towan, while the others are more exposed to the force of the Atlantic Ocean. But that has an upside too, for Newquay attracts surfers from around the world, drawn by the combination of great surfing and seaside amenities. The site has been inhabited for at least 4000 years, and there are numerous Bronze Age burial mounds in the area. Newquay has a heritage as a centre for the Cornish mining industry, particularly silver, copper, and lead, and the cliffs are dotted with the entrances to ancient mining shafts. Just 3 miles from Newquay is Trerice, a lovely Tudor manor house.
Newquay, Cornwall, England

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A lovely town on the Camel Estuary in North Cornwall, Padstow is famous for the annual appearance of the Obby Oss (Hobby Horse). In a ceremony that dates back to pagan times, this May Day festival may be one of the most ancient customs still practised in England.
Padstow, Cornwall, England

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A mild climate - one of the most gentle in Britain - has made Penzance something of a gardener's paradise. Some of the most beautiful gardens in England cluster around Penzance, including Trengwainton Gardens just outside the town. Penzance lies on Mounts Bay, where you can see the mystical island of St Michael's Mount. There are miles of sandy beaches along the bay, and you can take harbour cruises or longer voyages to the Scilly Isles. Away from the pretty harbour, the streets are lined with Georgian and Regency houses.
Penzance, Cornwall, England

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Perranporth is an old tin mining village now popular as a holiday destination. The coast offers superb scenery and walking trails along a landscape of dramatic views and strange geological rock formations. At the edge of Perran beach is a striking natural sea arch, while on the cliffs above the beach is the latest local landmark; a huge sundial erected to mark the Millennium.
Perranporth, Cornwall, England

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Heritage Highlight: St Piran's Oratory

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