Villages on The Roseland
The peaceful villages on the Roseland Peninsula and its outstanding landscape are well worth exploring.
On the east side of the Roseland are the twin villages of Portscatho and Gerrans. Portscatho was once famous for pilchard fishing while Gerrans features a church spire, well known as a landmark for those at sea and on land. Access to a number of breathtaking cliff, creek, country and beach walks.
Further east is the village of Veryan, famous for its roundhouses built 200 years ago, reputedly to guard the entrances to the village from evil spirits. Portloe is a delightful fishing village with a tiny harbour enclosed by cliffs which provide shelter for fishing boats.
Tucked away inland are the sleepy villages of Philleigh and Ruan Lanihorne, both have good pubs and interesting churches. The creek at Ruan Lanihorne is a bird lover’s paradise while leafy lanes and woods provide tranquil walks.
Tregony was a thriving port before the river silted up, with allegedly 36 ale houses to provide nourishment for the sailors. Tregony’s wide main street, featuring a recently restored clock tower, is known as the gateway to the Roseland.
Local buses provide wonderful views over the high Cornish hedges, while one of the best ways to see the Fal estuary is on an Enterprise boat trip from St Mawes or Falmouth, taking in Trelissick Gardens and Smugglers Cottage on the way..
St Just in Roseland has a 13th Century church set above the tidal creek of St Just Pool with a beautiful churchyard luxuriantly planted with sub-tropical species. It was described by John Betjeman as ‘to many people the most beautiful churchyard on earth’.
