Bodmin

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  Cornwall's old County Town is strewn with grand buildings which reflect the importance of the town in the past.

The 15th century St Petroc's church is the largest in the county and contains a Norman font and some fine slate memorials as well as the cask containing the remains of St Petroc himself.

The mid-Victorian prison - Bodmin Jail - is a dramatic semi - ruin today but during the First World War was the depository for the Doomsday Book, Crown Jewels and other National Treasures.

South of the town, towards Lanhydrock House, a National Trust Property, is the Museum for the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry.

To the north of the town towards Wadebridge is Pencarrow House a Georgian Mansion full of 18th Century treasures and with an Italian Garden.

There is a cycle track, The Camel Trail, following the route of the old railway, which will take you the 11 or so miles into Wadebridge and beyond that to the village of Padstow. The track is signed from the town and is free from traffic, except for horses and walkers.

To the east is Bodmin Moor, 100 square miles of rolling landscape scattered with granite outcrops, designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty this is a haven for walkers and nature lovers. It is the setting for many novels, including Daphne du Maurier's Jamaica Inn.

Bodmin Moor

Map of Bodmin Moor

Rolling landscapes scattered with granite outcrops, Bodmin Moor is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, about 100 square miles in area. During the Bronze Age Bodmin Moor was densely populated and numerous hut circles, sacred sites and giant Tors can be seen. Bodmin Moor is the source of the river Fowey which rises near Brown Willy which at 1377 ft. is Cornwall's highest point. Slightly lower but dramatically more rocky, is Rough Tor with it's memorial to Charlotte Dymond at the bottom and the Wessex Regiment at the top. Most of the towns and villages are around the edges of the moor but Bolventor, a small hamlet in the middle, is the home of Jamaica Inn used by Daphne du Maurier as the setting for her novel of the same name and once owned by the novelist Alistair MacLean. Not far from Bolventor is Dozmary Pool, a lonely expanse of water high on the moor. Here legend would have you believe is the resting place of King Arthur's sword Excalibur.

Other Towns & Villages of Bodmin Moor.
Alternun - Stone cottages and an ancient Pack Horse bridge with a 15th century church known as the 'Cathedral of the Moors'. John Wesley often stayed at a house which is now a Methodist Museum.

Blisland - village greens are rarely found in Cornwall but here in Blisland is the finest of the few. Fringed by granite cottages and the village Inn there is also a Norman & Medieval church with a richly carved and painted interior. There is a medieval stone slab bridge at Bradford and elaborate rock carvings at Pendrift celebrating the Golden Jubilee of George III.

St Neot - An attractive village set deep in a valley on the edge of the moor with a church noted for it's 15th and 16th century stained glass. Nearby are slate caverns, a pottery, Golitha falls and King Donert's Stones.

Minions - An exposed moorland village set in the centre of an area of mining and ancient archaeology. During the mid 1800's a rich copper lode was discovered and there were more than twenty active mines in the area. There are still remains of the engine houses standing , one of which has been turned into a heritage centre. Ancient sites to visit include Trethevy Quoit, the Cheesewring, the Hurlers.

Other places to visit include the Sterts Arts Centre, Lynher Valley Dairy and Siblyback Lake, Colliford Lake Park.

List of businesses situated in or near Bodmin