Gulval: Historic Churchtown and Waymarked Trails

Gulval combines historic churches, waymarked trails, scenic views and contemporary art to create a varied destination. Anyone looking for holiday accommodation in Gulval can tailor their stay to their own interests: with culture around Churchtown, a walk along St Michael's Way, a circular route through Trevaylor Woods or a visit to the Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens.

Churches and History Around Churchtown

At the heart of Gulval Churchtown lies a Conservation Area surrounding the church building. The Church of St Gulval is a Grade II* listed building. Its west tower was completed in 1440. Smaller historic features also contribute to the character of the village: in Gulval churchyard, an inscribed cross shaft, the head of a lantern cross and a cross base are all listed as Scheduled Monuments. The cross shaft dates from the 9th to the 11th century; the cross base is considered unique in Cornwall.

Another notable landmark is Gulval Methodist Church. It bears the date 1884 and combines simple classical elements with some Gothic Revival features. Its fully preserved and unaltered interior also makes it interesting for visitors interested in the region's architectural history. The Methodist Church is a Grade II listed building.

Trails for Different Day Plans

Gulval has a network of well-used public rights of way. These include historic Churchway paths focusing on Churchtown. A longer option is St Michael's Way: the signposted pilgrimage route, marked in both directions, is 12 miles or 19 km long and directly connects Lelant with Marazion. It passes via the Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens and Gulval Church before continuing to Marazion and St. Michael's Mount.

For a shorter outing, the approximately four-mile Walk G5 circular route is suitable. It runs from Gulval through Trevaylor Woods to Gear and back. This provides different trail formats for planning your day, without every activity having to fit the same time frame.

Landscape, Art and Special Views

Two small rivers meet in Gulval before flowing into the sea. Gulval Carn overlooks Mounts Bay and adds a strong landscape dimension to the village's historic attractions. Above Mount's Bay, the Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens cover 23 acres. Here, subtropical planting is combined with contemporary art. The gardens include more than 30 works by artists such as James Turrell, David Nash, Richard Long and Peter Randall-Page.

The Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens are open daily from 10:30 to 17:00; last admission is at 16:00. Free parking is available at all locations around the upper churchyard of Gulval. Anyone wishing to add an archaeological element to their stay can visit Chysauster Ancient Village, 2½ miles north-west of Gulval, off the B3311. There, a significant Romano-British village with stone-walled courtyard houses has been preserved.

Local Character and Choosing the Right Accommodation

Gulval's culinary offerings can also be included in your day plan. The Coldstreamer Inn serves traditional pub dishes and food made with regional seasonal ingredients. The pub also offers live music and quiz nights. Tremenheere Kitchen near Gulval complements the options with breakfast, lunch, dinner, cream teas, homemade cakes and barista coffee.

When looking for accommodation in Gulval, you can therefore consider which focus should shape your trip: historic buildings and Churchtown, longer waymarked trails, art and landscape above Mount's Bay, or a mixture of excursions and regional cuisine. A holiday apartment or holiday cottage in Gulval provides a base for your personal choice of experiences, without restricting your stay to just one type of daily programme.

Further Places to Include in Your Travel Plans

If you would like to compare Gulval with other destinations, you can also include Stithians, Feock, Saint Eval, Porthallow, Poundstock, Port Isaac, Porthcurno and Leedstown in your further search.

For the main travel overview: Cornwall.