Discover Marhamchurch: Culture and Trails along the Bude Canal

Marhamchurch combines an impressive village history with trails through a varied landscape. The parish features a rolling, predominantly rural landscape with farmland, woodland, streams and river meadows.

Church, historic buildings and village history

St Marwenne Church stands on the hill in the centre and is dedicated to Saint Marwenne. Visitors are welcome to view the inside of the church. Its architectural history can be seen in various parts of the building: the lower section of the tower, the chancel and the transept date from the 14th century. The upper stages of the tower, the north aisle and the porch date from the 15th century. This gives the church a clear cultural focus for anyone who wants to discover not only the landscape but also historic architecture during their stay.

Further traces of the village’s history can be found at the Rectory. Its front extension dates from the 1830s, while an older structure has been incorporated into the rear and right-hand sections. Rosamund Cottage, which is said to be of medieval origin, also stands on the village square. The cautious wording is part of this building’s history and makes it an interesting detail on a walk through Marhamchurch.

The Bude Canal and the Marhamchurch Inclined Plane

The Marhamchurch Inclined Plane tells a distinctive technical story. It was the first inclined plane on the Bude Canal, had a rise of 120 feet and was 836 feet long. It was operated by a waterwheel; a large waterwheel built underground was located at the site. Anyone interested in canal history, former transport routes and the connection between landscape and technology will find an unusual insight here into the development of the area.

The two-mile section of the Bude Canal between the sea lock gate and Hele Bridge also extends to Marhamchurch. This connection is particularly interesting for trip planning because it allows the area’s historic story and its landscape experience to be considered together, without suggesting that they are the same attraction.

Walking routes for different day plans

For longer days of walking, the Planekeepers Path is a good option. The signposted route is 10 miles (16 km) long, follows the canal inland from Bude and returns via Stratton across the countryside. Another option is the Whalesborough Farm–Hele Valley Walk. It follows sections of the historic Bude Canal, passes through the Hele Valley along the River Strat and also runs through Marhamchurch.

North of Marhamchurch, the Hele Valley Trail runs near Pinch Bridge. This permitted and publicly accessible riverside walking route passes through fields and newly planted woodland. Depending on your preferred day plan, you can therefore choose between a longer signposted walk, a route connected with the canal and river, or a quieter section through the valley. When looking for holiday accommodation, it is worth considering your preferred combination of village history, walking routes and rural surroundings as a location criterion.

A special date in the annual calendar

The Marhamchurch Revel takes place on the Monday after the feast of Saint Marwenne, which falls on 12 August. During the Revel, the Revel Queen leads the procession on a white horse; the procession ends at the Revel Field. This local festive tradition adds a living element to the historic buildings and walking routes. If you would like to arrange your trip around a specific date, you should take the stated festival connection into account when making your own plans.

For further orientation, you can also view Lansallos, Penzance, Sancreed, Saint Mawgan, Stithians, Perranporth, Pentewan and Tregony.

For the overarching travel overview: Cornwall.