Saint Breward – Bodmin Moor and Camel Trail

Saint Breward between Bodmin Moor and the Camel Trail

Saint Breward combines the landscape of Bodmin Moor with distinctive prehistoric and historical traces. The parish lies on the western edge of Bodmin Moor and includes some of the highest areas in Cornwall. At the same time, the entire parish is protected for its landscape. This includes an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation.

When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday house in Saint Breward, the main consideration is therefore what kind of holiday you are planning: active days on a versatile trail, landscape experiences on the moor, or discoveries among stone circles, hillforts and sacred sites.

The Camel Trail for a variety of day plans

The Camel Trail begins at Wenfordbridge in the parish of Saint Breward. The trail is 18 miles long, largely free of traffic, surfaced and almost level. It is suitable for walkers, cyclists, horse riders and wheelchair users. This combination makes it an obvious option for travellers who want to plan their days flexibly and choose between different means of transport.

There is a small car park at the Wenfordbridge end of the Camel Trail. Anyone looking for accommodation in Saint Breward can include this starting point in their plans and consider whether their holiday should involve individual sections of the trail or longer excursions.

Stone circles, hillforts and historical traces

King Arthur’s Hall is a Scheduled Monument and is well preserved. The rectangular enclosure is approximately 47 m long and 20 m wide. Anyone interested in Cornwall’s early history will find a clearly defined structure with verifiable dimensions here, rather than merely an abstract historical designation.

The Fernacre stone circle, with two stones located outside it, is also designated as a Scheduled Monument. The stone circle is well preserved and is one of the largest stone circles in Cornwall. A ring of at least 63 granite slabs is visible. This makes the site particularly interesting for a holiday intended to combine landscape and prehistoric evidence.

An early prehistoric hillfort lies on the ridge of Rough Tor and Little Rough Tor. It comprises several enclosing walls, eight prehistoric burial mounds and a small chamber built from stone slabs. Roughtor is also one of the two highest peaks forming the eastern edge of the parish of Saint Breward. Another historical trace is St. James’s Holy Well, which was used by pilgrims on their way to Compostela in Spain. In addition, there is a church with Norman origins, classified as a Grade II* listed building. Separate from this is St Breward Church, which, at approximately 700 feet above sea level, is the highest church in Cornwall.

Nature between moor and river

The De Lank River rises in the parish of Saint Breward and flows through it. The landscape is home to rare flora and fauna, including round-leaved sundew, bell heather and the Pearl-bordered fritillary. For your travel planning, this means that, alongside clearly identifiable cultural sites, Saint Breward offers nature observation and landscapes that can provide a quieter counterpoint to active days on the Camel Trail.

Saint Breward is particularly suitable as a destination if you want to get to know Cornwall not just through a single attraction, but by combining moorland, nature, trails and history.

More destination pages for your search

If you would like to compare more destination pages, you can also extend your search to Sticker, Withiel, Lelant, Mylor Bridge, Probus, Ruan Minor, Cardinham and Lostwithiel.

To the higher-level travel overview: Cornwall.