Discover St Columb Major: History, Hurling and Special Places

St Columb Major combines impressive church art, significant reminders of the past and a vibrant local tradition. Anyone looking to add variety to a trip to Cornwall will find a range of opportunities here for culture, history and memorable experiences. When choosing your holiday apartment, it is worth deciding in advance whether historical discoveries, a traditional event or a walk through the landscape should be the main focus.

History and Special Places

The Church of St Columba is a Grade I listed building. Its origins date back to the 14th century, it was extended in the 15th century, and it was restored in the mid-to-late 19th century. Inside are 33 late medieval choir-stall bench ends. One carving depicts a dog preaching to a pig, making a visit interesting for travellers who look out for remarkable details in historic buildings.

For practical guidance, it is worth noting that the church has a ramp that can be used by prior arrangement. It is not permanently in place.

There are also several historic points of interest outside the church. The gate piers and walls at the southern entrance to Trewan Hall date from the early 19th century. The Old Rectory stands on the site of a medieval moated rectory and is considered the only example of its kind in Cornwall. At Devil’s Quoit, a stone marks the site of a Neolithic chambered tomb. The tomb was destroyed around 1870; the surviving stone is probably its capstone.

Landscape, Walking Route and Hurling

Castle an Dinas (East) is an Iron Age hillfort on the summit of Castle Downs. A walking guide for a route around Castle an Dinas is available from iWalk Cornwall on its website and in the app. Anyone wishing to combine landscape and history in one day can plan this walk as a separate activity and combine the historic sites around St Columb Major with another focus of the trip.

The hurling game in St Columb Major reveals a completely different side of the place. It is one of the three remaining hurling games in Cornwall. In it, a team from the “Town” and one from the “Country” compete with a silver-plated ball about the size of a cricket ball. Hurling includes games on Shrove Tuesday and the following Saturday. These dates give trip planning a clear traditional focus; check the appropriate period when planning your own trip.

Music and Suitable Trip Planning

Music is also part of the cultural profile of the place. Every summer, at the end of August, a series of chamber concerts featuring harmony music takes place in the church of St Columb Major. Together with the historic buildings, the walk around Castle an Dinas and the hurling, this creates a selection of very different experiences. Travelling with children, you can weigh up a quiet cultural moment, a discovery of historical traces and an eventful traditional occasion without limiting the trip to just one activity.

A holiday apartment in St Columb Major is particularly suitable as a search option if you want to tailor your stay to your own interests and incorporate the experiences mentioned into your daily plans. What matters is less a general description of the place than which combination of history, music, landscape and local tradition suits your trip.

Compare Other Destinations

If you would like to compare other destinations in addition to St Columb Major, you can also find Newquay, Chacewater, Brighton, St Agnes, Saint Ives, Gunnislake, Lansallos and Looe.

For the overarching travel overview: Cornwall.