Withiel to Lanlivery - 23rd March 2015
| Distance |
Time |
Elevation in meters |
Km |
Elapsed
Hrs-Mins |
Moving
Hrs-Mins |
Gain |
Loss |
Min |
Max |
| 14.33 |
3H34 |
2H56 |
288 |
239 |
76 |
196 |
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Turning right down the road at Withiel Church, the path goes off across the fields on the left hand side.
You soon come to a marker indicating that it is 4 miles to Lanivet
Looking ahead towards the village of Retire
You soon come to a stile with a marker indicating that the path goes to the right along a narrow track
The day that I did the walk the track was flooded and did not look very appealing, but fortunately
there was an alternative way to Retire straight ahead, with granite steps leading into a field.
The alternative route, on the other side of the track
The path leading into the village of Retire
Retire
The Wesley Chapel in Retire, built in 1883 and now a residence
Leaving Retire, follow the sign to Ruthern which leads to Tremorebridge
Tremorebridge
The road goes past the entrance lodge for Tremore Manor
The road goes to the right at Lower Woodley, and then to the left; the path goes strainght
ahead at Higher Woodley Farm
The road drops down into the centre of Lanivet
Lanivet Inn. The unusual pub sign of a panda was adopted around 1938 when scouts cut
fresh bamboo shoots from a nearby grove to feed the panda's in London Zoo.
The Parish Church of Lanivet
There are two old crosses in the churchyard. The one above is said to be the most elaborately
carved cross in Cornwall and includes a mysterious figure of a man with a tail
The Saints Way goes past the church and up a steep hill along the road. It seems to go on for ever,
but eventually you arrive parallel to the A30 and its heavy traffic, and then the road starts to go down. Shortly there is an underpass on the right hand side which goes under the A30 towards Reperry Cross.
At the Reperry Cross Junction there are several old stone
signs, such as the one above pointing back to Lanivet
Reperry Cross
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At the Reperry Cross junction you have a choice of two ways to go to get to Trebell Green. The route cards suggest a route via St Ingunger Farm and Fenton Pits Cross. This is a longer route but has the advantage that you can see the St Ingunger Cross, as shown below. The other way is to go direct to Trebell Green along the road to the right of the Reperry Cross. This is considerably shorter, and you het a good view of Hellman Tor as you approach Trebell Green. |
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St. Ingunger Cross
View of Helman Tor as you approach Trebell Green
Belted Galloway calves
Helman Tor. The Saints Way skirts around Helman Tor on road and drover's path, and it would
be easy to bypass it without climbing to the top. However, the climb is highly
recommended and should not be missed!
The drover's path heading to Lanlivery
St. Brevita's Church, Lanlivery
The village of Lanlivery sits high on a hilltop west of Lostwithiel, surrounded by attractive cottages and just opposite a medieval inn. No one knows exactly how long there has been a church on this elevated site. There is evidence of Norman stonework in the base of the striking west tower, but the circular churchyard enclosure suggests a very early pre-Norman date. The village name is a clue; the prefix 'lan' comes from the Celtic word for a monastery or church.
Early records suggest that the first church here was dedicated to St Vorck, of whom almost nothing is known. Lanlivery church was certainly a place of importance locally, and acted as the mother church for chapels at Lostwithiel and Luxulyan.
The present church dates to the 15th century, with the addition of a 17th-century granite tower, visible for miles across the surrounding landscape. At almost 100 feet high the tower is the third highest in Cornwall and acted as a landmark for sailors. The top was painted white to help ships entering Fowey harbour.
Inside the tower is a large painted board depicting the letter of thanks written by Charles I to the people of Cornwall in 1643 for their support during the Civil War. The letter, written from the king's court-in-exile in Oxford, was sent to every parish in Cornwall and many churches across the county still have painted boards proudly reproducing the letter's message. A later royal visited the church in more peaceful times, and you can find Prince Charles' signature in the visitor's book.
The letter from Charles I is particularly relevant to Lanlivery, where the staunchly Royalist Kendall family were lords of the manor. Colonel Nicholas Kendall led a band of soldiers in a successful attack on Bodmin and later lost his life while fighting for the king at the siege of Bristol.
Near the Charles I painted board is a printed board from 1811 showing five bell-ringers at their work, together with a rhyming guide to bell-ringing. The delightful verse reads:
Hark how the chirping Treble sings most clear,
And covering Tom comes rolling in the rear:
Now throw them up on end that all may see
What laws are best to keep sobriety:
We ring the quick to church the dead to grave
Good is our use such usage let us have:
To swear or curse or in a choleric mood
To strike or quarrell 'tho he draws no blood
To wear a hat or spur or overturn a bell
Who by unskilful handling mars a peal,
Such shall pay sixpence for each single crime
To make him cautious against another time:
And we the whole society do agree
To spend our fines in peace and unity.
https://www.britainexpress.com/counties/cornwall/churches/lanlivery.htm |
The Crown Inn
A warm pub atmosphere for thiose wanting a pint of Skinner's "Betty Stoggs" beer at the end of the walk
St. Brevita's Holy Well
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