At the Brighton Cross Roundabout on the A3058, the connection between the present and the past is particularly tangible: an eastbound bus stop is designated here, and historical records link Brighton Cross with old road routes and milestones. This offers two different perspectives on Brighton to help you plan your trip – finding your way around locally and tracing the history of transport.

Transport around Brighton Cross

Bus route 274 runs from Bodmin to Truro College via Summercourt and Brighton Cross. In addition, a bus stop for eastbound services is designated at the Brighton Cross Roundabout on the A3058. Check the current timetable and stop information before travelling, so your plans match the specific service.

A cycling course also passes this landmark: the description of the S6/Hillclimb course lists the Brighton Cross Roundabout at 5.1 miles. There, the course takes the third exit towards St Austell. If you are interested in this course, check the event details before travelling; the route description alone does not provide information about individual event dates.

Gate House and the history of the milestones

Gate House in Brighton is a Grade II listed building. It may originally have been a toll house. The listing and this cautiously worded historical interpretation are two different aspects of the building: its protection status is specified, while its former use remains a possibility.

The roads around Brighton Cross also have a documented history. The route to Newquay via Brighton Cross was one of three routes along which the Newquay Highway Board erected milestones. The milestones associated with Brighton Cross are thought to have been erected between the board's establishment in 1835 and the construction of a neighbouring row in the parish of Colan in 1852.

A milestone at SW 897549 adds a specific detail to this history: the granite monolith dates from the 19th century, is painted, and is about one metre high. Its top is triangular. Alongside Gate House, this offers those interested in architectural and transport history a specific, precisely described example of the milestone tradition. Gate House, with its possible former use as a toll house, and the milestone at SW 897549 represent different traces of the past.

Nature in the wider region

Beyond Brighton, the wider region offers a perspective on nature of its own. Goss Moor is a 480-hectare National Nature Reserve, owned and managed by Natural England. Another regional feature is Goss and Tregoss Moors, where there is a seven-mile surfaced multi-use trail that is mostly flat. These two points offer different considerations for planning your trip – the designated nature reserve on the one hand and the described trail on the other.

Brighton and the wider region therefore bring several themes together: the bus stop at the roundabout, a cycling course with a specific route description, Gate House and the history of the milestones, as well as nature destinations further afield. When choosing a holiday apartment, you can first consider which focus you would like to shape your trip: local traces of architecture and transport, or the regional nature attractions too. If you plan to travel by bus or want to attend an event, check the latest timetable or event information before your trip.

Discover more destinations

Lanlivery, Rock, Altarnun, Feock, St Winnow, Bodinnick, Callington, North Tamerton

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