A listed well, a church with unusual architectural features and an Iron Age hillfort give Germoe a strong cultural and historical focus. In addition, public rights of way and designated open-access land offer opportunities for outdoor activities. If you are planning a stay, you can take different interests into account: architectural and church history, an archaeological landscape, or walking and other outdoor pursuits.

Cultural History in Germoe

The Well in Germoe is listed as a Grade II building. It probably dates from the 18th century and is located on the side of Tresowes Hill. It lies unusually deep underground for a well of this kind. A flight of eight steps leads down to the entrance.

The Church of Saint Germoe is unusual in Cornwall because it features some architectural characteristics of the 14th century. At the Well, its probable date and unusual depth stand out; at the church, the focus is on features of church architecture. Together, the two sites offer different perspectives on the local heritage.

Castle Pencair and Tregonning Hill

Castle Pencair, a small multivallate Iron Age hillfort, is part of the archaeological landscape on Tregonning Hill. What remains is an oval enclosure with concentric double ramparts. The ramparts are up to six metres high, and the ditches up to 0.6 metres deep. The listed hillfort is also home to the Germoe War Memorial: a roughly hewn Celtic granite cross.

The landscape on the Hill also includes the Preaching Pit, a long-disused quarry. Anglican clergy are thought to have once preached there to miners from Breage and Germoe. At Whitsun, Christians of different denominations gather at the Preaching Pit for an ecumenical service. Check seasonal arrangements before your trip.

Walking and Outdoor Activities

The parish of Germoe has more than 14 kilometres of public rights of way, including footpaths, bridleways and byways. Six signposted walks pass through the old parishes of Breage and Germoe; the parish council provides walking guides. Tregonning Hill is designated as open-access land within the parish. Walking, running, wildlife watching and climbing are possible there.

The information about the paths and Tregonning Hill describes different options: you can follow the six signposted walks or focus on one of the activities mentioned for the Hill. This lets you decide first whether a guided route through the old parishes or a stay focused on walking, running, wildlife watching or climbing better suits your interests.

Church Traditions

St Germoe’s Chair is also associated with a church event. On Palm Sunday, a procession makes its way there from the church, followed by a reading and the singing of hymns. Together with the ecumenical service at the Preaching Pit at Whitsun, this gives you two different seasonal events to consider when planning a trip.

Discover more destinations: Antony, Ruan Minor, Saint Neot, Madron, Par, Leedstown, Tregony, Brighton.

For the broader travel overview: Cornwall.