Saint Mawgan combines intricately crafted medieval crosses with a garden comprising three distinct areas. There are also trails through valley, woodland and pasture, as well as nearby Mawgan Porth beach.
Crosses and Churches in the Village
The Church of St Mawgan dates from the 13th century. A lantern cross in the churchyard dates from the early 15th century and was carved around 1420. The cross immediately west of the church has a comparatively rare lantern-cross head and exceptionally intricate carvings. Anyone interested in medieval stone carving will find various details to focus on here: the shape of the cross head, the carvings and how it fits into the village’s architectural history.
Lanherne Cross is located northeast of Lanherne Carmelite Convent and dates from the 10th or 11th century. The standing cross is made from a single piece of Pentewan stone. In contrast to the lantern cross in the churchyard, the emphasis here is on the material and its early date. Both details offer a tangible way into the history of Saint Mawgan’s stone monuments, without confusing the two crosses.
Lanherne and Village History
Lanherne Carmelite Convent was formerly the home of the Arundell family. The building dates from the early 16th century and may incorporate older structures. Lanherne has been a Carmelite convent since 1794. These periods tell different parts of the building’s history: its former use as a family home, its construction date and its later monastic purpose.
The history of the village of St Mawgan can probably be linked to the arrival of the Welsh missionary Meugan or Mawgan in the 6th century, at the site of what is now Mawgan Porth. According to tradition, Meugan or Mawgan and his followers founded a monastery on the River Menalhyl, one to two miles inland. This interpretation connects the village’s history with a wider historical context; the account remains explicitly framed as probable and based on tradition.
Japanese Garden and Practical Information
The Japanese Garden covers around 1 acre and includes a Water Garden, a Stroll Garden and a Zen Garden. The Zen Viewing House offers a view of the garden and the rocky landscape. The named areas offer different focal points for a visit: water, a stroll garden and a Zen garden. This allows you to experience the garden not only as a single attraction, but also through its distinct design elements.
The Japanese Garden is considered to be at least 90 percent wheelchair accessible; the paths are surfaced with gravel. When planning your visit, take both this rating and the path surface into account, and check the conditions before you go. This way, you can keep both the specific accessibility information and its practical limitation in mind.
Trails Through Valley and Woodland, Beach at Mawgan Porth
The Cornish Celtic Way leads from the churchyard of St Mawgan along a public footpath through sheep pastures and woodland and across a stream. Check trail conditions before setting off. In the surrounding area, trails also lead inland from Mawgan Porth through the valley to St Mawgan; secluded paths run alongside the river through open woodland. These descriptions offer a choice of different landscape experiences: pasture and woodland on the described section of the Cornish Celtic Way, or river and open woodland on the valley trails.
Nearby Mawgan Porth has a sheltered sandy beach with gentle waves, suitable for first-time surfing. Beach conditions and the presence of lifeguards vary by season. If you would like to add some time by the water to a stay focused on village history and a garden visit, take the season into account when planning and check conditions before going to the beach.
Discover more destinations: Saint Breward, Carlyon Bay, Wadebridge, Phillack, Lansallos, Bodmin, St Columb Major, Killigarth
For the full travel guide: Cornwall.
