Gooseham: Landscape and Building History

Gooseham is one of six hamlets in the parish of Morwenstow and lies in the parish’s green countryside. For planning your trip, two areas of interest can be distinguished: natural landscapes and routes in the surrounding area, and the history of buildings and the village. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Gooseham, these interests can help you decide what you would like your trip to focus on.

Landscape and Routes

The Marsland nature reserve covers 212 hectares in the area around Gooseham. Access is restricted to public rights of way. If you include Marsland in your plans, follow these restrictions and check the latest access information before visiting.

A three-mile circular route runs from Morwenstow along the coast and through the Tidna Valley. The distance provides a specific planning figure, while the coast and valley describe the route. In the wider region around Gooseham, the Tamara Coast to Coast Way ends in Morwenstow on the north coast of Cornwall. This brings two different types of routes into focus: a circular walk with a stated distance and a regional route that ends in Morwenstow.

The Hartland section of the Cornwall National Landscape is part of the wider regional landscape. Much of the coastline from Steeple Point to Marsland is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Both designations place this coastal area in formal nature conservation categories.

Building and Local History

East Gooseham Farmhouse is a Grade II listed building. The stables about 15 metres southeast of Gooseham Barton are listed along with Gooseham Barton because of their group value. This group value means the relationship between the stables and the Barton forms part of the reason for their protection.

Gooseham Barton dates from the late 15th or 16th century. Old Barn served as an outbuilding from 1846 until the 1980s, after which it was converted back into a dwelling. These represent two different historical perspectives: Old Barn’s history includes both its earlier use as an outbuilding and its later conversion back.

Morwenstow Church has stood for more than a thousand years; parts of it date from the Norman period. Hawker’s Hut, another historical landmark in the area, was built by Reverend Hawker in 1843. These details emphasize different time periods: the church’s long history and the hut’s specific year of construction.

Bus Travel

Go Cornwall Bus route 217 runs from Bude via Morwenstow to Gooseham. This provides a specific reference point for your bus journey. As routes may change, check the current timetable before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Sancreed, Ruan Minor, Tywardreath, Mawgan Porth, Mylor Bridge, Phillack, Newquay, North Hill

For the main travel overview: Cornwall.