Discover Landrake

The parish of Landrake with St Erney sits on a ridge between the deeply cut valleys of the rivers Lynher and Tiddy, which are partly influenced by the tides. In the southern part, most of which belongs to St Erney, tidal rivers form the eastern and western boundaries. Both the elevated position and the river landscape shape the destination’s character.

Landscape and orientation

The A38 runs east–west through the parish. Small hamlets and farms are connected by narrow Cornish country lanes. These offer different points of reference for planning your trip: the main road as it passes through the parish, and the narrow lanes between the small settlements and farms. When looking for a hotel, check the exact address and consider which places you plan to visit during your stay.

Churches and architectural history

The parish church of St Michael stands on the main road through Landrake and can be seen for many miles. Its south doorway and the main body of the nave up to the chancel are Norman. Surviving 13th-century masonry, along with additions and alterations from the late 14th century and the mid- and late 15th century, reveal further building phases. The stone used to build the parish church came from the nearby Tartan Down Quarry in Landrake.

Services are held at St Michael at 9:30 a.m. on the first, second, third and fourth Sundays of each month. If you would like to plan your visit around a service, check the date in advance.

The church is usually called St Erney and is dedicated to Saint Terminus or possibly Saint Ternimus. From Landrake, follow the signs to reach St Erney, driving uphill beside St Michael and then continuing for about a mile. St Erney is open during services on the first and third Sundays of each month. There is no parking directly at the church, but there is usually sufficient parking at the bend.

Traces of history in the parish

A holy well at Markwell was mentioned in 1018 and was probably known as St Mark’s Well. A chapel at Markwell was mentioned in 1308, near the site of the well. The two dates place these historical references in context: the well was mentioned before the chapel.

The remains of the Tamar barge Millom Castle, built in 1870, can be seen beside Poldrissick Quay. A complete cider mill stands at Poldrissick Farm. Together with the well and chapel at Markwell, these places offer a glimpse of the different traces of history in the parish.

Landrake for your hotel stay

When choosing a hotel in Landrake, consider whether the river landscape, the churches’ architectural history, or the historical traces at Markwell and Poldrissick are the main focus of your trip. These offer different starting points for planning your stay. Compare specific hotel offers based on their address and the booking terms that matter to you.

Discover more destinations: Coverack, Rock, Saint Blazey, Mawgan Porth, Saint Gennys, Gerrans, Mylor Bridge, Praze-an-Beeble.

Return to the main travel overview: Cornwall.