Marhamchurch – History and Walking Routes

Marhamchurch combines village history with the heritage of the Bude Canal, a local festival tradition and several walking options. This gives you a choice of different focuses for your stay: architecture and local history, the Revel, or routes through varied landscapes.

Church and historic buildings

St Marwenne Church stands on the hill in the centre of Marhamchurch and is dedicated to St Marwenne. Visitors are welcome to look inside; check current access arrangements before your visit.

The church’s elements date from two centuries: the lower part of the tower, the chancel and the transept date from the 14th century. The upper storeys of the tower, the north aisle and the porch date from the 15th century. These different elements give the church its own architectural history.

The Rectory in Marhamchurch also shows several phases of construction. An extension dating from the 1830s is at the front; an older building is incorporated at the rear and on the right. Rosamund Cottage on Marhamchurch village green is said to be of medieval origin—this origin remains an attributed tradition.

The Bude Canal and its inclined plane

The two-mile section of the Bude Canal between the sea lock and Hele Bridge extends to Marhamchurch. The canal is therefore also a local landmark, alongside the buildings and paths.

A notable engineering attraction is the Marhamchurch Inclined Plane, the first inclined plane on the Bude Canal. It was 836 feet long and overcame a height difference of 120 feet. It was powered by a waterwheel; a large waterwheel was built underground at the inclined plane.

Walking routes and landscape

The Whalesborough Farm–Hele Valley Walk follows sections of the historic Bude Canal, passes through Hele Valley alongside the River Strat, and runs through Marhamchurch. This route therefore takes in the canal, the valley and the river.

The signposted Planekeepers Path offers a different, clearly defined distance: it is 10 miles (16 km) long, follows the Bude Canal inland from Bude and returns overland via Stratton. The stated distance and route through canal and land sections provide a point of reference for this route, while the Whalesborough Farm–Hele Valley Walk is characterised above all by Hele Valley alongside the River Strat and its route through Marhamchurch. The seasonal availability of the leaflet may change; check if you plan to rely on it.

North of Marhamchurch, the Hele Valley Trail is near Pinch Bridge. This permitted riverside walking route, which is open to the public, passes through fields and newly planted woodland. Across the parish of Marhamchurch, the landscape is varied, rolling and predominantly rural, including farmland, woods, streams and river meadows.

The Marhamchurch Revel

The Marhamchurch Revel takes place on the Monday after the feast of St Marwenna, which falls on 12 August. If you are travelling for the Revel, check the seasonal details in advance.

In the procession, the Revel Queen leads the way on a white horse; the procession ends at the Revel Field. The festival adds a local tradition with a clear calendar date to the history of the buildings and canal.

Discover more destinations: Feock, Gooseham, Egloskerry, Pensilva, Herodsfoot, Roche, Saint Minver, Killigarth

For the wider travel overview: Cornwall.