Roche: Rock, Chapel and Trails

For a stay in Roche, you can plan your trip around two interests: architectural and cultural history, or walks and other forms of activity. Roche Rock and the St Michael’s Chapel there form a shared historical and landscape landmark. Great Wheal Prosper in the Parish of Roche adds a late-19th-century china clay works to the cultural picture. Activities include the Goss Moor Multi-use Trail and the “Roche and the rock” circular walk.

Roche Rock and St Michael’s Chapel

St Michael’s Chapel on Roche Rock was approved and built in 1409 and is listed Grade I. The date and the listing describe two different aspects: the chapel belongs to a specific point in history and also holds a heritage designation. Roche Rock rises 20 metres above the surrounding landscape and is flanked by the rocks of Trezaise and Carbis. Alongside the chapel, the height of the rock and its two flanking rocks are independent points of reference. If you are interested in its architectural history, you can focus on the chapel; if you also want to consider its landscape setting, take in Roche Rock and its flanks.

Other cultural landmarks

Great Wheal Prosper China Clay Works is a late-19th-century china clay works. In the Parish of Roche, it is a Grade II-listed building. Alongside the religious building on Roche Rock, a testament to the china clay industry also takes centre stage. The different Grade I and Grade II listings apply to the named buildings and help distinguish the two entries. The Church of St Gomonda also has several names: it is also called St Gonandus or St Gomond. When sorting out names and themes for your stay, you can consider these cultural landmarks separately: the chapel and rock, a china clay works, and the different names of the Church of St Gomonda.

Goss Moor and its trails

Goss Moor is a 480-hectare National Nature Reserve. Natural England owns and manages the area. The size of the reserve gives you a different sense of scale than the single rock of Roche Rock; when planning your trip, you can therefore distinguish between a prominent individual landscape feature and a large protected area. The Goss Moor Multi-use Trail is a circular route, 7 miles long. It is mostly flat, but also runs partly away from surfaced paths. These details about its length and terrain give you practical guidance when choosing an activity.

The trail is surfaced and suitable for walking, cycling and horse riding. It is also suitable for wheelchairs, mobility scooters and buggies. Visitors can reach the Goss Moor Multi-use Trail heading towards Tregoss from Roche railway station in the centre of the village. This identifies both an access point within Roche and the direction to take to reach the trail. When planning your trip, you can consider its length, terrain and the activities it supports together, rather than viewing the circular route solely as a walking trail.

Distinguishing circular walks in Roche

“Roche and the rock” is a circular walking route in Roche. Together with the Goss Moor Multi-use Trail, it offers another way to plan your trip around walks and circular routes. The Goss Moor Trail is specifically described in terms of its length and terrain; “Roche and the rock” is identified as a circular walking route in Roche. You therefore have different details to work with when planning: for one route, its length, terrain and uses; for the other, its classification as a circular walk. If you are looking for a hotel in Roche, these landscape and cultural themes can help you decide what you want to focus on during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Sladesbridge, Mevagissey, Herodsfoot, Marazion, Saint Neot, Marhamchurch, Tregony, Mylor.

For the broader travel guide: Cornwall.