Saint Gennys: Cliff Paths and Historic Traces

When planning a stay in Saint Gennys, you can focus on different aspects of the coastal landscape, history and nature watching. The paths, historic traces and viewpoints offer concrete starting points. When choosing your excursions, it is helpful to distinguish between the coastal route, the church view and the seasonal woodland flowers.

Coast, Cliffs and Views

On the “Tresmorn & St Gennys” route, the South West Coast Path runs along high cliffs above rocky reefs. The route also passes St Gennys Churchtown. The cliffs at St Gennys feature geological exposures, adding a geological aspect to the coastal landscape.

St Genny’s Cliff Castle is protected as a Scheduled Monument. Access is restricted because of the steep slopes and its remote location on the cliff. If you want to include the Castle in your travel plans, take this access restriction into account.

The sloping churchyard of St Gennys Parish Church offers a different view of the coast. From there, the views stretch across Bude Bay and the Bristol Channel to the point where Lundy Island can be seen. While the “Tresmorn & St Gennys” route runs along cliffs, the churchyard focuses on views across the named waters and as far as Lundy Island.

History of Tresmorn and Churchtown

The settlement of Tresmorn is first documented in 1428. Between Higher and Lower Tresmorn, the remains of a shrunken medieval village are now visible only as a collection of mounds and hollows. Tresmorn therefore brings together two historical points of reference: the settlement’s first documented mention and the visible landforms of a medieval village. The date and traces in the landscape tell of the past in different ways.

According to tradition, St Gennys Churchtown developed around the site of a hermitage said to have been founded by an Irish saint. This story adds a religious aspect to the history of the place.

Paths by Landscape and Season

The “St Gennys Church to Dizzard” circular walk passes through ancient woodland near Dizzard, where bluebells bloom in spring. By comparison, the South West Coast Path on the “Tresmorn & St Gennys” route runs along high cliffs above rocky reefs. The two paths therefore differ in their natural emphasis: woodland and spring flowers on one, coastal scenery on the other. If you want to plan your excursions by landscape or season, you can consider these features as different focuses.

Practical Planning

Regular buses run between Bude and Wadebridge in the area, stopping at Crackington Haven. If you plan to travel by bus, check the timetable for your travel date before setting off. Then compare the details of the specific hotel offer with your travel dates.

Discover more destinations: Luxulyan, Launceston, Herodsfoot, St Winnow, Saint Dominick, Saint Issey, St Pinnock, Gorran Haven

For the main travel overview: Cornwall.