Saint Merryn: Coast, History and Archaeology

Saint Merryn combines a striking coastal landscape with religious history and prehistoric sites. Highlights range from bays with golden sand and a coastal walking route to churches, a medieval pilgrimage site and an important cemetery. If you are looking for a hotel in Saint Merryn, it helps to consider these different features: you can focus your trip on the coast and walking, historic buildings or archaeology. The local cuisine also offers its own specific reason to visit.

Coast, Landscape and Nature

The Parish of Saint Merryn includes more than 5½ miles of coastline. The bays associated with Saint Merryn have golden sand and are bordered by rocky cliffs or sand dunes. The North Cornwall Coastal Path takes walkers through dramatic coastal scenery and to viewpoints between Porthcothan and Padstow. This brings both the character of the bays and a walking route with its landscapes and viewpoints into focus. When planning your trip, you can decide whether you are mainly interested in coastal scenery or walking.

At Constantine Bay, a dune conservation project protects an ancient wildlife habitat. This adds a distinct nature conservation aspect to the landscape: the focus is on preserving a habitat in the dunes.

Churches, Pilgrimage History and Archaeology

The Church of St Merryn probably has Norman origins and was extended in the 15th century. St Constantine's chapel and holy well were an important pilgrimage site in the Middle Ages. At the well are a well basin, benches and a well house. The chapel survives as an overgrown ruin; its tower still stands to a considerable height. The pilgrimage significance applies to the chapel and well together, while the surviving architectural features can be specifically attributed to each.

A different period is represented by the prehistoric inhumation cemetery near Harlyn. At least 130 graves have been recorded there. Finds suggest that the cemetery was already in use in the 2nd century BC. As an exceptionally rare monument, it is of great importance to understanding prehistoric burial rites. Unlike the churches and pilgrimage site, the focus here is on archaeological finds and burial rites.

A historical tradition also links Saint Merryn with the missionary Merryn, who probably came from Wales in the second half of the 6th century. The probable origin and date belong to this tradition.

Local Cuisine as Another Reason to Visit

The Cornish Arms in Saint Merryn prepares dishes using recipes by Rick Stein. The dishes served include fish and chips, curry and steak-and-ale pies. So, alongside the coast, history and archaeology, you can also consider the local cuisine when looking for a hotel in Saint Merryn.

Discover more destinations: Sancreed, Quethiock, Mevagissey, Mylor, Millendreath, St Pinnock, Boyton, Saltash

For the main travel overview: Cornwall.