St Keverne: Walks, History and Ox Roast

St Keverne can suit a range of travel interests: a named walk follows coastal and inland paths, local history spans the Cornish Rebellion and the opening of a Methodist chapel, and the Ox Roast is an annual event in August. If you’re looking for a hotel, it helps to first consider whether walks, history or the festival will determine when you travel.

Walking routes, landscape and protected area

The “Porthoustock & St Keverne” walk follows quiet country lanes, quarry tracks, and coastal and inland paths. At Roskilly’s, visitors can enjoy more than a mile of free walking trails by ponds, across meadows and through woodland. The two options offer different highlights: the walk features a variety of path types and coastal and inland routes, while Roskilly’s offers trails through a landscape of ponds, meadows and woodland. If you choose activities based on their surroundings, you can take these differences into account when planning.

Dean Point and the Quarries are part of the “Coverack to Porthoustock” Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It is designated for its geology and wildlife. This gives nature enthusiasts two distinct aspects to explore: the area’s geology and its wildlife.

History from rebellion to salt production

The Cornish Rebellion of 1497 began in St Keverne. A statue of An Gof, the blacksmith, and Thomas Flamank of Bodmin stands at the entrance to the village. Together, the historic event and the statue offer two different perspectives: the rebellion is associated with a specific year, while the statue depicts the two figures at the village entrance.

In Trebarveth, a settlement and salt-making site is designated as a Scheduled Monument and protected by law. This adds a place with a history of settlement and work to the area’s other historical themes: while the rebellion and statue focus on an event and the people depicted, Trebarveth is about settlement and salt production.

St Keverne Methodist Chapel opened in March 1907. This was much later than the start of the rebellion in 1497, providing another point of reference in the history of the village.

Planning for the Ox Roast and your journey

St Keverne’s Ox Roast takes place every year on the first Wednesday in August. If you’re planning to travel for the festival, check the exact date before your trip. Bus route 36 connects Truro with St Keverne via Stithians, Porkellis and Helston. Check current departure times before setting off if you plan to use this service.

For a walking holiday, the different path types and landscape features can help you organise the activities you have planned.

Discover more destinations: North Tamerton, Germoe, Edmonton, Mylor Bridge, Altarnun, Luxulyan, Carlyon Bay, North Hill

For the main travel overview: Cornwall.