Erected to the Memory of Sir Arthyr T. Quiller-Couch

A modest stone memorial stands in Polruan, marking the final resting place of Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch, the Cornish writer and academic who spent most of his life in this corner of the county. If you're into literary history, it's worth seeking out - though don't expect fanfare or visitor facilities. You'll find it quietly positioned in the local churchyard, a simple affair that says more about the man's character than any grand monument could.

Quiller-Couch was no minor figure. He taught at Cambridge, edited the Oxford Book of English Verse, and wrote prolifically under the pen name Q - novels, stories, essays that meant something to readers of his era. Walking around Polruan, you get a sense of why he stayed. The river views, the literary crowd who congregated here, the general air of creative possibility - it all mattered to him.

Truth is, this won't take long to visit. Twenty minutes max, even if you linger and read up on him. It's not the sort of stop that justifies its own day trip, but if you're based at one of the nearby holiday parks - Tremeer Farm's yurts are only 1.9 miles away, or Par Sands a bit further on - it's a proper excuse for a walk into town. You'll pass decent pubs and a working fishing harbour that's far more interesting than the memorial itself. Go if literature matters to you; skip it if you don't.