St Mabyn Parish Church

You'll find this modest medieval church tucked into the Cornish countryside near Egloshayle, and it's the kind of place that rewards a quiet wander rather than a rushed visit. St Mabyn Parish Church dates back centuries, with enough original stonework and character to hold your attention for twenty minutes or so - longer if you're into the finer points of Cornish ecclesiastical architecture.

The interior is straightforward: decent stained glass, a proper old font, and that particular smell of ancient stone and worn prayer books that you either love or find slightly unsettling. There's a churchyard worth a look too, with headstones going back generations. It's the sort of place where you might spot a robin and hear nothing but wind in the trees.

This works best for history enthusiasts and anyone doing the slow-travel thing through rural Cornwall. Families with young children might find it dull after ten minutes unless they're genuinely interested in old buildings. If you're staying at St Minver Holiday Park or The Laurels, it's a pleasant detour on a country drive rather than a destination in itself.

Park yourself at the church for half an hour, then crack on to somewhere with more action - the local pubs in Egloshayle are proper, and you've got the wider North Cornwall coast within easy reach. It's free, open whenever, and requires no planning. Good addition to a rambling afternoon, but don't rearrange your holiday around it.