St Nicholas

St Nicholas church sits quietly in Widegates, the sort of place you'd miss if you weren't looking for it. This is proper old Cornwall - a medieval church that's been standing watch over the village for centuries, with that solid, no-nonsense stonework you find in so many rural parishes down here.

Inside, there's the usual appeal of these country churches: enough history in the walls to keep anyone interested in architecture or local heritage occupied for a good twenty minutes. The light through old windows has that particular quality that makes you understand why people built these places. It's free to wander in, assuming the door's unlocked - worth checking, as smaller churches can be temperamental about opening times.

This works best if you're already exploring the Widegates area rather than making a special trip. It fits nicely into a broader walk around the village, and it's the sort of thing that breaks up a holiday spent at nearby Tencreek or Looe Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite. History enthusiasts will find it worthwhile; families with young children might run out of steam quickly unless they're genuinely interested in old buildings.

The real charm is in the setting - rural, quiet, and properly removed from tourist bustle. It's a five-minute detour that reminds you what these small Cornish villages are actually about, beyond the seaside postcard stuff.