Lanreath

An inland village of stone cottages and narrow lanes, tucked into rolling farmland between Looe and Bodmin Moor. Peaceful, agricultural, with a strong sense of community and history.

History: Lanreath (Cornish: Lannreth) means "church of St Marnathus." The parish church, dedicated to this obscure Cornish saint, dates from the Norman period with later medieval additions. Lanreath was always an agricultural parish, with scattered farms and a small village center. The church tower, rebuilt in the 15th century, is a local landmark. In the 19th century, Lanreath served the surrounding farms and provided a market for local produce. The village escaped the mining boom that transformed some neighboring parishes, remaining quietly agricultural through the Victorian and Edwardian periods. Lanreath also has associations with the Grylls family (ancestors of Bear Grylls), who held land in the parish for generations. In recent years, the village has become home to commuters and retirees, but it retains its rural character and tight-knit community.