Duloe: Stone Circle, Cultural Heritage and Cider Experience

Duloe combines impressive evidence of times gone by with special experiences to enrich your travel planning. The small Duloe Stone Circle is the smallest stone circle in Cornwall and dates from the Late Bronze Age. Its stones are made of white quartz – a detail that also makes the site interesting for visitors who choose historic places not only for their age, but for their distinctive appearance. This cultural heritage is complemented by churches, tombs, a well and a cider experience at Cornish Orchards.

Stone Circle and Sacred History

The Duloe Stone Circle is a clear focal point for a visit to Duloe. Its dating to the Late Bronze Age places it in a distant past; at the same time, the white quartz makes the site immediately striking. For families and other travellers who enjoy discovering history in tangible places, the stone circle can therefore be an attraction in its own right, without requiring an extensive museum visit.

The church in Duloe also tells of changing religious affiliations. It was originally dedicated to St Cuby, and a dedication to St Leonard was added later. The chapel in Duloe also contains a tomb with a recumbent effigy of Sir John Coleshull. Another historical trace lies 45 m south-east of the Church of St Cuby: there is a group of two burial chests dating from the late 18th century. The precise location helps with orientation, while the different periods make several layers of the village’s history visible.

St Cuby's Well and Cornish Orchards

One of the notable points in the surrounding area is St Cuby's Well. The well is opposite the entrance to Cornish Orchards on the B3254. The well house probably dates from the 15th century. This cautious dating is just as much part of the character of the place as its location on a road that can still be clearly identified today.

Cornish Orchards offers tours and tastings every week. These explain how cider is made and how different flavours have developed. The experience also includes time in the historic orchard. Travellers who enjoy combining regional products, production and landscape will find a different way to experience Duloe here than by visiting the stone monuments. The combination of culture and a cider experience can therefore play a role when putting together a varied day of holiday activities.

A Circular Walk Through the Woods

From Duloe, a circular walk leads through the woods along the West Looe River to Herodsfoot. In addition to its historic attractions, the village therefore offers an opportunity to complement your travel plans with a longer experience in the landscape. The route is not associated here with a specific walking time or level of difficulty that should be assumed; what matters first is the documented route through the woods along the river to Herodsfoot. Anyone wishing to plan more exercise into a day can consider this circular walk separately from visits to the stone circle, church and well.

This gives Duloe a versatile character when choosing a holiday cottage: you are not looking solely for a base for one particular attraction, but can choose between Bronze Age cultural heritage, sacred history, a regional cider experience and a woodland route. As part of your personal travel planning, consider which of these experiences should determine your preferred pace. Accommodation in the village can serve as a starting point for planning your days, without implying specific distances or facilities for individual holiday cottages.

Choose More Destinations

If you would like to consider other places alongside Duloe when planning your trip, here is a concise selection: Mylor Bridge, Washaway, Gorran Haven, Grampound, Colan, Egloskerry, Luxulyan and Killigarth.

For the overarching travel overview: Cornwall.