Discover Egloskerry

Egloskerry combines a distinctive village church, a rich local history and unique garden architecture with a landscape that can be explored through specific landmarks. Those planning a trip featuring cultural discoveries, peaceful outdoor spaces and family-oriented places to visit will find a range of themes for planning each day. An apartment or holiday home in Egloskerry can provide a suitable base if you would like to get to know the character of the village more closely.

Church of St Keria and the history of the village name

The Church of St Keria stands on a hill in the centre of the village. It was consecrated in 1222, giving prominence to a place whose name itself refers to its ecclesiastical history: Egloskerry is Cornish for “church of Keri”. According to tradition, Saint Keria is said to have been one of the 24 children of the Welsh king Brychan. This story forms part of the traditional identity of the village and gives a walk through Egloskerry an additional historical connection.

A particularly striking detail can be found on the north side of the nave. There, a blocked-up doorway features a Norman tympanum depicting a dragon devouring its own tail. For visitors interested in culture, this motif is a tangible point of reference from which the long history of the Church of St Keria can be appreciated. The church, its position on the hill and the village name together provide an excellent focus for anyone wishing to discover Egloskerry not merely as a place to stay, but as a village shaped by history.

Penheale Manor and private gardens

Another unusual feature is Penheale Manor. To the west of the house lies a sunken parterre with nine square beds. The beds are edged with boxwood and separated by gravel paths. The clear geometric design contrasts with a more narrative-style village visit and appeals to visitors interested in historic garden forms, grounds and details.

The gardens of Penheale Manor are private. However, during the year they occasionally open on selected days for charitable purposes. This information is important for your trip planning: a visit cannot simply be scheduled as an attraction available at any time. Anyone wishing to make the garden the focus of an excursion should check the applicable opening days before travelling. When choosing accommodation in Egloskerry, it may therefore be crucial whether you are selecting the village primarily for its church history, Penheale Manor or a family-oriented day out.

River landscape, playground and historical context

The parish of Egloskerry is bounded to the north by the River Attery, also known as the Ottery. Together with the hill in the village centre, this river course shapes the geographical orientation of the village. Egloskerry can thus be considered through its location, its church and its traditional local connections.

The Egloskerry playground is maintained for visitors from the surrounding areas. Families can include this specific place to visit in their daily planning, while adults can also explore cultural and historical themes in the village. The history of transport is part of Egloskerry’s story as well: in 1891, the village was marked on the national railway map when the railway line from Launceston to Padstow was built.

The right accommodation for planning your trip

When looking for accommodation in Egloskerry, it is worth deciding on your preferred travel focus first. Visitors interested in culture can put the Church of St Keria, the Norman tympanum and the history of the name at the forefront. Those interested in landscaped outdoor spaces can also look into incorporating a selected opening day of the Penheale Manor gardens into their plans. Families can note the playground as another local point of interest. In this way, the choice of an apartment or holiday home is guided by the experiences that genuinely matter for your trip, without reducing the village to a single theme.

Discover more places

If you would like to extend your search to other places, you can also explore Porthallow, Porthleven, Polperro, Crowan, Jacobstow, Wadebridge, Marhamchurch and Fowey.

For the wider travel overview: Cornwall.