Discover Washaway: Prior's Cross, Church of St Conan and Pencarrow

Washaway combines an exceptional medieval monument with impressive historical and garden-related discoveries. At the centre is Prior's Cross in the village of Washaway: the medieval wayside cross is 3.24 metres high and is one of the few known wheel-head crosses with a fleur-de-lis motif. Anyone planning a trip with cultural impressions, peaceful walks and special details will find a range of ideas here for planning their day.

A rare wayside cross in the village of Washaway

Prior's Cross is one of only two known wheel-head crosses with a fleur-de-lis motif. At the same time, it is the only one of the two crosses on which the motif appears on both main faces. This special feature makes the stone a worthwhile destination for anyone interested in medieval symbols, regional history and unusual roadside monuments. Its height of 3.24 metres also gives the cross a striking presence.

For families, this clear, tangible feature can provide a good starting point for discussion: instead of viewing history only through dates, Prior's Cross allows visitors to discover a concrete object with a distinctive shape and an inherited motif. The visit therefore suits travel plans in which cultural observations and shared experiences have their place.

Church of St Conan and a possible Saxon origin

The Church of St Conan offers another historical facet. It was built in 1883 to a design by Bishop E.W. Benson. Inside is a font that may be of Saxon origin.

Anyone who values cultural destinations when choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home can include such places in their personal holiday plans. The historic wayside cross and the church offer different focal points: here, a medieval monument with a rare motif takes centre stage, while there, the architectural history of 1883 and a possibly much older piece of furnishing come to the fore.

Pencarrow: gardens, house tours and circular walks

Pencarrow in Cornwall adds a different dimension to travel planning. The gardens range from formal landscaping to ancient woodland and include more than 700 varieties of rhododendron. This creates a variety of impressions within the same garden estate: orderly design stands alongside established woodland areas, while the wide diversity of varieties forms a focus in its own right.

Pencarrow in Cornwall also offers guided tours of the house. In addition, there are short and long circular walks, some of which are wheelchair accessible. This allows you to choose your visit according to your preferred focus: a house tour places the interiors and the history of the house at the centre, while the circular walks leave more room for garden and landscape impressions. The one-mile drive to Pencarrow in Cornwall passes through an Iron Age hillfort and adds another historical detail to the visit.

Pencarrow in Cornwall's Peacock Café is also one of the named destinations and serves cream tea. When looking for suitable accommodation, the desired mix is therefore crucial: in Washaway, Prior's Cross and the Church of St Conan represent history and culture, while Pencarrow offers a more varied excursion focus with gardens, a house tour, walks and cream tea. When choosing a holiday apartment, check which of these aspects best suits your shared holiday days.

Other places to include in your search

If you would like to compare other places alongside Washaway, you can extend your search to Sennen, Gunnislake, Saint Neot, Mullion, Perranporth, Edmonton, Saint Mawes and Tywardreath.

For the overarching travel overview: Cornwall.