Discover Cornworthy: Priory, Bow Creek and Exceptional Landscapes

Cornworthy combines impressive cultural history with a varied landscape. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Cornworthy will find a place where the history of Cornworthy Priory, the South Hams Way to Bow Creek and nature experiences around Charleycombe Wood can be combined into different day-out ideas. Depending on your interests, you can focus on historic buildings, a walk or birdwatching.

Cornworthy Priory and its medieval traces

At the western end of the village of Cornworthy, Cornworthy Priory lies in a small valley south of Bow Creek. The former Augustinian nunnery was in use from the early 13th century until 1536. Today, ruined stone structures and a series of low earthworks shape the visible appearance of the site.

The free-standing 15th-century gatehouse is particularly striking. It is considered the most significant surviving above-ground structure of Cornworthy Priory. The site is also designated as a Scheduled Monument. Cornworthy Priory is therefore a prominent reference point for travellers who are interested in historic buildings and traces of bygone eras during their holiday.

Paths, waterscapes and nature observation

The South Hams Way leads from Cornworthy along a downhill path to Bow Creek. This route offers a different perspective on the village from a visit to the Priory: you can combine a walking experience with the landscape around the creek and include the direction of the water in your day planning. Bow Creek is rich in bird species. These include herons, swans, great egrets, kingfishers, gulls, ducks and Canada geese. Those who enjoy observing and photographing wildlife can specifically look out for different bird species here.

Immediately north of the village lies Charleycombe Wood in a steep valley within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The woodland covers a steep hill with impressive long-distance views towards Dartmoor. This landscape represents a different holiday focus from the Priory: instead of historic structures, you can make the views across the surrounding area and the changing contours of the terrain the centre of your day. When choosing accommodation, it is therefore important to consider whether you mainly want to experience cultural history, paths and waterscapes, or the views towards Dartmoor.

Another cultural feature in the village

St Peter’s Church is also one of the notable buildings in Cornworthy. The tower consists of three levels arranged one above the other and features a style that is unique in Devon. Together with Cornworthy Priory, it creates a historic focal point that showcases different forms of ecclesiastical and monastic architecture. For families with different interests, this can help with travel planning: while some may look for distinctive architectural forms, others may prefer to plan their day around the path to Bow Creek or the landscape of Charleycombe Wood.

For events, Cornworthy Village Hall and its facilities can be booked by members of the village as well as by other members of the public. As an event venue, the hall complements the cultural and community side of the village.

Which accommodation suits your travel plans?

A holiday apartment in Cornworthy is particularly an obvious option to consider if you want to divide your days flexibly between history, nature and landscape. If you are mainly interested in the Priory and the tower of St Peter’s Church, cultural history should form the starting point of your planning. The key consideration is less a long list of attractions than which of these experiences you want to define your stay.

You can access further village pages for your travel planning: Martinhoe, Newton Saint Petrock, Sidmouth, Burrington, Crediton, Sampford Courtenay, Blackawton, Bratton Fleming.

For the higher-level travel overview: Devon.