Blisland to Newton Downs

1. From Blisland Inn head to the church at the opposite corner of the village green

Blisland church is impressively ornate. Thought to be on the site of a Saxon church, it was a slate and granite Norman building, but was rebuilt in the perpendicular style in the 15th century (and restored in the 19th). It is unique in being dedicated to St Protus (known locally as St Pratt) and St Hyacinth who were brothers martyred in the late 3rd century AD. No one knows why this church was dedicated to them in the 15th century. If you have the chance to visit on 22nd September there is a feast day procession to St Pratt's Cross and Holy Well.

2. Follow the lane west past the church to the Post Office
3. Carry on the lane down a steep hill until you reach a wayside cross - this is St Pratt's Cross which marks the site of St Pratt's Well

In the medieval period, stone crosses were sometimes placed by the road or path. There have been various reasons for erecting these: markers placed along routes used by Christian pilgrims, or as a shrine in reverence, perhaps to a saint who has some connection to the locality. Others mark burial sites, a disaster, a miracle, or some other event that should be remembered. In some cases they were erected to mark meeting places for Christian worship and later churches were built adjacent to the cross, resulting in the cross being within the churchyard or close by.

In Cornwall many of the wayside crosses are Celtic crosses. Scholars speculate that the Celtic Cross (a crucifix with a circular ring) developed from the sun cross (a cross inside a circle), a common symbol in artefacts of Prehistoric Europe, particularly during the Neolithic to Bronze Age periods. When Christianity came to the celtic regions, Christians extended the bottom spoke of this familiar symbol to remind them of the cross on which their new Savior was crucified. There are said to be 360 Wayside Crosses in Cornwall.

4. Take the footpath leading to the left to a stile near the right hand corner of the field
5. Follow the footpath along the right hedge which brings you out onto a lane in Waterloo
6. Turn right on the lane and cross the river
7. After a short distance take the left turn to Trehudreth
8. Follow the lane past Trehudreth farm up the hill and take the track to Poldhue farm
9. Go through the gate to the farm and follow through another gate where you take a track that bears around to the right passing a gate on your left
10. Go through the wooden gate in front of you (ignoring the metal gates either side) and over a stile
11. Follow the right hedge across the field and go over the stile onto a track, noting a carving of a horse and foal on your left

If there are sheep in the field with lambs, avoid approaching them closely, making loud noises or walking between a lamb and its mother as you may provoke the mother to defend her young. Sheep may look cute but they can cause serious injury (hence the verb "to ram"). If the sheep start bleeting this means they are scared and they are liable to panic. Generally the best plan is to walk quietly along the hedges and they will ignore you.

12. Turn right up the track and take the stile on your left
13. Follow the left-hand hedge alongside houses, past second cottage
14. Go to the bottom left corner of the field. There is a river crossing here. Cross carefully.
15. Go over bridge and head towards the rocks on the horizon.
16. Head across the field towards the tor in the distance, passing just above the marshy patch in the right-hand corner of the field
Looking across the barren granite landscape of Bodmin Moor it may seem strange that so many settlements can be found here from the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods. About 10,000 years ago Bodmin Moor was almost entirely covered in forest, and the Neolithic tribes would have lived in forest clearings. During the Bronze Age, the majority forest was cleared for farmland. The burning and grazing over several thousand years has resulted in poor soils which together with the exposure to the wind is why the few trees on the moor today are generally stunted.
17. Cross through the fence into the next field and head for the trees to the left of Rough tor. As you approach the trees there is a green sign onto the farm track
18. Follow the track into the farm passing a barn on your right and go through the wooden gate to the left of the barn.
19. Turn left into the next field and follow right hand hedge down to bottom of the valley
20. Cross the river with care and cross the stile in front you in front of some boulders
21. Head to the right around the boulders then up the field
22. When you see the buildings, aim just to the left of them through a gateway
23. Cross into the field behind then turn left, heading for the gap between the 2 large trees
24. Cross the stream and on the opposite bank head left under the wooded area to an opening into a field

If you are crossing fields with cows in:

• Do not show any threatening behaviour towards calves (approaching them closely, making loud noises or walking between a calf and its mother) as you may provoke the mother to defend her young. Generally the best plan is to walk along the hedges.
• If cows approach you, do not run away as this will encourage them to chase you. Stand your ground and stretch out your arms to increase your size.
• Avoid taking dogs in fields with cows, particularly with calves. If you must, release the dog if cows charge as the dog will outrun the cows and the cows will generally chase the dog rather than you.
25. Follow left-hand hedge until another opening at the far end back into the woods
26. Cross stile into field, keep the hedge on your left
27. Cross into a second field and go through gateway on your left into field below and then follow the right-hand hedge (i.e. in the same direction you were going previously)
28. After 3rd field there is an opening onto a track. Turn left onto track for a short distance. At the end of the track turn right and follow it to the farms at Metherin
29. Turn right onto the lane and left when this meets another lane in a T junction
30. Follow the footpath along the right hedge of the field over a stile onto the lane
31. Follow the lane past The Old Chapel through Cassacawn and back into Blisland passing the Manor House on your left just before you reach the village green

Blisland lies on the western flank of the Moor. Unlike other Cornish villages, the houses are grouped around a village green indicating Saxon origins. There are 7 pagan Wayside Crosses in Blisland (out of 360 in Cornwall). One is near the village post office, and another on the road leading to Bodmin, halfway down the hill before the bridge.

32. Follow the lane around the green back to the Blisland Inn
The Blisland Inn is renowned for real ales winning the CAMRA National Pub of the Year in 2001 - there are at least 6 real ales on tap at any one time. The landlord has had his own wooden barrels made by a retired cooper which he sends to the local brewery to fill.

Map of Route

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Other walks nearby

• Walks in the blisland area
• Walks in the bodmin moor area

Related walks you might be interested in

• Walks visiting a church
• Circular walks
• Heritage walks
• Pub walks
• Riverside walks
• Wildlife walks