THE CORNISH PILGRIMAGE - PHASE 2
LAUNCESTON TO ALTARNUN
If visiting the town centre, you can get your passport stamped at the Tourist Office: another option is the Launceston Narrow Gauge Railway ticket office (opens seasonally) by
St Thomas Church. It’s from this point the next phase begins to Altarnun, ‘Cathedral of the Moor’.
The byways on this section are accessible for walking and cycling.
START: St Thomas Church, 400 metres downhill from Launceston Castle.
DISTANCE: 12 miles - easy walking.
ROUTE SUMMARY: Walk through St.Thomas Churchyard to the small railway bridge overlooking the station. Once across the bridge, bear right and continue along a single track lane to the hamlet of Newmills
(2 miles). Just beyond the farm, take the left turn to Tregadillett and continue up the steep hill to the Eliot Arms (1 mile) situated on the village thoroughfare.
From here turn right and walk on towards the A30 roundabout; then locate the country lane signposted Kennards House and South Petherwin. We hope to offer a new walkway from Kennards House to Lewannick at a later stage, but for now cyclists and walkers follow the markers which eventually lead to the B3254.
Be careful on this road which is narrow and sometimes busy! After a brief descent along the road (a further half mile), cross the medieval Trekelland Bridge at the bottom of the hill and turn right at the next byway.
This slim lane crosses a ford and winds along an undulating course besides Newton Woods to St Martin’s Church at Lewannick (a good country mile!). If you are cycling and miss the lane, don’t worry - a further mile uphill will bring you to another left turn marked Lewannick. Leaving the church, the road continues downhill past the Archers Arms to Kelly’s House and Plusha Cross, situated on the Launceston /Callington Road.
After crossing this busier road follow the quieter country lane to Five Lanes and Altarnun, (3 miles).
GETTING TO LAUNCESTON: Mainline train services operate to Plymouth and beyond. There are daily bus services from Plymouth (destined for Bude via Launceston) and Liskeard Train Station to Launceston. Contact Traveline - Tel: 0871 200 22 33.
PLACES TO STAY: The King's Head Hotel, Five Lanes PL15 7RX. Tel: 01566 86241. This is a very popular place so please book well in advance!
CAMPSITES: 1.5 miles from St Nonna Church, Altarnun is a hostel/campsite called The Traveller’s Rest – Tel: 01566 86426.
It is also worth enquiring about accommodation/camping at the Rising Sun Inn, PL15 7SN, situated on the Bodmin Moor junction of the pilgrim trail, (it’s about half a mile uphill from The Traveller's Rest),
Tel: 01566 86636.