Cardinham

A small village on the western slopes of Bodmin Moor. St Meubred’s Parish Church is 15th century, and in its churchyard stands a worn 10th century cross richly decorated with intricate spirals and rings. It was damaged during the war by bombs intended for Bodmin. St Meubred was one of those obscure Cornish saints about whom very little is known. It is thought that he was in fact Irish, and came to Cornwall to preach. He was later beheaded in Rome, and his body was sent back to Cardinham for burial.

Now a peaceful backwater that is enjoyed by both walkers and cyclists, the 650-acre Cardinham Woods was in medieval times the site of Cardinham Castle, a Norman motte and bailey castle.  Belonging to the Cardinham family, under-lords of Robert of Mortain, Earl of Cornwall, the structure was abandoned in the 14th century and today only an earthwork mound remains on which a few traces of the original keep have been preserved. There are also the remains of an old silver mine. This attractive and varied woodland was acquired by the Forestry Commission in 1922 and is managed by Forest Enterprise for commercial forestry, producing, among others, a high quality Douglas fir for the British timber industry.  It is a haven for a wide variety of wildlife, with otters on the river, red and roe deer, ravens and buzzards. The site has several waymarked woodland trails, and cycling is allowed on some of them. Visitors will also find a cafe and a picnic area with barbecue facilities.

Close by is Pinsla Garden & Nursery, a magical space full of intense scent and colour surrounded by wild Cornish woodland. The 1 acre garden contains herbaceous and shrub borders, alpines and cottage garden beds, jungle planting, paths lined with granite boulders, a tree tunnel and a stone circle in the meadow. The owners grow and stock a wide range of plants in the nursery.

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