St Breward

St Breward is a village on the western slopes of Bodmin Moor, standing at about 700 feet above sea level. The village claims the Old Inn as one of the highest pubs in Cornwall, and has a church, a village shop, and a primary school. Granite quarrying was the historic industry here, and De Lank Quarry nearby still produces high-quality granite - it supplied stone for the Thames Embankment and Eddystone Lighthouse.

The village is a natural starting point for walks onto the open moor. Rough Tor is about 2 miles east, accessible via a well-trodden path from the Roughtor Road car park. The Camel rises on the moor near here and flows southwest through the valley towards Wadebridge. Alex Tor, Louden Hill, and numerous Bronze Age sites are within walking distance. The moor around St Breward has a concentration of prehistoric remains including stone circles, cairns, and field boundaries.

St Breward offers a moorland experience that contrasts sharply with coastal Cornwall. The air is noticeably cooler and the landscape more exposed, but the walking is rewarding and the night skies are free from light pollution. Wadebridge and the north coast are about 20 minutes by car. The Blisland Inn, about 2 miles south in the neighbouring village, is regularly listed among the best pubs in Cornwall and serves good ales and food.