Lanreath

Lanreath is a small, peaceful village in the rolling countryside between Looe and Lostwithiel, tucked away from the coast in the kind of deep rural Cornwall that many visitors never see. The village has a 15th-century church, a pub, and a scattering of farms and cottages — it’s genuinely quiet here, and that’s its main appeal.

The countryside around Lanreath is lovely for walking, with narrow lanes, wooded valleys and farmland stretching in every direction. The village sits roughly equidistant between the south coast and Bodmin Moor, so you’re well placed to explore both. Looe and Polperro are about 15 minutes south by car, Fowey is a similar distance to the west, and the Eden Project is within easy reach to the north-west.

This is a place for people who want a countryside holiday rather than a coastal one — though the coast is close enough for day trips. Holiday cottages and lodges in the Lanreath area tend to offer more space and better value than equivalent properties on the coast, and the peace of the countryside at night is hard to beat. If you want to hear owls rather than seagulls, this is your spot.