OUR lovely tour around Cornwall as the Voice continues its serialisation of the travel book, Cornwall Favourites For One And All!: A Quick Guide To Good Places To Visit Across The County, today sees us in a quiet village that was once an important seat of power.

Voice journalist Andrew Townsend, the author of the book, says: “Our journeying has taken us all round the sometimes wild and remote coast of Cornwall and has followed the inland boundary with Devon along the tranquil Tamar Valley.

“Now, we are heading west again as we visit further locations. Today we in the pleasant streets of a village which has a long and interesting history.”

The parish church in the South East Cornwall village of St Germans is one of the most historic in Cornwall.

The west front of the grade I listed church has an amazing Norman arched doorway, while inside is a 13th century font. An earlier building on the site had been the Anglo-Saxon cathedral for Cornwall.

The west front of the St Germans church has a Norman arched doorway. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)
The west front of the St Germans church has a Norman arched doorway. (Picture: Andrew Townsend) (Picture: Andrew Townsend)

The Normans established a priory in the village and the monks lived on the site of the neighbouring Port Eliot House which still retains some 12th century monastic walls.

Today, the beautiful Port Eliot estate stages festivals and other events.

A view of part of the inside of the church at St Germans. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)
A view of part of the inside of the church at St Germans. (Picture: Andrew Townsend) (Picture: Andrew Townsend)

St Germans, which is named after St Germanus of Auxerre, is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The waterside village has a mainline railway station and a splendid viaduct across the River Tiddy.

Next time we will be in the town of Liskeard which was at the centre of a mining boom, for copper, tin, lead and silver, in the 19th century.

Cornwall Favourites For One And All! is available as an ebook on Amazon
Cornwall Favourites For One And All! is available as a book and an ebook on Amazon. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)

Our fascinating tour around the county, taking in well-known spots but also lesser-known locations, offers something for everyone, from brilliant beaches, rugged moorland, storm-beaten cliffs and scenic rivers to welcoming towns, pretty villages, mining heritage sites and visitor attractions.

• Andrew Townsend is a journalist and writer. More details of Cornwall Favourites For One And All!: A Quick Guide To Good Places To Visit Across The County, which is also available as an ebook, can be found via this link to Andrew’s author page on Amazon - bit.ly/AndrewTownsendAuthor