Altarnun is a rural village and civil parish on the north‑eastern fringe of Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, United Kingdom. Set in a deep valley of the Penpont Water, the settlement is often described as a gateway to the moorland landscape. The parish covers a large area of moor and farmland and retains many examples of traditional Cornish stone building and hedgebanks.
Parish composition and settlements
The civil parish is dispersed: the central village of Altarnun is accompanied by smaller settlements and hamlets. Principal places within the parish include:
- Fivelanes — a settlement on the A30 main road.
- Bolventor — a hamlet close to the site associated with the famous Jamaica Inn.
- Trewint and Treween — small agricultural hamlets with historic cottages.
Church and built heritage
Altarnun is notable for St Nonna's Church, a large medieval parish church built of granite. The church has well‑crafted woodwork and carved bench ends and is often referred to locally as the "Cathedral of the Moor" because of its size and prominent position. Traditional cottages, farmhouses and stone walls contribute to the village's historic character.
Landscape, ecology and access
The parish includes moorland rising westwards toward Rough Tor and southwards toward bogs and pools such as Dozmary Pool, forming a mixture of heath, pasture and granite outcrops. This environment supports grazing, upland birds and moorland flora and is popular with walkers exploring the tors and lanes. The A30 trunk road crosses the parish at Fivelanes, physically dividing lower farmland from higher moorland and providing the main vehicular access to the area.
History and cultural associations
Altarnun's history reflects typical rural Cornish patterns: medieval parish organization, agriculture, and small‑scale mining and quarrying nearby where granite was worked. The area has literary and religious associations: nearby Bolventor and its surroundings feature in regional stories, while Trewint contains reminders of Methodist and nonconformist activity that shaped 18th and 19th century Cornish life.
Present-day significance
Today Altarnun remains a small, scattered community with a population of roughly one thousand in the early 21st century. It is valued for its scenic setting, historic church and as a starting point for exploring Bodmin Moor. Visitors come for walking, landscape photography and to see traditional Cornish architecture; the parish balances conservation of heritage and habitats with farming and local services. For further local information consult regional guides and parish resources.Cornwall and United Kingdom