Near West Looe, Cornwall

St Michael’s Chapel of Lammana

Chapel

Place photograph

5.4

Wildland

Half day

Time

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Cost

Atmospheric

Feel

CoastalHillsWalkersHistory loversWildlife lovers

Why it's Wildland

5.4

Stone chapel foundations on the coast above Looe mark a site linked to a medieval priory based on Looe Island. The South West Coast Path account describes an earlier Celtic chapel here, followed by a Benedictine chapel.

Lammana is a small heritage discovery reached on a substantial coastal walk, rather than a standalone attraction with confirmed visitor facilities. Its chapel foundations and the path’s high meadow setting give the visit a tangible story and a reason to slow down.

Atmospheric · Peaceful

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Near West Looe, Cornwall

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The experience

Treat Lammana as the heritage focus of the South West Coast Path’s 3.7-mile circular walk from Millpool Car Park. Visit the chapel site, take in the high meadow above the sea and allow time to notice the landscape around the foundations. The route is described as moderate, with steps and steep sections.

Things to do

Visit the chapel foundations

See the stone foundations at the site identified by the South West Coast Path as Lammana Chapel, associated with a medieval priory based on Looe Island.

Walk the Lammana Chapel circuit

Follow the 3.7-mile (6 km) moderate South West Coast Path route from Millpool Car Park and back. The route includes paths, quiet roads, steps and some steep ascent and descent.

3.7 miles (6 km); exact time not stated

Pause in the flower meadow above the sea

The route description suggests a picnic stop in the flower meadow and notes that a Dartford warbler may sometimes be heard there.

Make a day of it

Quick escape · Allow for a 3.7-mile (6 km) moderate walk; exact duration is not stated.

Quick Escape: the chapel walk

01
Start and finish at Millpool Car Park, PL13 2AF.
02
Follow the South West Coast Path route to the chapel site.
03
Pause at the stone foundations and take in the high meadow above the sea.
04
Return to Millpool using the described route.

Half day · Half day; the supplied route is 3.7 miles (6 km), with no exact walking time given.

Make a half day of it: chapel, coast path and meadow

01
Begin at Millpool Car Park, PL13 2AF.
02
Walk the moderate circular route, allowing time for steps and steep sections.
03
Explore the chapel foundations and reflect on the site’s connection to a medieval priory based on Looe Island.
04
Pause in the flower meadow above the sea; the route source notes that a Dartford warbler may sometimes be heard.
05
Return to Millpool Car Park.

Verified history

The South West Coast Path describes the site as an ancient Celtic chapel, later rebuilt as a Benedictine chapel, and connected with a medieval priory based on Looe Island. Cornwall Heritage Trust also describes stone foundations at the site and identifies it as part of a medieval priory based on Looe Island. The supplied sources do not provide dates or identify surviving features beyond the foundations.

Folklore & legend

The South West Coast Path recounts a story that pilgrims drowned trying to reach the chapel on St George’s Island, after which a Benedictine chapel was built at Lammana. Treat this as the route source’s historical account; the supplied material does not independently verify the story. The same page reports a local claim that Jesus visited Britain as a teenager with Joseph of Arimathea; this is presented there as a claim by some local historians, not established history.

Hidden details

A chapel site tied to Looe Island’s priory — Cornwall Heritage Trust describes the stone foundations as belonging to a chapel that formed part of a medieval priory based on Looe Island.

Listen for a Dartford warbler — The South West Coast Path says the bird may sometimes be heard in the flower meadow above the sea; a sighting is not guaranteed.

When to go

· No specific time of day is recommended by the supplied sources. Check conditions before walking.

The route source mentions a flower meadow and a Dartford warbler that may sometimes be heard, but does not specify seasonal timing.

The walk includes steps and steep ascent and descent. Check the forecast and current path conditions before setting out.

The route

ascent: Some steep ascent and descent; amount not stated
surface: Paths and quiet roads
distance: 3.7 miles (6 km)
difficulty: Moderate
route shape: Circular, from Millpool Car Park and back
start point: Millpool Car Park, PL13 2AF
parking start: Millpool Car Park is the route start; availability, charges and capacity are not stated.

Stone foundations of Lammana Chapel
Flower meadow above the sea
Coastal path setting

What to look for

01
Look for the stone foundations of the chapel. The available source identifies the site as part of a medieval priory associated with Looe Island
02
it does not specify further surviving architectural details.

The story

Archaeology, Saints & pilgrimage

Best time to go

Check current path conditions before visiting. The South West Coast Path notes that a Dartford warbler may sometimes be heard in the flower meadow; no peak season is confirmed by the supplied sources.

No best visiting time is confirmed in the supplied sources. Check the forecast and current route conditions before setting out.

How long to spend

Half day

Perfect for

Walkers · History lovers · Wildlife lovers

Before you go

Google Maps

Address

Looe PL13 2DN

Listed hours

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Check before visiting.

Google rating

4.4 · 208 reviews

Practical information

Opening & access

The South West Coast Path describes a walk to Lammana Chapel from Millpool Car Park. The route is 3.7 miles (6 km), moderate, and includes paths, quiet roads, steps and some steep ascent and descent. Check current route conditions and access before setting out; the map pin is not an entrance.

Check before visiting

Parking

The listed walk starts and finishes at Millpool Car Park, PL13 2AF. Parking availability, charges and capacity: Check before visiting.

Check before visiting

Toilets

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Food & drink

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Dogs

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Accessibility

The described route is moderate and includes steps and some steep ascent and descent. Wheelchair access is not confirmed; check before visiting.