Roche

You can expect to find plenty of community spirit in Roche, with scores of clubs and organisations pitching in to make the village a vibrant place to live.

Members of Roche and District Lions Club are ready to serve, helping those in need. The club are well known for transporting Father Christmas around the Clay areas during the festive period. Meanwhile Thursday mornings see a group of friendly ladies meet in the Methodist Chapel Hall for craft, coffee and cake, and there is plenty for the younger generation to enjoy with active Rainbow, Brownie and Guides groups  as well as Junior Brass Band.

You could even bag yourself some new skills with a visit to Roche. Formed around 20 years ago, a group called Learn from Each Other meet fortnightly to share and pass on their skills to others. Over the years, members have shown each other how to cross stitch, knit, the art of tapestry, crochet and decoupage among many others.

For the more active, Roche enjoys 22 public footpaths to explore and one resident even holds free community fitness workouts every Saturday, look out for Clay Country Fitness. For the older exercise enthusiast, group Roche Second Wind is on hand to help with balance and mobility with their gentle exercise classes for the over 50s, held in the Victory Hall each Tuesday morning.

Arguably the village’s most well known feature is Roche Rock and Chapel. Rising sharply from the ground, the chapel was dedicated to St Michael in 1409. It has two storeys, a chapel above and a room below. While it is known it is a ruin for at least 250 years, it is not known who lived there and why.

There are various myths and legends surrounding this intriguing and unique structure, but whatever its history, for many it remains something often driven by, but never explored. Grab your walking boots and get exploring. Take time to explore the area and soak up the atmosphere as the sun is setting, or enjoy the phenomenal view on a clear day.

Roche Rock sat nav coordinates; 50.4026236,-4.8284185

Address: Near Cricket Club, Roche., Roche, Saint Austell PL26 8FJ