About Lostwithiel

As to where the name Lostwithiel came from, there are several theories. We like the one that suggests if you say, 'Lost within the hills', fast, and with an accent ... well see what we mean?

Lostwithiel was in fact the medieval capital of Cornwall, gaining this position from the river Fowey, the artery through which its wealth and status grew. Although the river stills cuts a winding path through the town, it has long lost its importance as a trade route for tin, wool and limestone, to name but a few of the commodities that made Lostwithiel such and important industrial nerve centre. This early pre-eminence declined as the river silted up, but it was still a place of historical note.

From the Civil War skirmishes at its beautifully preserved castle, to the coming of the railways, this small, often overlooked town has a fantastic and surprising story to tell; something you will discover as you wander the back alleys and streets passing a debtors prisons, old stables, medieval palace, ancient church, Georgian town houses, Victorian terraces and railway-workers' cottages. Today, seamlessly integrated into this legacy, are a selection of interesting shops, pubs and eateries that go to make Lostwithiel a unique place to stay.