THE village of Luxulyan and the nearby valley which takes the same name is a haven for ramblers, for historians, for lovers of wildlife, for archaeologists, and for anyone who just wishes to find somewhere green and peaceful to take the dog for a walk.

The valley's impressive Treffry aqueduct, with a clear, fast-flowing stream tumbling under the granite boulders beneath, is always well worth a visit - as is the village itself with its chapel, ancient church, welcoming pub, host of organisations, local shop, and friendly atmosphere. As the name Luxulyan so closely resembles the Breton place-name Lossulian, it is believed to stem from St Sulian, a Welsh monk who travelled to Brittany in the sixth century.

Services were frequently held on sites with pre-Christian religious associations, and in Luxulyan there were two, one where the church now stands, and the holy well.

Links between the village and holy travellers also extend to the Saints Way, which passes through the village and attracts many current day ramblers and hikers.

A port of call for many of them is Luxulyan's pub, known as The Kings Arms to visitors, but just as "Bridges" to locals, as it is set by the bridge spanning the railway line between Par and Newquay. Run by Ken and Glad Saundry, who are St Austell Brewery tenants, Bridges has just been completely refurbished, the extensive work beginning after Christmas.

The pub now boasts a new kitchen, eye-catching wooden flooring, and two separate, refurbished rooms complete with new-look bar.

Work is continuing on the patio, which should be finished by August. There is little doubt that next year it will be ablaze with flowers, for Ken and Glad's gardening expertise has meant that the pub is usually a real floral draw.

Ken was a fisherman for 12 years, with Fowey as his home port, and at one time was even employed taking up the track on redundant branch lines. He left fishing, he said, due to EC regulations, and it was Glad's idea that they take on a pub - where he could still be his own boss.

He said that he and his wife made an excellent choice of village when they decided to take the chance of moving to Luxulyan.

He highlighted the work Cornwall Heritage and the Friends of the Valley have undertaken in the valley, putting in new pathways, and hoping to restore the old waterwheel.

Ken said the Saints Way, which splits at Helman Tor, is a beautiful walk which he himself undertook, in two stages, three years ago - which means he is able talk about it to visitors, with first-hand experience.

The pub is also visited by postboxers - having its own stamp for those who choose to take the postbox walk from Par Station, through Lostwithiel and Lanlivery to Luxulyan - and there are also suggestions for a cycleway which would include the village. Ken added that walks and talks based on the valley are also arranged by Luxulyan resident Malcolm Searle. Circular rambles can be taken from the village, while talks are frequently given on the wildlife that can be found nearby, such as bats and moths. May time, when the bluebells flower in carpets, is an especially popular time to go rambling "down the valley".

Contested

For all its popularity with hikers, Bridges is essentially a local village pub, and one of Luxulyan's main focuses. Ken and Glad, whose daughter, Kay Mingo, had twin girls in May, have installed a pool table as part of the refurbishment, and also run a wealth of darts teams.

It was packed out during the recent village feast week, especially after the keenly contested football match between Luxulyan's married and single men (which the marrieds won), and during the Saturday when music was on the agenda. Ken highlighted the village's strong ties with farming, there being a number of local farmers whose families have lived in the area for generations. These include the Keams and the Knights.

Derek Adie, better known as "Dude", helps behind the bar during the evenings and afternoons. Previously in the Army, he toured the world, but eventually found he wanted to settle in Luxulyan because life there is "so different" from the rush and tear elsewhere.

It is a view which has not changed and he praises it as a much sought after village. His wife, Christine, works at the Eden Project's reception, at nearby Bodelva.

Luxulyan residents run a host of clubs and organisations, among them the local amateur dramatic society which encompasses the young right through to the more mature.

Magi Coad directed this year's panto, Jack and the Beanstalk, and had a great time doing so. The production currently under rehearsal is Oliver, which will take to the stage in the village hall on September 4-9, with a matinee on the 9th at 2.30pm. Magi, who lives in Luxulyan with husband Vernon and daughters Katie, Emily, and Danni, is having a rest this time, and will be among those sitting back to watch the September musical.

She was raised in Luxulyan and said it was a brilliant place to grow up in.

Monica Thornton, who works in the post office and shop, is not Luxulyan born and bred. She passed through the village while on holiday, saw a house for sale, and decided on the spot to buy it and move down. She did so, with her husband Keith, within six weeks, and has never regretted it, praising the friendliness she has found in this pocket of Cornwall. She has worked in the shop, owned by Andrew Badcock, for the past three years. Others serving behind the counter are manageress Debbie Hancock, and her mother Val Cook. Debbie was born in Luxulyan, went to school there, and has happily remained in the village almost ever since.

Friendliness

Work meant that at one stage she and her husband had to move away to Plymouth - but they returned within a year. Their 14-year-old son, Gavin, who attends Poltair School, is now growing up there.

Cynthia Grose, whose husband Gerald is chairman of Luxulyan parish council, works behind the post office counter. She was born in the village, and highlighted its friendliness. One of the benefits of being in the post office, she said, is that all the new mothers bring in their babies on their first outing.

The impressively modern village hall is very well used. Run by a management committee, it plays host to short mat bowling, a computer room, a doctor's surgery, a dance club and a keep fit club. It is also home to the playgroup, known as the Smarties, and attracts under-fives from Luxulyan and the surrounding area. The hall is ideal for all their colourful equipment, enjoyed by both younger and older playgroup members - although the older children tend to have sessions designed to equip them for the demands of school. Thursday is always cookery day.

The playgroup supervisor is Sarah Bolton. When the Cornish Times visited she was being helped by Katy Truscott and Penrice school pupil Rhea Bennallack.

The primary school, led by headteacher Heather Leeson, has 63 pupils on role. They have recently enjoyed educational outings galore, making the most of their environment. They have taken part in a valley day, studying wildlife and meeting with a warden, and have also visited the Eden Project, Dairyland and the Newquay Sealife Centre. The older children are bound for Delaware outdoor educational centre, while the middle pupils will make their way to West Cornwall to take in the Tate and the Barbara Hepworth sculpture park, as well as the Newlyn fish market. Add to this swimming at Bodmin's Dragon leisure centre, and tennis coaching, and the scale of activities the school takes part in is revealed.

Often the youngsters travel by train, from Luxulyan station, and Mrs Leeson contacts the railway company beforehand, to ensure they realise one of their trains will be "flagged down" by a school party.

The school, which has great backing from Parents at Luxulyan School (PALS), as well as grandparents and residents, has three classes and three full time staff and two part time teachers. Heather Hugo takes early years and reception, while Vivien Mitchell teaches the older children.

The current school building dates from l967, the former Victorian school now a private house. Pupils use the village hall for gymnastics, attend the church at Christmas, and enjoy music, as their school is one of the few to employ a specialist music teacher. Links have been set up with the National Trust and the Country Guardians scheme, and pupils helped with tree planting at Lanhydrock. Children who visited Bedruthan Steps on rather a wet and windy day have contributed art towards a project, and the best of their work was sent to the cafe in the Royal Institute of Cornwall in Truro to be put on public view.

Luxulyan parish church is St Cyriac and St Julitta, Julitta and her little boy being from Iconium. The first recorded parish priest, in l303, was Sir Ralph de Restyn - the current vicar of Lanlivery and Luxulyan, is the Rev David Keighley, who is due to be licensed as priest-in-charge of Candover Valley in the diocese of Winchester in September.

At one stage the church was almost wholly rebuilt in granite. In fact granite is very much to the fore in the Luxulyan area. A boulder of coarse porphrytic granite, pink in colour and spotted with black hornblende, from Trevanney Farm, was chosen for the Duke of Wellington's sarcophagus. Weighing 70 tons, it was dressed locally, shipped to London and is now in the crypt of St Paul's Cathedral. This, and more, is outlined in the short history Dr John Rowe wrote about the parish and parish church. The village was once surrounded by quarries, from which granite was also taken to build Plymouth Breakwater, London Bridge, the pierhead at Liverpool and the docks at Genoa.

The largest free-standing stone in Europe is also to be found in one of the local fields.