Nestled behind the cliff that separates the coves is St Winwalloe's church which dates from the Middle Ages (1,2). From the top of the cliff there are views towards Poldhu and beyond this to Mullion Island. The large white building on the cliff is Poldhu nursing home:
Looking the other way is Dollar Cove (also known as Jangye-ryn):
The geology on the Dollar Cove side is particularly interesting due to exposures of slate which show some intense folding. Also there is evidence of rare fossilised plants (3) although with my untrained eye I couldn't locate them with certainty.
To illustrate the geology at Dollar Cove I have included some images from a previous visit in January 2016:
(1) http://www.iwalkcornwall.co.uk/walk/poldhu_cove_to_cury
The church giving Church Cove its name is said to be on the site of the monastery of St Winwaloe - a 6th Century Breton, and appears as the manor of Winnianton appears in the Doomsday book. It's also possible that the saint was matched to a similar-sounding name, as beside Gunwalloe is Chyvarloe, from the Cornish, chy war logh meaning "house on the lake". Gunwalloe could have similar origins such as goon war logh which would be along the lines of "downs by the lake".
The current church was restored in 1870 but dates from the Middle Ages. The detached tower is thought to be the oldest part, dating from early mediaeval times. The church was extended in the 15th Century and the bedrock next to the church was excavated in preparation to add a tower to the church itself, but this was never carried out.
(2) http://www.chct.info/histories/gunwalloe-st-winwaloe/
(3) projects.exeter.ac.uk/geomincentre/03Porthleven to Polurrian.pdf
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