If you’re looking for stunning coastal views, clifftop scenery, a pretty village and a good story then Tintagel may well be the place for you.
Tintagel is located on the north coast of Cornwall. It is an absolute gem of a place. Here you will find a gorgeous village, with many lovely places to eat. Our favourites were Treleavens ice cream and Granny Wobbly’s fudge. On top of the charm of the village are the castle remains set on a cliff top overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The castle became famous because of its links to King Arthur and his men.
Tintagel has a history which goes back hundreds and hundreds of years, to the Romans. Initially it was called Trevena, which means ‘village on a mountain’ in Cornish. Certainly a name that makes perfect sense. The castle, built in the 13th century, was then rebuilt by Edward the Black Prince in the 1300’s. The site however, had been inhabited for many hundreds of years before that. Archaeologists have found a number of pieces of Dark Age pottery in the area.
It was in the 12th century that Geoffrey of Monmouth named it as the place where King Arthur was conceived and it may be because of this that Richard, the Early of Cornwall, built the original castle in the 1230’s.
The castle ruins and spectacular coastal scenery are well worth the effort in getting there. A lot of walking is involved, uphill initially. There are many steps to climb, some of them steep and uneven. Once at the castle ruins there are plenty of sheer cliff drops. Young children should be carried in back packs or remain at the bottom.
Firstly, you walk down to the entrance, shop and cafe from the village of Tintagel. This is a short ten minute walk down a steep hill. You can take a Land Rover ride down this far for £2 but if you are unable to walk this distance then you will struggle to get up to the castle remains. There is a pleasant cafe with outdoor seating at this point if anybody is unable to carry on.
From here there is an uphill climb to the cliff tops and the castle remains. The steps are step, uneven and narrow in parts. The views as you climb upwards and from the top are incredible. Here you will find the iconic castle ruins dotted all over the cliff tops with links to King Arthur. It is worth spending at least an hour exploring the remains and admiring the spectacular views.
At the top stands a statue of King Arthur (actually called Gallos, which is Cornish for power), erected in 2016.
Many more people took the Land Rover ride back up to the village after visiting the castle remains! We decided to walk. Once back in the village we treated ourselves to some Treleavens ice cream which is a fantastic Cornish ice cream. Just what we needed after all that walking!
PLANNING A VISIT
Tintagel Castle is open every day during the summer season (until 30th September 2017) from 10am until 6pm. Our entrance fee was £21.50 for a family ticket (for two adults and up to three children). The castle is part of English Heritage so if you are a member you will get free entry. Cars are parked in the village so the only access is by foot or via the Land Rover service.
