Tintagel Haven
View from the castle
Sunset from Barras Nose
Looking out from Merlin's Cave
Kayaking in Tintagel Haven
Tintagel Haven (Castle Beach)
Below the the island that Tintagel Castle perches on is a small sheltered pebble beach known locally as Castle Beach though on maps you'll see it marked as Tintagel Haven.
Slate from the coastal quarries was brought here by donkey and loaded onto beached ships. In order to manouvre them around the dangerous rocks, ships were "hobbled" (towed by rowing boats then manouvred by gangs of men pulling on ropes).
On the left side of the beach, Merlin's Cave goes all the way beneath the island and out the other side, and to the back of the beach is a waterfall where the stream running through the Vale of Avalon meets the sea.
Being sheltered by Castle Island on the left and Barras Nose on the right, it is a good spot for a swim or snorkel. There are kelp beds with plenty of marine life and grey seals are often around. Although the sheltered beach is in principle a good spot to launch kayaks, the lack of parking and the long flight of steps to the beach make this more challenging.
There is a large flat rock just out to the right from the beach which you can climb down to from the coast path. This is a good spot to fish from at high tide for mackerel, bass and, at dusk, pollack.
Directions
You can walk along the coast path from Trebarwith Strand to Tintagel Haven (about a mile) so you can do a 4-5 mile circular walk starting at Park Farm and coming back through Tintagel (there is a circular route mapped out on our walks page). Alternatively if you drive, there are a couple of possibilities for parking:
- Park at St Materiana church (5 min drive) and walk 15 minutes along the cliff path.
- Park in Tintagel (10 min drive) and either walk 15 mins or catch the landrover service down to (or more likely back up from) the castle.
