The modern-day village of Tintagel was known as Trevena until the Post Office established 'Tintagel' as the name in the mid 19th century (until then Tintagel had always been the name of the headland and of the parish). In Norman times a small castle was built at Bossiney; Bossiney and Trevena were established as a borough in 1253 by Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall who built Tintagel Castle.
There is a tourist information centre in the Tintagel Council car park which is known affectionately as "the lemon squeezer" (you'll know why when you see it).
There are a number of restaurants and cafés in Tintagel and plenty of pubs:
- Tintagel Arms, near King Arthur's Hall (opposite side of the road, about 100 yard on the left if you are at the roundabout facing King Arthur's Hall).
- The King Arthur's Arms, opposite the Old Post Office
- The Cornishman Inn, by the turning to the Vicarage
- The Woottons, by the track to Tintagel Castle
- The Malthouse, opposite The Wootons
- Camelot Castle Hotel also has a public bar. Carry on past the turning to the castle and follow the road to the end.
Tintagel Old Post Office is a 600-year-old Cornish Longhouse set in cottage gardens, retaining its medieval slate-paved hall and fireplace. It was built in the 14th Century when Tintagel Castle belonged to the Black Prince. In the 19th century the house was used as the district Post Office when the introduction of the penny post meant the trek to the post office in Camelford became too much of a burden. For over 100 years it has been owned by the National Trust.
King Arthur's Great Hall was built in the 1930's by a custard millionaire whose company is thought to have invented "hundreds and thousands". The halls of chivalry are built from 53 different types of stone and are big enough to hold 1000 people. 72 stained glass windows by Veronica Whall (a pupil of William Morris) tell the story of King Arthur and show the Coats of Arms and weapons of the knights. Over two hundred million people have visited the Halls since they opened in June 1933.
More or less opposite King Arthur's Great Halls is Granny Wobbly's Fudge Pantry where Tim makes fantastic home-made fudge on a slab in the shop and offers free tastings.
Directions by car
Turn left onto the B3263 and follow it. It comes out at a roundabout in Tintagel. Just before this there is a car park in a field which is a cheap place to park. If it's wet and you don't fancy parking in a field, there is also a cheap car park opposite the (less cheap) Council one if you turn right at the roundabout.
Directions on foot
Head up the lane next to the post box opposite Park Farm, take the second left (Trenale Lane) at the crossroads. This comes out in Tintagel at the Catholic Church near Bossinney. Turn left to head into the main part of Tintagel. For some alternative routes, walk from Park Farm to St Materiana church and go into Tintagel via the Vicarage.
Tintagel walks
We've compiled some circular walks around the Tintagel area you might like to try:
Boscastle to Rocky Valley (5.5 miles)
The walk starts with a climb out from Boscastle Harbour onto Forrabury Common and joins the coast path passing the medieval field system of "stitches" and the coastguard lookout. The route follows the coast path past the seabird colonies on the rock stacks of Trevalga before descending into Rocky Valley. The walk then follows the river to the top of Rocky Valley and then climbs up to Trethevy where there is a medieval chapel and well. The route from here heads across farmland to Trevalga passing the church and ancient wayside cross before reaching Forabury where there is tea and coffee available in the church before finally descending into Boscastle close to 2 pubs and an excellent bakery.
Bossiney to Rocky Valley (1.75 miles)
The walk starts out across fields then follows the Trevillett river down Rocky Valley though woodland and out into the canyon leading to the sea. The walk then joins the coast path, climbing up onto the headland and behind Benoath Cove and on to Bossiney. The route turns inland though farmland back to the start of the walk.
Backways Cove, Denis Point and Trebarwith Strand (2.5 miles)
The route descends steeply to the valley floor from Trewarmett with excellent views and climbs the other side valley (also with excellent views) until it reaches Trebarwith Village. From here is a gentle descent through the fields to Backways Cove. From Backways there is a steep ascent of Denis Point followed by an even steeper descent to Trebarwith Strand. From here the route climbs back up Trebarwith Valley to Treknow and Trewarmett.
Tintagel Church and Castle (5 miles)
Via a lane to Treknow, the route joins the coast path at Hole Beach and follows it past Penhallic Point to the ancient St Materiana Church. From the church the route continues on the coast path to Tintagel Castle. There are spectacular coastal views all the way. From the Castle the route (or if you prefer, the landrover service) climbs the Vale of Avalon into Tintagel. Rather than going through Tintagel, the route goes down past the vicarage through fields along the valley that runs next to Tintagel. The route then leaves Tintagel for Treven, cutting across the fields towards Trewarmett Downs and joining a lane which takes you back to Trewarmett. From the lane back there are panoramic views of Tintagel and St Materiana church.
St Nectan's Glen and Condolden Barrow (6 miles)
The walk starts out on the lane past Trenale and then drops down into St Nectan's Glen before climbing the wooded valley alongside the river. From here it crosses some fields and joins a lane leading to Condolden Barrow - the highest point in the area with excellent views. Tracks and footpaths then lead back past the slate quarries of Trebarwith Valley and across Trewarmett Downs.
Tintagel and Bossiney (6 miles)
The walk starts along a quiet lane with nice views that takes you through Trenale and along a footpath to Bossiney where Sir Francis Drake was elected a member of Parliament. The route descends to Bossiney Haven and then follows the Tintagel coastline past Willapark headland until it reaches Barras Nose - the first coastal land ever purchased by the National Trust. From here the route heads into Tintagel past the Castle Hotel and runs through the centre of Tintagel past the Old Post Office and King Arthur's Great Halls before returning to Trewarmett via some back lanes. With a tactical geocaching diversion, the route can take you past 10 geocaches.
Trebarwith Strand (3 or 3.5 miles)
The walk starts with a gentle descent down a lane into Treknow followed by a footpath that leads to Trebarwith Strand. From Trebarwith Strand there is one fairly steep (but reasonably short) ascent on the coast path to the cliffs and then it's fairly flat all the way. The path across the cliffs has magnificent views of Denis Point, Trebarwith Strand, the coastal slate quarries (now colonised by birds and flowers) and Penhallic point. The walk back is through some pleasant fields and lanes.
Trebarwith Valley (2.5 miles)
This walk follows the stream up from Jeffrey's Pit through bluebell woods emerging at the top of Trebarwith Valley overlooking Trewarmett. The walk follows the ridge seawards and then drops down into valley with spectacular views back up to Trewarmett and down to the sea. The route continues right down to the valley floor past an old mill and then back up the other side of the valley through Trebarwith Valley Nature Reserve to the fields in Treknow from which there are more spectacular views across the valley in the other direction
Tregardock and Backways Cove (6.5 miles)
The walk descends steeply to the valley floor from Trewarmett with excellent views and climbs the other side valley (also with excellent views). From here there is a long gentle descent through fields and farms to Tregardock Beach. From Tregardock the route joins the coast path over "The Mountain" before a steep descent to Backways Cove. From Backways there is a gentle ascent of the valley followed by gentle descent into Trebarwith valley with nice views up the valley, to the valley floor. The final stretch takes you back up the other side of the valley through Trebarwith Valley Nature Reserve to the fields in Treknow from which there are more spectacular views across the valley in the other direction.
Rocky Valley, Trevalga and Trethevy (6.75 miles)
This walk also starts along the lane through Trenale but this time goes to the very end. The route then descends through pretty woodland into Rocky Valley through slate canyons where it meets the sea. From here it climbs up onto the coast path towards Boscastle. Further along the coast it loops back into the pretty hamlet of Trevalga and across fields to Trethevy. From here it passes St Piran's Chapel and Well and descends into St Nectan's Glen, climbs out of the other side and along the lane back to Trewarmett. For avid geocachers this is another good one - there are up to 9 geocaches within reach of this route.
Village trails
- You can get a "Tintagel Village Trail" leaflet from the tourist information centre (70p) for a 2 hour historical walk around Tintagel.
- Alternatively there is an audio guide for a historical walk around Tintagel on the BBC website.
