Famous as the supposed birthplace of King Arthur, Tintagel's epic clifftop castle has been occupied since Roman times and once served as a residence for Cornwall's Celtic kings. The present castle is largely the work of Richard, Earl of Cornwall, who built a base here during the 1230s. An elegant new footbridge now spans a plunging 60m gully, linking the two sides of the medieval castle and re-creating a land bridge that existed 500 years ago.
Although the Arthurian links might be tenuous, it’s hard to think of a more soul-stirring spot for a stronghold. Though much of the castle has long since crumbled, it’s still possible to make out the footprint of the Great Hall and several other rooms. There’s also a curious tunnel that’s still puzzling archaeologists; it may have been used as a larder or cold store.
Trails lead along the headland to the atmospheric medieval chapel of St Materiana, and on the beach below the castle the rocky mouth of Merlin's Cave is exposed at low tide – local legend claims it's where the wizard once cast his spells.
