England – Cornwall – Tintagel (En)
Tintagel is a village facing the Atlantic Ocean in North Cornwall. It has been a seaside resort since the late 19th century thanks to the presence of Tintagel Castle and the resurgence of interest in the legend of King Arthur. Today, the castle ruins make the town one of the most visited places in the United Kingdom with the addition of a new access bridge linking the castle rock to the mainland.
What to see
Tintagel is famous for the legend of King Arthur. Visitors flock to the ruins of the 13th-century castle to get as close as possible to the myth. Prince Charles owns the castle as part of the Duchy of Cornwall and it is today administered by English Heritage. Tintagel Castle can be reached via a steep road called Castle Road and we did that. Some land rovers take people who don’t want to walk for £1.50. We did it walking with Asha, it is about 400 meters. You can reach the castle via a bridge that connects the headland to the mainland. Considering how old the castle is and its exposure to the extreme elements, it is remarkable quite how much of it still stands. The outer walls and a gatehouse remain as well as the earthworks for many buildings. You have to pay to cross the bridge and we didn’t pay because we had Asha and she wouldn’t cross the bridge for anything in the world! In front of the Castle, you can see Camelot Castle, a hotel famous for its views.
The town is beautiful, with a main street full of bars, restaurants, cafes, cute shops, and dream houses.
Other impressive buildings include the Old Post Office, a medieval building from around 1380. This building is a rare surviving example of a Cornish hall house. Today there are five rooms and a traditional garden to explore.
Also worth noting are the Great Halls of King Arthur, built by a romantic millionaire in the 1930s, these halls tell the story of King Arthur and his knights, and the Methodist Church is also made of stone like the old post office building.
Our next visit will be to Padstow, a pretty harbour with lively streets and a thriving foodie scene, situated on one of the most beautiful stretches of coast in Britain, which you can see in the next blog!
