Tintagel Castle and Merlin's Cave

Tintagel, the legendary home of the equally legendary King Arthur, rises above the Celtic Sea like a lone sentinel of a bygone age.  Little remains of the early stronghold that once stood here.  Even the more recent castle has fallen into ruin and decay.  But for the Arthurian legend hunter or the romantic there is plenty to wet one’s imagination and start it churning.

Beneath the castle lies Merlin’s Cave where supposedly Merlin lived and taught Arthur when he was a boy.  It would have been one wet lesson though.  The cave is open to the sea and would be flooded at high tide.  However, the cave does have the feeling of a natural cathedral as the ceiling arches overhead and the walls are streaked with a white rock that gives it a “black with white” marble feel.

Tintagel is one of my favorite spots to visit in southwest England and is in every one of my plans to visit whenever I go over.  But there is one hitch in the visit that should be noted. 

If you have any issue with climbing lots of steps, many of which are uneven, or scooting over rocks, Tintagel Castle and Merlin’s Cave may not be the place for you unless you view it from a distance.  Tintagel Castle sits on a peninsula separated from the mainland by a deep cut in the rock.  The only way across is a footbridge and lots of stairs (over 100) up the cliff side.  As for Merlin’s Cave, the steps down aren’t too bad, but at the bottom you have to scoot over and around large boulders to get to the beach and cave.

If, however, these things do not worry you too much then Tintagel and Merlin’s Cave is well worth the visit.  Enjoy the romance and legends of the place and also the amazing views from the cliff side.  Take time to stop in at the visitor center and learn a little bit more about the island fortress and the legend.  And just have fun.

Oh, and one more thing…After all that climbing take advantage of the jeep service to take you back to the top where Tintagel Village (and your car) is.  You will find the couple pounds well spent.

For more information: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/tintagel-castle/

 Tintagel Castle and Ruins

 

Merlin's Cave

The Views

 

 

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