Last weekend I went to Cornwall and had a wonderful time. I visited Tintagel Castle which was built by Richard, Earl of Cornwall and according to Cornish Legend is the birth place of King Arthur and is the place where the Kings of Cornwall held their courts. When the Norman armies reached Tintagel they heard that this headland had been the seat of the Cornish Kings and so the castle was built more for propaganda purposes than for strategic reasons. The picture above was taken from the mainland looking over to the castle which is on a rocky headland joined to the mainland by a narrow neck of rocks. The castle is reached by a wooden bridge and many steps up the side of the cliff face which was quite tiring on a such a hot and sunny day, but it was well worth the climb.
There is not much left of the castle itself as the Atlantic and the elements have pounded it for centuries but above is a close up of an archway that when passed through, leads you along a windy path to the sea and some magnificent views such as the one below.
I spent hours exploring the rocky headland that the castle stands on and the ruins themselves. I also walked along the opposite headland a bit where you can look back at the castle. It is possible to walk all along the coast to Boscastle (the Cornish fishing village that flooded last year) but it was hot and I was feeling too relaxed so I sat down and looked contentedly at the waves and the scenery before me knowing that I would return and walk the coastal path another time.
From the photo below you can see that Tinatgel has a lovely little cove complete with caves, sandy beach and waterfalls! The site is maintained by English Heritage and as ever they have done a good job and it is a great place to visit. I think those of us that live in the UK sometimes forget that we have some of the best places to vist right on our doorstep! I am currently going through a very stressful time in my life for various reasons and it was so nice to be somewhere that I could just 'be'. Despite the other tourists I did not feel harrassed and it was easy to find your own spot amongst the rocks to just sit and relax which was exactly what I needed.
Last weekend I went to Cornwall and had a wonderful time. I visited Tintagel Castle which was built by Richard, Earl of Cornwall and according to Cornish Legend is the birth place of King Arthur and is the place where the Kings of Cornwall held their courts. When the Norman armies reached Tintagel they heard that this headland had been the seat of the Cornish Kings and so the castle was built more for propaganda purposes than for strategic reasons. The picture above was taken from the mainland looking over to the castle which is on a rocky headland joined to the mainland by a narrow neck of rocks. The castle is reached by a wooden bridge and many steps up the side of the cliff face which was quite tiring on a such a hot and sunny day, but it was well worth the climb.
There is not much left of the castle itself as the Atlantic and the elements have pounded it for centuries but above is a close up of an archway that when passed through, leads you along a windy path to the sea and some magnificent views such as the one below.
I spent hours exploring the rocky headland that the castle stands on and the ruins themselves. I also walked along the opposite headland a bit where you can look back at the castle. It is possible to walk all along the coast to Boscastle (the Cornish fishing village that flooded last year) but it was hot and I was feeling too relaxed so I sat down and looked contentedly at the waves and the scenery before me knowing that I would return and walk the coastal path another time.
From the photo below you can see that Tinatgel has a lovely little cove complete with caves, sandy beach and waterfalls! The site is maintained by English Heritage and as ever they have done a good job and it is a great place to visit. I think those of us that live in the UK sometimes forget that we have some of the best places to vist right on our doorstep! I am currently going through a very stressful time in my life for various reasons and it was so nice to be somewhere that I could just 'be'. Despite the other tourists I did not feel harrassed and it was easy to find your own spot amongst the rocks to just sit and relax which was exactly what I needed.
6 comments:
[looks evilly at bobkat, aka evilboss]
You went to Cornwall - and you didn't invite ME????
[sobs]
cq
:-)
This is soooo gorgeous! And your pictures are exquisite, too! I can see how being their would be a wonderful thing to do for yourself...This has to be a very healing place...I feel like just by seeing your pictures I had a teeny tiny visit, myself...MORE!!! (lol)...Greedy, I know...but this is something so rare and special. Thank you for sharing it.
It is beautiful!!! great pictures, love the rocks and to see the effects of time and elements...
hola estupendas fotos
Wendy sent me here.
These photos are so wonderful. My human pet has always wanted to visit the United Kingdom. I was wondering though if these are the same steps mentioned in Carolyn Parkhurst's new novel, Lost and Found? The characters go to a place that has a Wishing Chair among the rocks, and the rocks were used supposedly by giants either for love or war. Are these those rocks?
(Forgive my ignorance!)
I'm afraid I haven't read that book but when the castle was built local folklore beleived that giants did inhabit these rocks and of course there is also the myth of King Arthur and Merlin.
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