Wednesday, 4. November 2026
Tintagel, Cornwall
I have felt quite rough today so we stayed in during the morning, while Dad went fishing. In the afternoon Mum and I took a trip out to Tintagel.
The fresh air I think did me good but I did struggle walking up and down hill – I had to stop several times. I’m turning in to my Dad!
Anyway: Tintagel was definitely an interesting visit. Although it was overcast (and actually quite cold) the water was a lovely colour. The autumnal colours of the vegetation on the surrouding hills made Tintagel Castle look exactly like the sort of place where, hundreds of years ago, you can imagine pirates turning up in what then must have felt a remote and bleak area outside the walls of the castle. Think the pirates and smuggling of centuries gone by!
Tintagel Castle itself has a fascinating history, although it’s probably best known for its connections with the legend of King Arthur, who was supposedly conceived here. The ruins we see today largely date back to the 13th century, when Richard, Earl of Cornwall, built a castle on the headland – possibly because of its already famous Arthurian connections. In fact, the site had been occupied for centuries before that and was once an important trading settlement, with goods arriving from as far away as the Mediterranean. It’s quite something to imagine all that activity taking place on this exposed stretch of coastline, particularly on a cold and windswept November afternoon!
The village of Tintagel is an interesting place in its own right, too. Originally known as Trevena, it’s now very much a tourist destination, with shops, cafés and plenty of references to King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. There’s certainly no escaping the legend! Among the older buildings is the rather wonderful Old Post Office, a 14th-century farmhouse with a distinctly wonky slate roof, which later served as the village’s letter-receiving office. It’s now looked after by the National Trust. The village has a rather different atmosphere from the dramatic coastline below, but the two together make Tintagel a place to explore.
On the way back we drove through Boscastle and stopped at the farm shop there for a look around. We got some bits for dinner (and topped up at Morrison’s in Bude); But I wasn’t feeling well again by the time dinner time came around so I skipped my pizza and had an early night.
Hopefully tomorrow I’ll feel a little better.
Good night,
FH.
