No, not Machu Picchu. It’s Cornwall, England.
Tintagel Castle
We decided to take advantage of one of the fine sunny days we’ve had lately and have an afternoon off.
The last time I visited Tintagel it was winter too. But that was an entirely different sort of day. On this occasion the sea and sky were a glorious blue and there was barely enough breeze to ruffle the feathers of a seagull.
![Tintagel 001 Wm[1]](https://i1.wp.com/www.rustyduck.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Tintagel-001-Wm1.jpg?resize=980%2C653&ssl=1)
Were it not for the low position of the sun in the sky you might not guess it was February at all.
Tintagel Castle is steeped in legend and mystery and is said to be the birthplace of King Arthur. Some scholars believe that Tintagel was Camelot itself. It is built high on the rugged Cornish coast and across a peninsula joined to the mainland by a narrow neck of land. In the summer of 1983, a series of bush fires swept across Tintagel island, uncovering ruins of buildings which showed the site to have been occupied from Roman times in the third century to the eventual fall of the castle to the Anglo-Saxon invasion.
Historically it would appear that Tintagel was an important trading post. Excavations in the 1930s unearthed a wealth of pottery of Mediterranean origin which contained wine, oil, or were simply used for show. The presence of so much of this pottery, known now as ‘Tintagel Pottery’, the largest concentration of such pottery in Britain, indicates the prosperity of Tintagel in the 5th and 6th centuries, the time of Arthur.
Around 1230, a castle was built by Richard, Earl of Cornwall and son of King Henry III. The ruins of this Tintagel castle are what one sees on the island today.
Edited from legendofkingarthur.co.uk (here) and visitcornwall.com (here).
![Tintagel 002 Wm[1]](https://i0.wp.com/www.rustyduck.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Tintagel-002-Wm1.jpg?resize=500%2C750&ssl=1)
A window with a view?
![Tintagel 013 Wm[1]](https://i0.wp.com/www.rustyduck.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Tintagel-013-Wm1.jpg?resize=980%2C653&ssl=1)
The setting really is spectacular. This is the peninsula, now accessed via a bridge (lower right of centre in the image above)
![Tintagel 012 Wm[1]](https://i2.wp.com/www.rustyduck.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Tintagel-012-Wm1.jpg?resize=980%2C653&ssl=1)
Closer up. You can see the main ruins at the top of the steps.
Access to the site is not easy. Even to get to this viewing point needs a fair bit of stamina. We walked for a little way along the cliff top coast path..
![Tintagel 014 Wm[1]](https://i1.wp.com/www.rustyduck.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Tintagel-014-Wm1.jpg?resize=500%2C751&ssl=1)
.. over climbing steps set into a wall
![Tintagel 003 Wm[1]](https://i2.wp.com/www.rustyduck.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Tintagel-003-Wm1.jpg?resize=980%2C652&ssl=1)
The remains of the Great Hall, a tall single story building. This is where formal entertainment and administration of justice took place. The foundations of a much later cottage can be seen within its ruined walls.*
*From an information board on site
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There are remains of dwellings right across the 18 acre island. This may have been part of a chapel.
![Tintagel 005 Wm[1]](https://i2.wp.com/www.rustyduck.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Tintagel-005-Wm1.jpg?resize=980%2C653&ssl=1)
The ultimate des res?
Maybe a bit shady being on the northern slope..
![Tintagel 006 Wm[1]](https://i1.wp.com/www.rustyduck.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Tintagel-006-Wm1.jpg?resize=980%2C653&ssl=1)
I think I’d probably wear it though, for the view.
![Tintagel 007 Wm[1]](https://i2.wp.com/www.rustyduck.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Tintagel-007-Wm1.jpg?resize=980%2C653&ssl=1)
The tunnel
This natural feature is thought to have been used as a medieval larder or cold store.
![Tintagel 011 Wm[1]](https://i1.wp.com/www.rustyduck.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Tintagel-011-Wm1.jpg?resize=980%2C653&ssl=1)
There are further ruins and courtyards on the mainland
More steps!
![Seagull 007 Wm[1]](https://i0.wp.com/www.rustyduck.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Seagull-007-Wm1.jpg?resize=980%2C653&ssl=1)
Obligatory Cornish seagull pic..
“I see no ships…. “
![Tintagel 009 Wm[1]](https://i1.wp.com/www.rustyduck.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Tintagel-009-Wm1.jpg?resize=980%2C653&ssl=1)
The sea facing cliffs are really craggy.
Do you see what I see?
Protruding nose and chin?
![Tintagel 008 Wm[1]](https://i2.wp.com/www.rustyduck.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Tintagel-008-Wm1.jpg?resize=980%2C653&ssl=1)
And an image looking south down the coast.
Tintagel Parish Church on the cliff top, Gull Rock out to sea.
![Trebarwith Strand 001 Wm[1]](https://i1.wp.com/www.rustyduck.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Trebarwith-Strand-001-Wm1.jpg?resize=980%2C653&ssl=1)
Gull Rock from Trebarwith Strand, a short drive along the coast
![Trebarwith Strand 002 Wm[1]](https://i1.wp.com/www.rustyduck.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Trebarwith-Strand-002-Wm1.jpg?resize=980%2C653&ssl=1)
Beats decorating, eh?
Gosh what stunning photographs and I especially like the out of season feel to it. May I ask what camera you use?
Thanks! I much prefer travelling around this neck of the woods off season. Tintagel will be heaving in summer and all the atmosphere will be gone. That’s part of the pleasure of living here, given a sunny day we don’t have to go far to enjoy it.
The camera is a Nikon D7100 DSLR with 18-200 zoom lens. Mike took all the shots in this post, artistic direction was freely given 😉
Too right! We went there once when OB was tiny but never got to the castle…. not sure why….do they charge for entrance? New baby, jelly brain, no memory. X
There is a charge, unless you are a member of English Heritage. Perhaps you took one look at the steps, then tiny baby, and thought again!
Wonderful photos. It really is a fabulous place. And you chose a perfect day. I have never been but you have made me want to see it for myself.
It’s quite a hike down to the entrance, even before the steps, so I wouldn’t choose a hot day. A warmish day in winter was indeed perfect. Thanks Chloris.
Hello Jessica,
What a fabulous set of photographs you delight us with here. The view is truly spectacular and the images are incredibly atmospheric. The Knights of King Arthur could still be assembling here amongst the ruins. The raw splendour of it all is truly breathtaking. Yes, far better to have been there rather than stuck with a paintbrush indoors.
It was indeed atmospheric. Even though it was a weekend and there were quite a few people around we were on our own for much of the time. You can feel the history oozing from the stones.
My husband gets tired of the endless gardens but he would love this, and so would I! Maybe one day…
You are due another visit to the south west, surely? It is a fascinating place, but it’s the setting and the views that take your breath away.
a spectacular setting indeed, Jessica – might you escape more often? I hope so …
Every year we say so!
The position is truly astonishing! Why, you wonder. Then you think of Wolf Hall (this predates of course) and how dangerous life could be….These places really spark your imagination don’t they. Makes decorating seem pretty tame.
They certainly do. It would have been a hard life living there. The north coast of Cornwall takes the full force of the south westerly winds. I should have taken a photo of some of the trees.. bent horizontal in some cases!
Looks such a fascinating place to visit, a fabulous view x
The views are absolutely fantastic. If a little scary should you not have a head for heights.
Fantastic photos of a stunning place. We were last there in 1967 when I was about 8 months pregnant and listening to Sandie Shaw winning the Eurovision Song Contest with Puppet on a String! There seems to be far more to see than when we visited, It really is a fantastic atmospheric place, I must return some day soon!
You have a good memory. Those steps tested my legs without being 8 months pregnant!
Oh, wow. I have always wanted to visit here. It looks so beautiful and there is so much to see. What a wonderful piece of history. Your photos are great. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Jennifer. If you ever come to the UK… the Little Bears would love it too.
It does indeed beat decorating. Looks like you had a beautiful day for your visit and Tintagel looks like a great site.
It’s been so good to have some sunny days this winter hasn’t it? Makes all the difference. Hope you have been having some days off too. Bathrooms are the worst!
It is incredibly beautiful and must have made a wonderful day out and change from decorating, but gosh, it must be bleak there on a cold wet wintery day! I don’t think I would have liked to have lived there in the days of yore! Somewhere more inland for me. Doesn’t mean that I would go for a day visit now though as the views are incredible! Thank you for taking us along! xx
No, it can be very bleak out there. The first time we visited, January a few years ago, the wind was straight off the sea and it was freezing. Winters must have been very hard.
What a fantasy world this is. You took beautiful photos. Those climbing steps set into a wall look quite challenging.
Thanks Susie. The wall was only about four foot high and ideally we’d have taken a longer shot to show the context… but someone was sitting on top of it!
Stunning! We go to Cornwall regularly and have not even heard of it before, we’re certainly missing out and must rectify that…
It’s quite remote, up on the North Cornwall coast. Worth a detour though.
Beautiful scenic views but those steps don’t look as though they make an allowance for those of us with short legs
As a fellow short legger I can vouch for that!
Oh, it definitely beats decorating! Thanks for sharing your pictures of this fabulous place. I doubt I’ll ever get there to see it myself, so I very much appreciated it.
Thank you Alison. There are many places in the US I’d love to visit too. Maybe one day..
Dear Jessica, oh my gosh, these are really spectacular photos from Tintagel Castle and surroundings! I so enjoyed looking at them and reading about the history of this fascinating place. Great that you guys took the day off to get out and about to visit this castle, it must have been very lovely hours that you spent there and the weather was fantastic, too. I so hope that I have a chance to visit Cornwall myself one day!
Warm regards,
Christina
I hope you have the chance too Christina, you would love it I’m sure.
What a wonderful place – we always had family holidays in Cornwall when I was young and I remember views and walks like this – it is what I think of when I’m carving Polyphant – which is a cornish soapstone.
I’m sure we looked at a house in Polyphant while house hunting down here. I presume the stone is quarried near to there. I’ve discovered Cornwall only recently, the beautiful little fishing villages in particular.
It looks fabulous – although I would need a large dose of brave pills, as I’m not keen on heights and cliffs!! Beautiful blue skies!!
The landscape is beautiful and totally unaltered, no fences. But you don’t have to go close to the edge of the cliffs, the main paths feel perfectly safe.
Nothing like a brisk walk (or amble) in the sea air, and this was a lovely place to do just that. Several years ago we did a footpath walk around this area and found it quite magical, but hilly! Nice to be reminded of the place……we did have a good time there.
Very hilly. That combined with the sea air meant I had the best night’s sleep in ages.
Now that’s a view! Thanks for taking us along on your romantic tour.
Spectacular eh? A romantic site for sure. Less romantic was me yelling at Mike when (I thought) he got too close to the edge..
Wow, what an enchanting place, and gorgeous weather to boot! Some glorious views too, certainly beats the hell out of decorating!xxx
I’m determined to make the best use of good weather days this year. Life’s too short to be forever working.
Stunning photographs and what a wonderful castle. We have a similar castle, Dunnotar just South of Aberdeen, but ours looks easier to get to.
We’re well overdue a visit back to Scotland, I’ll make a note of that one. Thanks Annette.
What a wonderful place and complicated structure in a fantastic setting – such a romantic history – I’m smitten.
I loved the walls with the glimpses of the sea through…
this is so amazing……Cornwall just skyrocketed to the top of my bucket list….it’s always been ON this list, just not at #1!!!
First glance, I thought the China…or MachuPichu (just had cataract surgery….not seeing the computer screen all that well yet!!!!) beautiful, beautiful….and yes, a nice break from decorating for you—-although, I must admit, I’ve been loving those posts, too!!!!
I couldn’t believe that view when I first turned around and saw it. Machu Picchu is #1 on my bucket list and it was immediately what I thought of.
One of my favourite places. You got some cracking shots of the coast.
Thanks CT. Winter is the best time to go. Even on a Sunday there were moments when we had it all to ourselves.
Wonderful nostalgic post Jessica, we have enjoyed some lovely holidays in Cornwall and trips to Tintagel. Lovely photos too.
Thanks Julie. I’m glad it brought back some good memories.
It is lovely to see your glorious photos of Tintagel Jessica – my childhood home was called Tintagel, it is where my parents spent their honeymoon. Unbelievably I have never been, I have always intended to, but now I have seen your photos I must try and make an effort.
On a good day there is nowhere better. I hope you can make the trip Rosemary. It is less than an hour from me and I’ve only been twice. I’ll be back though.
The photos are so awesome…They really fire up my imagination. It must have been a truly special place.
It’s very atmospheric Charlie, especially in the low light.
What a fascinating place! Thank you for showing it. The connection with Machu Picchu seems appropriate!
No llamas, otherwise a dead ringer!
What lovely pictures Jessica!. Now did you get the Landrover man to drive you back up the big hill? I admit we did. I think the money goes to the lifeboats but I think it was worth it. Then we had a pasty hot from the oven. perfect end to the day that was. We stayed at the camp site right at the top of the entrance (opposite the road going down), very clean and nice owners, incase anyone was thinking of staying there.
You have just made me want to go back
Sadly in winter the land rover doesn’t run… climbing back up is the only way! That bit is the killer I have to admit. We had to do a chocolate run on the post office to get our strength back up.
What a glorious place. Good for you to have a day out. There is nothing like a sea view. I can almost smell the salt air. This is my favorite kind of restorative trip.
Mine too. This year is going to be the year we really make the most of living so close to the coast.
Oh My Word, this is definately on my “Places to visit” list. Your images are spectacular Jessica.
Thanks Polly. It is truly a spectacular place. But it does need a good weather day as it’s rather exposed to the elements.
Is this your next restoration project? When you have ‘Finished’ your current one!
Ha! At least I already have steep hill training 🙂
It was so refreshing just looking at the post! I’m sure decorating will wear a brighter aspect after such a glorious trip… those views… and the sea air… and a good helping of history and legend (two things necessarily in short supply here!)… Loved it, Jessica 🙂
It can certainly blow the cobwebs away. The coast path is spectacular in any weather but it’s rare to get such a still day. We sat on a bench (where we took the longshot of the island) for quite some time and it was absolute bliss. Thanks Amy.
Hello Jessica. Tintagel was on my list for the UK trip, but I am paralysed with fear by even moderate heights and I’d then beat myself up about being so hopeless, so I think I’ll put a tick my it and say I did it with Jessica and Mike! Those steps look very high too – I’d need a helping hand and be totally ‘bezorsted’ (is that a word in your family too?) before I”d got very far.
Thanks for taking us there. May you have many more glorious sunny days away from the decorating!
Now that’s a new word on me. I rather like it though!
I do understand about the heights. I am terrified of water and going anywhere by boat is now totally out of the question.
Isn’t the lost city of Atlantis supposed to be somewhere off the coast near Tintagel? Or am I confused? Probably confused. (P.S It wasn’t you, it was me! Such a techno-twit!)
My search for the lost city of Atlantis online has led to a fascinating 15 minutes, via links to 29 celebrities ageing badly to 13 celebrity plastic surgery disasters. How on earth does google come up with these things? I never found the answer though. Spain? Santorini? The Azores?
It is good to have a day out away from it all and what a super place to visit – so beautiful and full of history. I seem to remember an old post office in the town too which was very old inside – perhaps it wasn’t there but in another village nearby – anyway your photos are wonderful:)
This one wasn’t very old and thinking about it further it may have been a Spar. But it sold chocolate!! It was a super day out and, as ever, we have come away resolved to have more of them.
Fabulous photos. We’ve holidayed in North Cornwall for five of the last six years yet it was only last year that we visited Tintagel for the first time. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t very good so we didn’t venture to the castle but we had a look around the lovely village. We discovered Trebarwith Strand and spent a wonderful couple of days on the beach there.
It’s a gorgeous beach isn’t it? The first time we went to Tintagel Castle it was blowing a gale in January and more of an exercise in endurance than anything else. It couldn’t have been more different this time, an absolutely beautiful place.
Jessica thank you so much for the lovely photos! What a spectacular place. Can’t you just see Arthur and his Knights galloping through the scenery?
Hi Karen, thanks and welcome to rusty duck.
It’s a very atmospheric place. Easy to imagine how it would have been all those years ago.
wow, this is beautiful! I’ve only been to Cornwall once many years ago for our first wedding anniversary and we did enjoy it but we tend to go up north to The Lakes for holidays..if only we could fit more holidays in!!
Hi Claire, thanks and welcome on board.
The Lakes are stunning too. We are blessed in this country with so many wonderful places to visit, are we not?
Amazing. Living, like you, in a touristy area we always ‘do’ the attractions out of season so much quieter. I visited Tintagel as a child but don’t really remember it, would love to go back……….your photos or should I say Mike’s photos are wonderful. Beats decorating 🙂
Definitely beats decorating! Yes, in the holiday season we tend to stay close to home. It is a real privilege to live in a beautiful place and be able to enjoy it when it is quiet.
oh my god, it looks amazing! and the photos are beautiful, too. i studied tintagel in first or second year, but never realized it was so stunning. yet another place to add to my never-ending list of places to visit, haha.. 🙂 x
Hi Laura, thanks and welcome to rusty duck.
My list is long too! The trouble with living in one of the far corners of the country is that everywhere else is such a long way off!
I remember visiting Tintagel castle when I was in my teens, a magical place, with the most wonderful views, as you have so perfectly captured.
Thank you for sharing your visit, it brought back many happy memories.
~Jo
I’m glad Jo. Thanks.
I just can’t get over how breathtakingly beautiful this place is. And who’d have ever thought of all places, this was in England.
How warm was it when you took these pictures? It looks nice but February in England is a bit nippy. 🙂
Hi Lindsay and welcome to rusty duck.
It was maybe 8C, but with the sun and no wind it felt much warmer. And possibly because we spent a lot of time climbing steps and hills! But days such as this are rare in February. It doesn’t get as cold as Ontario though, keep warm!
Thank you for this amazing tour! It is my first time visiting your blog and I enjoyed coming along to this beautiful place.
Amalia
xo
Amalia, you are very welcome. Thank you for visiting.
Tintagel is an amazing place. It is usually quite breezy though, up on the cliff tops. We were lucky to have such a calm day.
Do you know, while I was looking at the photos my heart nearly burst! I love scenes such as this and the beauty that our country has to offer. xx
We are very lucky Chel. It may be a crowded little island but we still have some wonderful wild places too. Long may it continue.
what an adventure to reach this place….it is so beautiful and seems worth the climb.
I think I ticked my daily exercise box. Certainly slept well that night!
The approach is amazing – and the effort needed to get there was clearly worth it. Good to see you had a ‘day off’, not always easy, I am sure 😉
Well worth it, although my knees may not agree. Good thing they already have hill training.
What an absolutely fascinating, glorious place to visit. We need to visit Cornwall and see all the gorgeous sights.
It is pretty amazing, not least that it has survived so long in such a windswept position. Some of the walls look very fragile. They certainly knew how to build in the 13th century!
Wow! I can definitely see this as the setting for Camelot! Those steps set into the cliff looked dangerous, but I imagine for hearty medieval folks they would be no challenge.
Thanks for posting these wonderful images. I just ran across your blog and plan to explore it further!
Hi Deb, thanks and welcome to rusty duck.
I think those medieval folk were a lot tougher than us, in many ways! Fancy living out on that peninsula, with no central heating.. Brrrr.
You chose a good day to take a break from the decorating! The views are amazing and those images are wonderful! Sarah x
We lingered to see if there would be a sunset, but luck ran out at that point. It was a glorious day though, it’s been nice to have a few of those recently!
Simply incredible. There is almost nothing in the US that can even begin to compare to this. I wish I had been there to see it in person.
It is incredible. If you saw how exposed the site is, that it’s been standing there nearly 800 years is nothing short of a miracle.
Another great inspirational trip! I should keep a book of places to visit, as detailed by you and Mike.
I did enjoy seeing it again and got much more out of our trip this time. Go on a good weather day.
Last time I visited Tintagel was around fifty years ago and I don’t remember it looking as good as your wonderful pictures. I empathise with the seagull looking for the French and Spanish fleets:)
It’s probably only about six years since we last went, but I had the same reaction. I think the fine weather had a lot to do with it. When your head is down against the wind you certainly don’t take in so much!
Beautiful photos of Tintagel. It is such a long time ago that I visited… I really should return there again soon.
You would enjoy it I think, although out of season is a better bet for photography. It does gets crowded.
I was there in 1988 and have wanted to go back ever since. What a magical place! Your photos are beautiful.
Thanks Natalie. You’re well overdue a return visit!!