Tintagel Castle PL34 0HE 
Entry: Free for EH members
Open: seasonal - check website
Dogs: on leads
Reviews: 0

About:
Built half on the mainland and half on a jagged headland projecting into the Cornish sea, Tintagel Castle is one of the most spectacular historic sites in Britain. Its association with King Arthur makes it also one of the most famous.
History and legend are inseparable at Tintagel. From about the 5th to the 7th century AD it was an important stronghold, and probably a residence of rulers of Cornwall. Many fragments of luxury pottery imported from the Mediterranean were left behind by those who lived here.
It was probably memories of this seat of Cornish kings that inspired the 12th-century writer Geoffrey of Monmouth to name it in his History of the Kings of Britain as the place where King Arthur was conceived, with the help of Merlin. At the same time, Cornish and Breton writers linked the love story of Tristan and Iseult with Tintagel.
In turn, these associations with legend led the hugely rich and ambitious Richard, Earl of Cornwall, to build a castle here in the 1230s. The site was of no military value – legend alone seems to have inspired him to build here. And long after the castle had fallen into decay, its mythical associations kept interest in Tintagel alive.

Parking:
No parking on location. Parking is in the nearby village (pay and display)

Facilities:
Café
Shop
Toilets
Exhibition
Gardens

Notes:
Site located on cliff edge care must be taken in all areas of the site. Steep cliffs on rocky headland.
Access to castle via over 100 steep steps. Surfaces in the castle include grass, gravel, cobbles and flagstones.
Many of the surfaces are uneven and include changes of level. Sea birds and animal burrows.
Not accessible by wheelchairs