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"Tintagel is a small village on the north coast of Cornwall, approximately 50 minutes car journey from Bodmin and fairly near Newquay.
Tintagel is a beautiful village steeped in history relating to King Arthur. King Arthur was
said to be born on Tintagel Island where the remains of the 13th-century castle stand today.
The coast is amazing. Looking over the edge you can see the sea and various caves that the sea has eroded. The scene is truly awesome and unspoilt. There are wooden railings stopping you from falling off at this point, but you can still easily clamber down to the beach below. I climbed down the steps to Merlins Cave which was spectacular. Although you are next to the sea, the inside of the cave is magical and you don't need a good imagination to imagine what it was like in the days of King Arthur. Luckily for me, it was a hot sunny day so the scene was even more amazing.
The walk from the top of Tintagel down to the caves and the castle remains is very steep and is great exercise if you are looking for a work out but not good if you have walking difficulties or pushchairs. There is an official service where you can jump in a Jeep for a small fee and be taken down the steep hill and back up to the village after your experience. The stairs and paths are all made from the same kind of slate that the castle was made from so they don't detract from the ruined majesty of the place. Some of the stairs are steep and narrow and seem to just cling to the edge of the cliff face so it's not a destination for the feint hearted or small children (no place for a push chair!). However, if you are not afraid of heights and you have the energy to climb the stairs and walk a couple of miles then you will enjoy it.
The castle is just the main walls with the odd plaque identifying which part of the castle is which. The plaques are interesting and there's a small bookshop with more information about all aspects of the place, but what really makes Tintagel Castle is the location - 360 degree views. Admittedly, I didn't know too much about King Arthur before I visited Tintagel but I certainly left far more knowledgeable. If you have time, make sure you visit the small museum.
Within the village itself the streets are paved with lovely pubs and cafes and shops relating to king Arthur, witch craft and other tourist related shops. There is a wonderful Cornish pastie shop which is worth a visit too!"
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