Tintagel Castle

The legend of King Arthur

Historical fact
Historians believe the myths of King Arthur does have some basis in historical fact. Remember he wasn't English, he was Romano-British, a legacy of Roman occupation and Celtic-British culture. Anglo-Saxon invasion in the 6th Century provoked a British reaction, a mobilisation of armed men ready to oust the invaders. Their leader was a brave and noble warrior who may well have fought twelve battles and lost the final one. Over time Roman-Britains' assimilate with Anglo-Saxons and their culture, evolving into England  – the Land of the Angles (Engla-land). 

Other places connected with King Arthur
Very few people argue that King Arthur was from eastern England. He must indeed have been from southwestern Britain, meaning Wessex, Devon or Cornwall, or maybe Welsh. Cadbury Castle in Somerset is a massive series of earthworks and is also known as the real Camelot. Its is very impressive and very old, it dates from the bronze age and has iron age elements. It could have been King Arthurs Camelot, and it is just fun exploring and learning as you go. 

Caerleon in Wales is also suggested as the location of Arthur's court. There is a vast hill fort there of iron age and Roman origin. At Winchester, there is even a round table in the great hall of the old castle.  

Glastonbury Abbey is reputedly the resting place of the warrior – wise monks in the middle ages made a fortune from this tale - "would you like to see the tomb of King Arthur? sir, that will be four shillings". Glastonbury has a mysterious Tor, a large cone-shaped hill overlooking the town and abbey, the source of all the intrigue. Touring Britain opens your eyes to great myths and legends. 

The Castle ruins
The castle sits in a precarious position on a rocky outcrop and island. Earl Richard's residence had a great hall, as you would expect and a herb garden protected by a stone wall. We can only imagine what it was like to entertain lords and kings on a rocky island off the Cornish coast. Richard would have seen ships arrive with exotic goods from abroad, while ships departed with tin from local mines. Today the site is covered in purple sea lavender and pink thrift.

Merlin's cave
Take time to explore the beach below the ruins and see the waterfall and Merlin's Cave. Stories tell us, Merlin, the famous wizard, lived in the cave. Other tales also tell us that Merlin brought the stones for the construction of Stonehenge from Ireland, using magic. If you are lucky, you will spot seals in the water from the beach. The other magic thing about Cornwall is the Ice Cream, and Tintagel is the perfect place to purchase some. 

Touring and accommodation
Cornwall is a county where you will get the most out of your trip if you utilise the services of a driver-guide. Driving is challenging, even for our professional drivers - our suggested itineraries Family Experience of Cornwall and England's South Coast Tour can be customised to match your requirements. 

Cornwall is full of unusual gardens, dramatic coastlines, pretty fishing villages and world-class beaches. Exotic plants at Trebah Gardens survive in the mild climate of the southwest. Trebah is a subtropical oasis that tumbles down a ravine and eventually ends up on a pristine beach – pure magic. Cotehele House and Gardens is a very different place with terraced gardens encircling an old Cornish house.

Visit the tidal islands of St Michael's Mount; for the more adventurous, try Surfing in Cornwall or Kite Surfing. Animal lovers may wish to Snorkel with Grey Seals in the Scilly Isles. 

Cornwall is a long journey from London, and it does make sense to tour on the way stopping in Dartmoor National Park. In that case, we suggest staying at Bovey Castle for a couple of nights before heading to St Mawes, Cornwall and stay at Hotel Tresanton.

If this is your first time to England, we would recommend a custom version of our Town and Country Tour; it covers the famous places and allows you to utilise your private driver-guide by getting-off-the-beaten-path. Our Classic tour of Ireland is a good place to start for the first trip to Ireland, and we suggest the Classic tour of Scotland for your first trip to the bonny Highlands. There is a wide choice of accommodation in the UK; Cottages, Manor House Hotels and traditional Guest Houses.