Tintagel Village
OS Grid ref:- SX0890
Characterful Tintagel village, a popular tourist destination, is situated between Padstow and Boscastle on the Heritage Coast of north Cornwall. Facilities include a range of accomodation, including campsites, post office, shops, pubs, restaurants and cafes.
Left- Tintagel Post Office Right- King Arthur's Hall
The quaint and characterful Tintagel Old Post Office, tumble-roofed and weathered by the centuries, was previously a medieval manor house, which was built in the late fourteenth or fifteenth century. The building was used as the village post office from 1844 to 1892. Set in the outside wall at the front of the building is a Victorian letter collection box dating back to 1857. It is one of very few such boxes, which still remain. In 1895 when most of the old vilage was being pulled down to meet the needs of the influx of new visitors, the Old Post Office was rescued from destruction by a team of people lead by Catherine Johns.. Miss Johns carried out improvements to the building. The Old Post Office is now in the care of the National Trust, who acquired the building from Miss Johns in 1903 and is preserved as the Victorian post office that it became in its latter years.
Atmospheric Tintagel Castle
The village was once known known as Trevana until renamed Tintagel in Victorian times, in an effort to promote tourism. Tintagel has a profusion of tourist shops, offering a wide range of goods.
The picturesque church of St. Materiana stands somewhat detached from the village at Glebe Cliff on the Tintagel coast. St Materiana, who has been identified with St Madryn, a princess of Gwent, who lived around 500AD. The first church on the site was probably sixth century, The present building from the the late eleventh or early twelfth century. Art historian Nikolaus Pevsner (writing in 1950) suggested that its Norman-era design includes some Saxon features, while the tower may be thirteenth or fifteenth century in date. Inside the church is a Norman font, crudely carved out of stone and a stone which dates to Roman times.
The dramatic Tintagel Castle, reputed to be the birthplace of King Arthur, can be reached on foot or by regular land rover service from the village.
A Circular Walk from Tintagel Village
Distance - 3 miles
*Turn left down the lane alongside the Cornishman Inn in the village, following the footpath marked ['St. Materiana's Church and Glebe Cliff'[. Continue along the path downhill as the ascending path turns sharply to the right cross a stile to leave the footpath.
*Proceed to a gate and a stile, go across the field, bear right across a narrow field to reach a stile. Continue along the right edges of small fields to arrive at a stile leading onto a lane. Continue along the lane to the junction at Trevillick Farm, go straight across following the signpost marked 'Coast Path'.
*Continue along the path to a gate and stile at the end and continue across the fields ahead to reach the coastal footpath. Turn left along the coast path until reaching a gap in a wall on Bagalow Cliff at which point bear left, pass over a stile and continue along the path to Penhallic Point.
*Continue along the path to reach a track which leads to Tintagel Youth Hostel. On passing the youth hostel bear right to join a further track from which the picturesque twelfth century church of St. Materiana may be seen. Turn left just before reaching the church, taking the path which leads along the seaward side of the churchyard.
*Continue along this path to reach Tintagel Castle. From the castle take the steeply ascending path back to Tintagel Village.
Additional Information
King Arthur's Great Halls, Tintagel