Tintagel

Tintagel (Cornish: Tre war Venydh) is a village on the coast of North Cornwall that is best known for its medieval castle, which is known as King Arthur's Castle.

Understand

Steps up to Tintagel Castle

• Tintagel Web visitor information

Get in

By car

Tintagel is on the B3263, both ends of which link to the A39 near Camelford at its southern end and via Boscastle to the north.

By bus

Tintagel can be reached using the First Kernow services 94/95 that travel between Wadebridge and Bude (with connection at Wadebridge to Bodmin Parkway railway station via the BlueFlash 11A bus).

Get around

Tintagel is a small village which can be easily explored on foot.

By car

Car parking takes coins or can be paid via an app. Shopkeepers are reluctant to give change for parking, so it's recommended to have some ready before arrival.

The main car park is next to the Tintagel Visitor Centre though there is another car park opposite The Olive Garden which charges £3 for all-day parking.

See

Tintagel Old Post Office

Merlin's Cave where, according to legend, Merlin rescued the infant Arthur from the sea.

• 1 Tintagel Castle (Dintagel), Bossiney Road, PL34 0HE, ☏ +44 1840 770328. Check website for hours as varies throughout the year. The castle overlooks the rugged North Cornwall coast, offering dramatic views. Tintagel Castle is said to be the birthplace of King Arthur, you can still visit the nearby Merlin's Cave. The castle also features in the tale of Tristan and Isolde. Beach café available. There is no parking on site. Pay and display parking in the village, 600 metres away. Between March and September, you can get a ride in a Landover down the hill from the main gate to the ticket office, cafe and exhibition room for £2 per person, but after that, access is via sometimes steep staircases with handrails, which will be a problem for people with mobility limitations, although a new bridge as of 2021 makes accessibility easier. Wear good shoes. There may be high winds, so bring a jacket. adults £8.40, children £5.00, concessions £7.60. (updated Oct 2017)
• Bossiney Cove and Benoath Cove (below the road from Tintagel to Boscastle). These beaches are in a sheltered cove below the cliffs of Bossiney. Park in the small lay-by at the top of Bossiney Hill for an easy descent to Bossiney Cove. Toilets and payphone but no other facilities. 
• 2 Tintagel Old Post Office, Fore St, PL34 0DB, ☏ +44 1840 770024, tintageloldpo@nationaltrust.org.uk. 10:30AM-5:30PM. National Trust site. 14th-century yeoman's farmhouse with a famously wavy slate roof and over 600 years of history. Adult £4.60, child £2.30, family £11.50. (updated Oct 2017)
• 3 Tintagel Toy Museum & Collectors' Shop, Fore St, PL34 0DD, ☏ +44 1840 770354. A small toy shop with many vintage toys on sale that it is effectively a museum. Has a small New Age section as well with candles and oracle cards. (updated Jul 2017)
• 4 St. Materiana's Church, Church Hill, PL35 0DJ, ☏ +44 1840 250359. An attractive, but small grade-I listed Norman church. Much like Tintagel Castle it lies on a hill. (updated May 2018)
• 5 Tintagel Visitor Centre, ☏ +44 1840 779084. 10AM-5PM. An unusually shaped building near a car park providing tourist information, a small museum with exhibits related to the area and a gift shop. Also has toilets. (updated Jun 2018)

Do

• 1 St. Nectan's Glen, Trethevy, PL34 0BE, ☏ +44 1840 779538, info@st-nectansglen.co.uk. A beautiful tranquil waterfall which is said to have enchanted water. It's a bit of a hike to get there, especially after rainfall, so it's recommended to wear sturdy walking boots. There's a slightly easier alternative path via a track though it is less scenic. Adult: £9, Child (5-15): £5 (annual passes are also available). (updated Jun 2024)

Buy

Tintagel has a few occult-witchcraft stores given the town's proximity to Bodmin Moor and Boscastle.

• 1 LunaOrbis - The Mystical Magical & Paranormal, Bossiney Rd, PL34 0AH, ☏ +44 1840 779121. M-Sa 11AM-4PM, Su closed. (updated Jun 2018)

The town has plenty of souvenir stores too.

• 2 Tintagel Honey Shop, Fore St, PL34 0DA. A small shop dedicated to locally produced honey. (updated Jun 2018)
• 3 Pendragon Gifts, Fore St, PL34 0DA, ☏ +44 1840 770847. Sells souvenirs such as beerware and weaponry such as swords. (updated Jun 2018)

Eat

• 1 Beach Café (At Tintagel Castle). Serves Cornish cream teas, crab sandwiches, hot and cold drinks, and Cornish pasties 
• 2 Charlie's Cafe Restaurant & Online Deli, Fore Street PL34 0DA, ☏ +44 1840 779500, sales@online-deli.co.uk. M-Sa 10AM-5PM. Child-friendly café serving breakfasts, lunches and some evening meals. Mains £6-16. (updated Mar 2015)
• 3 The Mill House, Trebarwith Strand, PL34 0HD, ☏ +44 1840 770200. Tu-Su 12:30-2:30PM, 6:30-9PM. Set in seven acres of wooded valley and garden on the north coast of Cornwall, this former corn mill serves a modern British menu using local and seasonal produce. Accommodation also available. Mains £15-20. 
• 4 The Olive Garden, Atlantic Road, PL34 0DD, ☏ +44 1840 779270. Independent Italian restaurant that is unaffiliated with the American restaurant chain of the same name. 
• 5 King Arthur Café, 5 Atlantic Rd, PL34 0DD. Daily 9am-5pm. A good place to stop for a Cornish cream tea. (updated Jun 2024)

Drink

• 1 King Arthur's Arms, Fore St, PL34 0DA, ☏ +44 1840 770628. 9AM-11:30PM. A traditional pub with extensive wine and cocktail menus. (updated Jun 2018)

Sleep

• 1 Cornishman Inn, Fore Street, PL34 0DB (In the village centre), ☏ +44 1840 770238. Traditional Cornish inn with 10 bedrooms. Also has bar and restaurant. 

Go next

Nearby towns and villages to explore include Boscastle, Padstow, Wadebridge, Port Isaac and Camelford. Bodmin Moor is about 7 miles further inland and includes the highest hills in Cornwall. It is crossed by the A30 main road which connects Launceston with Bodmin