A Trip to Camelot? Tips on Visiting Tintagel Castle, Cornwall, UK

Are you planning on visiting Tintagel Castle, but unsure if it’s worth the money? Would you like to find out how Tintagel’s strong link to the legends of King Arthur and Camelot was born? Or, are you just browsing for some useful information prior to your visit?

If your answer is yes to any of these questions, I hope this blog post will help you find the answers you’re looking for. We’ll share some useful information that you might want to consider before booking your ticket. We’ll also dive a bit into the rich history and legends that surround Tintagel Castle and inspired many people over the centuries.

If you’d like to see our Tintagel Castle adventures with some amazing drone footage then make sure to watch our YouTube video by clicking here. (Please note that this video also contains our St Nectan’s Glen circular walk.) You can also watch our full Cornwall Series by clicking here.

Interesting Facts about Cornwall

Although Cornwall is located pretty far away from the major centres in the UK, millions of tourists visit it every year. So, I thought I’d share 10 interesting facts about Cornwall and show you why we totally fell in love with it in only 3 days.

1. Cornwall has only one neighboring county, Devon, and is surrounded by water on three sides.
2. It has only one city, Truro, which is the administrative centre of Cornwall and also one of the smallest cities in the UK.
3. Cornwall has its own flag and own language called Kernewek, which is a Celtic language. The Cornish flag is the flag of the Cornish patron saint, Saint Piran.
4. It’s southwesternmost point is called Land’s End and the southernmost point is Lizard Point. Lizard Point is also the most southerly point on mainland Great Britain.
5. The well-known Cornish Pasty was invented by the miners. Apparently, at least 120 million pasties are made every year and producers generate millions of pounds worth of trade to the Cornish economy.
6. Due to its oceanic setting and the influence of the Gulf Stream, Cornwall has probably the best climate in the UK.
7. Cornwall has a huge variety of marine life so you can spot seals, dolphins and even Basking Sharks. How cool?
8. There are nearly 400 types of plants in Cornwall, thanks to its warm climate and the Eden Project.
9. Cornwall’s 422 miles of coastline has over 300 beaches, many of which are known as surfing paradises like Newquay. 
10.  Other unique things in Cornwall are the Pipewell in Liskeard that’s never run dry, a coach that’s driven by headless horses in Penryn around Christmas, and all the Arthurian legends.

There are definitely many more fun facts about Cornwall, so make sure to have a quick internet search before your visit.

Introducing Tintagel Castle

Built half on the mainland and half on a jagged headland jutting out into the ocean is the medieval fortification of Tintagel Castle. The castle has a very long history filled with well-known Arthurian legends. 

It is possible that the area was occupied in the Romano-British period. Due to various luxury items that were found here, archeologists believe that Tintagel was an elite settlement in the early medieval period. In 2016 and 2017 two digs actually revealed the outlines of a 5th or 6th century palace. 

The impressive location of Tintagel inspired many poets and rulers over the centuries. In the 12th century, Geoffrey of Monmouth named this castle as the place where King Arthur was conceived. This legend likely prompted Earl Richard of Cornwall to build a cliff-top castle here in the 13th Century. Since the following Earls of Cornwall weren’t interested in the castle, it slowly fell into disrepair.

In the 19th and 20th century the ruins became a tourist destination thanks to the Arthurian legends that became popular in the Victorian Era. 

Today Tintagel Castle is managed by English Heritage. What you see today as you walk around are the ruins of the 13th century castle, and those of the older stronghold. 

Is Tintagel Castle the location of Camelot?

Okay, let’s dig a bit deeper into Tintagel Castle’s association with the legends of King Arthur. The first literature that linked King Arthur to this castle was written by Geoffrey of Monmouth in the 12th Century. In ‘History of the Kings of Britain’ he tells the story of the British king, Uther Pendragon, and his love for Igraine, the wife of Gorlois, the Duke of Cornwall.

In order to protect his wife from Uther, Gorlois hides Igraine in the fortress of Tintagel. Since the castle was impossible to conquer, Uther seeks the help of Merlin the Wizard. Merlin transforms him into the exact likeness of Gorlois. Uther could then enter the castle freely and trick Igraine into taking him to bed where it’s rumored that King Arthur was conceived.

In Geoffrey’s tale there’s actually no mention of Arthur being born in Tintagel or that he visited or owned the castle when he became the king. However, due to the story’s popularity more and more related tales were produced and the site of Arthur’s conception became his birthplace then Camelot itself.

So, do you think that Tintagel Castle is in fact the location of Camelot, the famous fortress of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table? Although I think it’s unlikely, the location of Tintagel is so epic that I can somewhat see the stories of these ancient kings playing out here!

How to get to Tintagel

By Car: Tintagel Castle is located to the west of the village of Tintagel between Padstow and Bude in North Cornwall. If you arrive by car, you can park in Tintagel. There are plenty of car parks in the village and the parking fee seemed to be the same everywhere. We paid £3 for 4 hours of parking. If you don’t have your own car but would like to enjoy the freedom of a private vehicle, then you can always hire a car to get to Tintagel.

If you want to do the circular walk before your timed entry, then make sure to arrive an hour before that.

By Public Transport: If you arrive by public transport you can take Buses 95, 181, 182 and 212  travelling between Truro, Wadebridge, Camelford, Bodmin, and Bude. You can disembark at the Visitor Centre bus stop and start your circular walk to and around Tintagel Castle. 

If you’re coming from further afield, I recommend getting the train to Truro. There are train services to and from London, Penzance, Exeter and Plymouth. From there just take Bus 95 to Tintagel. Please note that the bus takes about 2 hours to reach Tintagel. Make sure to plan your journey with Trainline which also provides information on bus fares.

Top Tip – If you’re planning on travelling across the UK by train a lot, then check out some Railcard options which allow you to save some pennies on your train fares.

Cost to enter Tintagel Castle

Admission fee is £17 for adults and £10.10 for children. There are some discount options which you can find further information on on the website.

However, if you’re a member of the English Heritage, you can visit Tintagel Castle free of charge. You can read about the different kinds of membership by clicking here.

Good to know! – At the time of our visit you could join English Heritage at the castle for 18 months for the price of a one year membership. Plus you could get your Tintagel Castle ticket refunded if you signed up on the day. I’m not sure if it’s an ongoing deal, but it’s worth checking it out if you’ve been thinking about joining English Heritage.

Is Tintagel Castle worth the entry fee?

I definitely winced a little when we paid the entry fee to visit the castle. However, after exploring the castle, I think it’s worth paying if you love the Arthurian legends. The landscape is also absolutely stunning and the views from Tintagel Island don’t disappoint either. I think it’s worth a visit on a dry and sunny day. Since you have to book online, it’s a bit hard to guess what the weather will be like. 

Therefore, I suggest you keep an eye on the forecast and the booking site and book it as late as possible. In addition, I also recommend you time your booking with low tide. Otherwise you won’t be able to walk into Merlin’s Cave and it would be a shame to miss it.

How long do you need to explore Tintagel Castle?

I would allow at least 4 hours for the whole circular walk. You’ll need at least 15 to 20 minutes just to get to the entrance. If you want to make the most of your visit and get your money’s worth, then make sure to spend as long as possible exploring the castle. The views are amazing and there are many features to see on Tintagel Island. Also, don’t forget about allowing some time to explore the beach either. You can read more about all the things to see further down.

Facilities around Tintagel Castle

Cafés and Picnic Spots – If you’d like to grab a drink or something to eat then head to Beach Café after your Tintagel Castle visit. The café is ideally placed with a beach view and offers a good variety of hot and cold drinks, lunches and of course delicious cakes. All ingredients are locally sourced.

On a lovely sunny day, I recommend bringing your own picnic with you. You can bring your own picnic blanket and find a great spot to eat anywhere on the grass within Tintagel Castle or on the beach.

In addition, there are plenty of pubs, restaurants and cafés in Tintagel village itself. 

Toilets – There are toilet facilities available next to the Beach Café in Tintagel Castle. There are also public toilets in Tintagel. Please note that you have to pay £0.50 to use these facilities in the village. I suggest you use the facilities in Tintagel before your visit, since the public toilets are at the end of your walk!

What to wear and bring with you?

What to wear depends on the time of year you’re visiting and the weather conditions on the day of your visit. 

I think you can wear basically anything you feel comfortable in. However, one thing I highly recommend is choosing comfortable and supportive footwear. You’ll be walking a lot and the path can be uneven, so you don’t want to be wearing high-heels or flip-flops.

Even on a warm sunny day, I suggest bringing a light jacket or jumper with you, as it will feel windier and chillier on the top of the island.

Although there is a café on the beach, I suggest you bring some water or hot drinks with you and perhaps some light snacks.

Please Note! – Whatever you bring with you, make sure you either take it home with you or dispose of it responsibly. I suggest bringing a garbage bag with you to collect all your waste then dispose of it when you have the chance. Enjoy your time in nature but Leave No Trace!

Tintagel Castle circular walk

Although once you’ve parked your car you can just head straight to Tintagel Castle, I highly suggest you do a small circular walk. The circular walk, together with walking around the castle, will only be around 4km (2.5 miles) long.

Once you’ve parked, walk along Fore Street in Tintagel village towards the public toilets, which are right behind Spar. Carry on straight ahead, walk through the car park and through a little park that will eventually lead you to Vicarage Hill road. Walk along this road towards St Materiana’s Church and walk through the churchyard.

Please Note! – There are signs warning you about adder snakes in the church yard. These are  the UK’s only venomous snake so just watch your step and stick to the path. 

Once you’ve passed the church you’ll be joining onto the South West Coast Path where you should head to your right. There will a great view point from which you can see the entire Tintagel Island and the bridge that connects it to the mainland. It’s pretty impressive and the circular walk is definitely worth it for this view.

From here, just follow the path leading you to the entrance of Tintagel Castle. You’ll need to show you ticket at this point in order to enter. 

9 features not to miss when visiting Tintagel Castle

Below are 9 features and photo spots you don’t want to miss when exploring Tintagel Castle. Since there’s a one-way system in place you’ll want to make sure you don’t miss anything, otherwise you won’t be able to go back. That way you can definitely make the most of your rather pricey entry fee. 

1. The mainland part of Tintagel Castle: Lower and Upper Courtyard

If you didn’t know, Tintagel Castle actually lies on both sides of the chasm. So, before you head straight to cross the bridge to Tintagel Island, make sure to explore the mainland first. The mainland section consists of two parts: Lower and Upper Courtyards. 

2. Tintagel Castle Bridge

In the Middle Age, there used to be a narrow land bridge that residents used to access the island. However, this bridge disappeared and left the castle divided for centuries. The only way to Tintagel Island was through a set of 150 steps. This was a steep walk down and then back up the cliff. 

In 2019, the two sides of Tintagel Castle were connected by a brand new bridge. The project helped to restore the original route and also gives the chance for more visitors to access Tintagel Castle. 

You can still have the chance to walk down the steep set of steps to the beach after your visit. 

3. The island part of Tintagel Castle: the Great Hall

After crossing the bridge you’ll enter the island section of the castle. This part contains the Great Hall of Earl Richard’s 13th century castle. Here is where he used to entertain his guests and where he made important business decisions. 

4. Dark Age Remains

During the 2016 and 2017 excavations remains of different structures were found from the Dark Ages. This included many small rectangular buildings that date back to the 5th and the 6th centuries. At the time, it was an economically significant site due to its involvement in trade with the Mediterranean world. Whilst the exact function of it is still unknown, it is suggested that it may have been a stronghold. 

5. Changing Coastline Viewpoint

After leaving the Great Hall and some of the Dark Age remains, you’ll arrive to one of the best views from the island. From this viewpoint you can see the beach below you with some natural caves and a cool waterfall cascading into the sand. If you look ahead, you’ll also be able to see miles down the coastline.

The area is a great spot for a coffee break or picnic. If you visit in spring, you can also enjoy the mixture of wildflowers that add a pop of colour to the landscape. Needless to say that this was definitely my favourite section on the entire island.

6. Gallos aka King Arthur’s Statue

The 2.4m (8 ft) tall bronze sculpture is a relatively new addition to Tintagel Castle. It was created by Rubin Eynon who was commissioned by English Heritage to bring the history and legends of Tintagel to life. The statue was completed in 2016 and it was actually easier to fly it in by helicopter. 

Did you know? – Whilst most people refer to it as King Arthur’s Statue, it’s actually called ‘Gallos’ which means ‘power’ in Cornish.

Although the statue has an Excalibur look alike sword in its hand and also a crown on its head, English Heritage neither confirmed nor denied that the statue is King Arthur.

I guess they wanted the statue to represent both the legends of King Arthur but also to remind us of the historical importance of Tintagel. 

Whether the statue is King Arthur or not, I’ve never seen a more dramatic setting for a sculpture than the cliff edge of the rugged Tintagel Island. Have you?

7. Tintagel Castle Gate

Okay you just can’t leave Tintagel Castle without snapping the iconic photo in this open doorway with the stunning sea view ahead. This door leads you to the beach via a steep set of steps. Before the new bridge was built, visitors would’ve had to climb all the way up here to visit the castle. 

8. The waterfall on the beach

Once you reach the beach, get a closer look at the beautiful waterfall cascading into the sand from the cliff above. I don’t think I saw many photos of this waterfall prior to our visit so it was a lovely surprise feature in this already stunning place. 

9. Merlin’s Cave

You can’t leave Tintagel Castle without visiting Merlin’s Cave. The 100 m long sea cave was formed by marine erosion. What’s cool about this cave is that during low tide you can actually walk through the entire length of it. But you really need to time your visit well, as during high tide the cave fills up with water and won’t be passable. During our visit we only managed to get about three-quarters of the way through before we had to turn back.

The cave is believed by many to have been home to Merlin the wizard. Whilst Tintagel Castle became popular after Geoffrey’s tales in the 12th century, Merlin’s cave gained fame after Tennyson published ‘Idylls of the King’. In his tale the infant Arthur was washed ashore at Merlin’s Cave, who then brought him to safety.

Again, whether or not these tales have any truth in them, this is an impressive cave and definitely worth exploring.

Additional things to do in Cornwall

It doesn’t matter when you visit Cornwall, or what the weather is like, you’ll find no shortage of unique things to do and places to see. We definitely managed to visit a variety of iconic locations during our 3-day trip. So, here are some additional places to add to your Cornish road-trip itinerary. 

St Nectan’s Glen Circular Walk – Visit Cornwall’s best kept secret, a sacred site with a stunning 60ft tall waterfall via a 1.8 mile short circular woodland walk. Click here to read it.

Lizard Point to Kynance Cove Circular Walk – A 5 mile circular walk along one of the most beautiful sections of coastline in the South West. Click here to read it. 

Exploring the Lost Gardens of Heligan – Visiting one of the UK’s most popular gardens built in a 19th century Gardenesque style. Click here to read it.

Click here for more historic houses and castles to visit in Cornwall.

In the meantime, you can browse for more hiking trails in the UK and around the world in my Hiking Adventures Series.

Final Thoughts on Tintagel Castle

Although the admission fee to Tintagel Castle is a bit steep, I still enjoyed exploring the ruins of the castle. The landscape itself is well-worth a visit, and the mixture of rich history and legends that surround this area definitely made our visit a unique one.

I was glad that the weather was rather pleasant, so we could see for miles down the coast and enjoy the combination of blue water and lush green. In May, the colourful wildflowers definitely added a bit extra to the already beautiful place. I’m also glad that we visited during low tide, so we could walk into Merlin’s Cave and enjoy the beach for a bit.

Have you ever visited Tintagel Castle or Cornwall in general before? If so, how much of the area did you manage to explore? Let me know in the comments below.