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Cornwall

Best of the Best?

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Torrential rain permitting, we are heading off to camp in Cornwall for a week from Saturday. Current vague plan is to do it in 3 stages; East Cornwall / West Devon for 2 days, lands end for 2 days then freeform camping for 2 days...

Can anyone provide me with a list of must sees for a Cornwall virgin?

Blimey Juamei! You ask the easy ones, don't you!

East Cornwall, speak to Mr Hamhead, our resident expert. You might even get a guided tour across Bodmin if you're lucky! :-)

Lands End. Where to start?

Ok, from Men an Tol Studios (park at SW418344) there's a good 3 hour-ish circular walk that takes in Men an Tol, Men Scryfa, Four Parish Stone, Fenton Bebbibell Well (if you're so inclined and can find it), Nine Maidens of Boskednan, Ding Dong Mine, Bossiliack Barrow, Lanyon Quoit and West Lanyon Quoit.

Slightly further south (A30) there's the Blind Fiddler and Boscawen-un (a total must-see, IMHO). Even further south (B3315) there is Boleigh Fogou - phone ahead for appt., the Fiddlers, the Merry Maidens, Gun Rith and Tregiffian Burial Chamber in a cluster.

That's a busy day with an early start. But virtually everywhere you go there's something to be seen - standing stones galore, burial chambers, IA field systems. I've not mentioned Tregeseal circle, Zennor, Mulfra, Chun Quoits, Carn Euny village, Chysauster (NT entrance fee payable) yet, which are all must-sees.

Have fun - 2 days is nowhere near sufficient. A week isn't long enough for us these days, and I've seen a majority of the sites now - we've got a fortnight booked next month down there :-)

Totally agree with Ocifant re. Boscowen Un. I would add that Kennidjack is a really atmospheric natural featur, with a nice little stone circle set below - I had a very strange experience there.

I think some cool bloke that used to be in a very cool new wave band, and did lots of cool/fried solo stuff wrote a big book about all of these - can't think of his name ........=;o)

Well, I can't argue - or compete - with any of the above suggestions!

Although if you wanna know where any nearby amazing wells are, giz a shout! :)

I will add that Yellowmead and Drizzlecombe near Sheepstor in West Dartmoor are well worth a stop off... Quite near each other, and fairly easy to get to.

G x

Thanks guys!
Now just to persuade the lovely lady to spend a week at Boleigh campsite...

can anyone suggest a good (cheapish) hotel or travel lodge or similar near lands end?

i plan on going down soon, i went men-an-tol and a few other places in September. but id like to be able to find somwhere so i can go for a few weekends

There are special gardens where we could find ourself standing atop Carn Brea and enjoying the views across the County then take a stroll to look at the Basset Memorial and huge weather shaped granite tors in a Neolithic setting, lunch that day a picnic eaten in the low walled remains of an Iron Age house.
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Angelinjones

Hi,
I would suggest a visit to Scorhill stone circle. Take an O.S. map and you should find it easily enough. Then just a mile or two away is The Spinsters' Rock which is near Drewsteinton.
x

Boscawen-Un. My favorite sacred site in all of Britain and I have seen a few. The chapel at Madron is nice, too.