Tintagel has wandered into the guidebooks as the legendary birthplace of King Arthur thanks to Geoffrey of Monmouth who introduced the idea in the 1300's. Whether that is its real history we’ll never know, but whatever did happen there was surely romantic and mysterious and tragic. The setting demands it.
Situated on a rocky headland that is being undercut by the furious wave action of the North Atlantic, Tintagel is a place to visit now. The sea will win sooner or later, the ruin will crash into the caves below and all that will be left is a rocky island.
The castle, really once a village atop a windswept peninsula, is only a ruin now. In most places only about two feet of wall remain. Still, it's an inspiring and fascinating place. Excavations have turned up pottery from 400–500AD, glass from 6th century Malaga and two 1500-year-old Latin inscriptions one of which mentions someone named Artognou. The first three letters of that name have caused renewed speculation.
Lower on the cliff, the remains of a 13th century castle provide the perfect place to rest and have a picnic after climbing the amazing stairs. The elderly and those who have difficulty climbing stairs should either give this sight a miss or prepare for an intense day. I’m an athlete, but due to an injury I was wearing a brace that kept my leg straight. I found Tintagel extremely slow going but well worth the effort.