Tintagel is a small town on the North Cornwall coast. Famous for it's links to King Arthur and it's windswept coast. It is a typical tourist town now with a selection of cafes and gift shops.

It is easy to see where the cliffs here have inspired so many writers and painters over the years

The name Tintagel was originally only given to the island, its been suggested the name links to a rock on Sark called Tente d'Agel which is said to mean Castle of the Devil and possible connected to the fallen angel Azazel or the Hebrew Azael. It could also be "din" meaning stronghold and the Breton "tagel" meaning noose (reference to the shape of the headland?)

Inhabited possible since the Palaeolithic times, and there are burial mounds of Bronze age tribal chieftains at Titchbarrow and Condolden

The church St Materiana has a name that origins is not known for sure It could be Madryn the daughter of Gwrthvyr the Blessed. It it also spelt Mertheriana the Celtic merther coming from the Greek "martyrion" meaning a saint's shrine. Which would make the church name be translated at the shrine of Iana (possible therefore connecting with the Goddess Diana)

Part of the Iron age encampment at Trenale has a double circular quartz stone with a fort like structure at the higher end.

The mound at Bossinney is one of the many places the Round Table is believed to be buried, at midnight on midsummer's eve unexplained lights are said to be seen there.

Tintagel castle was mentioned in the medieval La Folie Tristan d'Oxford - "If of old you were to call Tintagel the faery castle, this faery castle' would be rightly spoken. For twice a year it vanishes The peasants truly said that twice a year it could not be seen by anyone in the district, not by anyone at all, however great attention they paid - once in winter and once in summer - so local folks say."

Also see St Nectan's Glen