Travel Guides Crafted by Experienced Archaeologists & Historians

Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly
Art, History & Archaeology Sites & Museums

Cornwall holds a unique place in England, many native Cornish maintain that they are a nation distinct from the English altogether. Located at Britain’s southwestern tip, Cornwall has a rich collection of prehistoric monuments, from the settlements of Carn Euny and Chysauster to the stone circles at Boscawen-Un and the Hurlers. Probably the county’s most famous medieval site, Tintagel Castle, is the legendary birthplace of King Arthur, with the Arthurian connection contributing to popular perceptions of Cornwall as a land of mystery and enchantment. Other castles include the Norman fortification at Restormel and those at Saint Mawes and Pendennis, built in the reign of King Henry VIII to defend against French or Spanish attack. Possessing more coastline than any other county in the United Kingdom, Cornwall’s rich sea-faring heritage is displayed at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall.

Featured Destination

An Archaeological Archipelago:
Things to see on the Isles of Scilly

Getting to the islands at the edge of the Atlantic is as much an adventure as your time on the Isles of Scilly will be rambling from Bronze Age funerary monuments to Medieval castles. An islander offers her tips and suggestions for visiting these islands just off the Cornish coast.

Archaeology & History Sites in Cornwall

Merry Maidens Stone Circle

In open farmland on the road from Newlyn and Penzance to Land’s End is a cluster of ritual and funerary monuments dating to the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age. The main attraction is a modest but perfect stone circle known as the Merry Maidens. Nearby are a few standing stones, the tallest still standing menhirs in Cornwall, and a partly destroyed burial chamber. As with many megalithic sites in the area, the stone circle and standing stones here get their names from a local legend.

Join English Heritage and/or National Trust

Museums & Art Galleries in Cornwall

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