Merlin's Cave - Tintagel, Cornwall
Posted by: 
SMacB
N 50° 40.082 W 004° 45.558
30U E 375675 N 5614386
Below Tintagel Castle a fault or a layer of weaker rocks crosses the Tintagel Head, the castle is built on. The rocks were eroded by the sea and so several irregular sea caves were formed, all in one row.
Waymark Code: WMT9HB
Location: South West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 10/19/2016
Views: 4
"Merlin's Cave is the name given to a cave located beneath Tintagel Castle, 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) south-west of Boscastle, Cornwall. It is 100 metres (330 ft) long, passing completely through Tintagel Island from Tinagel Haven on the east to West Cove on the west. It is a sea cave formed by marine erosion along a thrust plane between slate and volcanic rocks.
Tennyson made Merlin's Cave famous in his Idylls of the King, describing waves bringing the infant Arthur to the shore and Merlin carrying him to safety.
The lower portion of the steps down to the cave have been washed away, and it is necessary to clamber down some boulders to reach the beach. The cave fills with water at high tide, but has a sandy floor and is explorable at low tide."
SOURCE - (
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As the cave is tidal and only accessible at low tide, please be sure to check tide times - (
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