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Reasons to visit Boscastle Distinctive natural harbour Surrounding landscape and coastline, much of which is National Trust owned. Museum of Witchcraft Associated with authors and artists, including Thomas Hardy, who was inspired by its remoteness and rugged beauty Abundant in wildlife, dramatic walks and historic features Great potteries and art galleries Things to do in Boscastle The landscape, coastline and quaint old buildings are undoubtedly the main attraction of the local area.
Explore the area As you wander around the harbour you will begin to notice the quaint old buildings which have been converted into pubs, restaurants and coffee shops. Walking Follow in the footsteps of the famous novelist Thomas Hardy by taking the path through the woods and up the valley to St.
The Visitor Centre The National Trust Visitor Centre has an extensive gift shop, tea rooms and the usual visitor information such as maps of the area and non expensive walking trail leaflets. Top picks for Boscastle. Mariners Cottage.
Polrunny Farm Holiday Cottages. The Old Rectory. Self Catering in Boscastle. On that subject, Things is a great shop that sits by the River Valency selling all sorts of silver jewellery and pewter gifts. The Otherworld is an old crooked cottage that is now a New Age Shop selling an amazing range of witchcraft and magical artefacts.
The National Trust Gift Shop in Boscastle is also very popular and has a delightful range of souvenirs from local artisans that help towards the protection of the village!
Velency Valley is an ancient woodland behind Boscastle which was a popular walk with Thomas Hardy and his wife Emma.
Legends say that a Welsh princess named Madryn settled by a spring in Valency Valley. She was the daughter of King Mortimer of the Blessed Gwent and she became a healer. In recorded history, there was a Holy Well and a small monastery set up by the site for healing in her honour in AD. Although very little of that original chapel remains, what we see there today is a restored version of the church built in by the Botreaux family.
It has been restored twice since, once in and then again when the roof caved in the 19th century. You can visit the Minster Church today and it is nicely tucked away in the Valency Valley woods. The walk from Boscastle to Minster Church will take you around 30 minutes.
Inside the church, there is a Norman Font, some medieval bench ends, carvings and a far few memorials. On the outside of the church is a curious carving of a pair of scissors but no one has been able to determine what it means! The grounds have also been declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Due to a tooth abscess that was causing her pain, she would often lose her temper and people believed she was possessed by the devil.
Eventually, she was incarcerated for public brawling in Bodmin Jail! The conditions were so bad she died of bronchial pneumonia at 38 years old. Her bones were then kept for playing pranks by locals and finally, she was unceremoniously put on display at the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic.
A witch was invited to investigated and advised them that Joan wanted a proper burial. So, her remains were finally laid to rest in a wooded area near the Minster with a respectful ceremony.
Born Died in Bodmin Jail. Buried You can visit her tombstone nearby the Minster gates. Thomas Hardy fans will love exploring the area around Boscastle where he worked as a practising apprentice and had many adventures with his beau Emma. Inside you can see the memorial that Hardy made for her on her death. As well as the Hardy connection, this church dates all the way back to the Domesday Books in , so it has lots of history to uncover!
The walk will take you around 30 minutes from the Boscastle harbour or a few minutes drive up the coast towards Bude. Fans of Hardy will also be interested in checking into the Old Rectory where Emma used to live. Cecil Williamson decided to build the Witchcraft museum in Boscastle because of the friendly locals and the fact that the Rocky Valley Labyrinth carvings were nearby.
There is much dispute over the origins of the stone carvings. Some say these date back to the Bronze Age and some say these were made by Celtic tribes.
The labyrinth symbol that is carved on the rocks here has often been associated with fertility or life and is used in pagan rituals. Many neo-pagans visit this site from all over the world! You can find the carvings behind a derelict mill on the east banks of the river Trevillett. An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. There are many legends surrounding the glen including ghosts, spooky happenings and the legend of King Arthur!
If you follow the pathway into the woods you can visit a magical series of waterfalls and a small hermitage in the gorge. Although this was largely Christianised years ago, this was also an ancient pagan site. Either way, it has long been thought of as a holy place with many crystals, inscriptions, prayers and devotions which have been made and lie on the rocks.
Click here for more information on visiting. Many people say that the best part of Boscastle is leaving it along the many beautiful coastal walks in the area! It starts at Minehead, loops around Devon, Cornwall and finishes at Dorset. So, many people take the coastal route which is around 5 miles.
Tintagel is also a reward in itself at the end that has an ancient castle with a connection to the legendary King Arthur! Click here for more information. Tintagel Castle is easily one of the most famous historic sites in all of Britain due to its links with the Arthurian tales! Whether you believe the legends or not the ruined castle on top of Tintagel Island is well worth visiting.
The views from the top are spectacular. Most of the fortification was destroyed years ago but English Heritage has done a great job in recreating what the castle and grounds would have looked like in medieval times!
You can also get a picture with King Arthur as there is a statue of him on the headland. Recently, they have revealed a brand new footbridge that is going to connect the two sides of Tintagel Castle for the first time in years. As a long term Arthurian legend fan, I am dying to visit! Remember when I said that Merlin was responsible for King Arthur being born? During the breeding season you may be lucky to see razorbills, guillemots, and puffins.
There are also seals in these waters. Other trips go as far as 5 miles offshore and take trippers wreck fishing. The coastline around Boscastle is truly exceptional. The National Trust own the cliffs of Penally Point and Willapark which form the imposing headlands either side of the harbour entrance north and south respectively.
Willapark is easily identifiable by the small castellated white coastguard lookout tower perched on the end. The view from here has been utilised since the Iron Age when there was a cliff fort here. The adjoining Forrabury Stitches are a series of fields that have been farmed since medieval times. Nearby is the pretty little church of St Symphonian' s which dates back to Norman times. Penally Point on the northern side of the harbour is home to a blow hole which occasionally shoots out plumes of water at low tide when there is enough swell running.
The strenuous 7 mile coast path walk between Boscastle and Crackington Haven is a favourite with walkers with several features along the coast here that merit a visit in their own right. Just south of here is High Cliff , the highest point on the Cornish coast path. Nearby is the sheer black cliff of Buckator and around Fire Beacon Point is Pentargon inlet with an impressive waterfall which cascades down to the sea below.
Further on are coves such as Bossiney , and Tintagel , famous for its ruined castle and legends of King Arthur. Further again is the lovely beach at Trebarwith Strand.
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