If you’re travelling through Cornwall, you’ll no doubt hear about the legend of King Arthur.
Was King Arthur a real warrior king, or pure myth? Where was Camelot? And why are so many places across Cornwall and Britain’s south-west connected to his story?
To find out, you can follow the “King Arthur trail” through Cornwall and Somerset where history, myth and legend collide. You’ll see ruined castles, hidden sea caves, and historic sites where history gives way to legend.
I recently spent a couple of weeks solo travelling around Cornwall in my campervan. Along the way I explored this story of Britain’s greatest legend: King Arthur. I’ve been very interested in these myths and legends for years since I saw the 1981 movie Excalibur in the cinema.
If you follow the Arthurian trail, you can decide for yourself: The places are real. The legends are real. Whether Arthur himself was real is another question entirely.
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The Story of King Arthur
Uther Pendragon coveted Igraine, the wife of Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall. Merlin the wizard gave Uther the appearance of Gorlois, and he was able to enter the castle and lie with Igraine. Thus Arthur was conceived.
Read the full story
Gorlois died, and Uther married Igraine. To keep the baby safe, Merlin took him away, and he was raised in secret with his uncle Sir Ector, and Ector’s son Kay.
As an adolescent, Arthur was squire to his cousin, and at a tournament he was the only person able to draw a sword that was stuck in a stone. In doing so, he was proclaimed King of all Britain. This was the famous sword Excalibur, which had been placed there by the Lady of the Lake, a mystical pagan priestess from the fabled Isle of Avalon.
He gathered a group of noble knights to his company, and they gathered around a round table in the castle of Camelot. Merlin remained his closest advisor. All was good in the land. Arthur married the beautiful Guinevere, but he was betrayed by Guinevere and his best knight, Sir Lancelot, when they had an affair.
Arthur was tricked into laying with his aunt Morgause (or his half-sister Morgan le Fey, depending on which story you read), and from that union his only son Mordred was born).
The affair of Guinevere and Lancelot broke apart the knights of the round table. Some of them decided to go on a quest for the holy grail, as a type of penance. Arthur didn’t go on this quest (despite what you’ll see on Monty Python!)
Lancelot found the grail, but was unable to look upon it, because of his sin of adultery. Only the pure knight Galahad (or Percival, depending on the story) was able to see the grail, and he died shortly after.
Meanwhile, back in Britain, Mordred had grown to manhood and challenged Arthur. In the battle (of Camlann) both Arthur and Mordred mortally wounded each other. Arthur went with Sir Bedivere to a nearby lake, where he instructed Sir Bedivere to return Excalibur to the Lady of the Lake. When Sir Bedivere threw the sword into the lake, her arm appeared and took the sword down in the lake.
A barge with a group of priestesses arrived and took Arthur away to the mystical Isle of Avalon, where he was buried (or healed, again depending on the story). Some accounts say that he still exists in that magical land and will one day return to lead Britain again. He is known as the Once and Future King.
The King Arthur Trail
Following the King Arthur Trail will take you from his birthplace in Tintagel to his final resting place on the fabled Isle of Avalon.
Tintagel: A king is born, and the legend begins
Tintagel in Cornwall is probably the place most closely tied to Arthurian legend. According to Geoffrey of Monmouth, this is where Arthur was born. The village has jumped on board with the legend and there are quite a few things to see in Tintagel that relate to Arthur’s story.
In fact, the village has only been known as Tintagel since the mid-19th century. Before that, it was named Trevana. The village was renamed to leverage the popularity of the Arthurian legends.
Tintagel Castle
Tintagel Castle is widely regarded as the birthplace of King Arthur. However, the ruins we see here are from a castle dating back to the 13th century, which was built by Richard, Earl of Cornwall, brother to King Henry III.
Apparently, he was so influenced by Geoffrey of Monmouth’s story that he chose to build his castle here, on the rocky headland.
There is historical evidence pointing to an important stronghold here in the 5th to 7th century. This is when Arthur (if he was real) might have lived. There are shards of pottery dating from Roman times that have been found here.
Today, you will see ruins scattered over the headland. There are information sign boards throughout the ruins, with pictures to show what the ruins would have looked like in their heyday.
The location of Tintagel Castle is very dramatic. It’s perched on a headland by the village of Tintagel. There’s a modern pedestrian bridge that was built in 2019 that leads over to the castle ruins. When you walk across the bridge, look at the uprights, they are designed like swords.
You can walk around the headland, seeing different groups of ruins. You’ll see sign boards explaining what the ruins would have been, with pictures.
To be completely honest, the ruins can be a little underwhelming. It’s the setting and atmosphere that really makes the place. When I visited in early September it was quite cool and windy.
Entry to the castle depends on the season, but expect to pay around £20. If you book online you’ll get a small discount. I paid £18.10 to visit in high season.
Gallos Statue
Another new installation at Tintagel Castle is the statue called “Gallos”. This was created by Welsh sculptor Rubin Eynon in 2016. Gallos is the Cornish word for Power
It’s not officially a statue of King Arthur. According to English Heritage who commissioned the statue, it represents the strength and power of all the leaders from this area.
It certainly looks Arthurian to me! What do you think?
Merlin’s Cave
The legendary wizard Merlin supposedly lived in a sea cave underneath the castle. This is where he called the breath of the dragon to turn Uther into the vision of Gorlois, and also where he brought the baby Arthur for safe keeping.
You can access this cave for a couple of hours each side of low tide, and you don’t need to pay the admission charge for the castle. Simply walk down the road towards the castle café and info centre, and continue to the path to the cave.
You’ll need to walk down some steps and over a few rocks to the beach. The cave itself is huge, and its actually more of a tunnel, in that it goes through to the other side of the headland. If you want to explore the cave you’ll need water shoes.
Information Centre/Cafe
There is a small information centre and cafe at the very bottom of the hill, which you can access without needing to pay the entry fee for the castle.
You can read more about the legend of King Arthur inside the info centre, and you’ll also see information about the archeological digs that have taken place here. Naturally, there’s a souvenir shop!
I can attest that the cafe serves a good cream tea! A traditional Cornish cream tea is a cup of tea with a scone served with jam and clotted cream. The big question is which goes first? The jam or the cream? The Cornish put the jam first.
Tintagel village
The legend of King Arthur can be found all through Tintagel. The village has leveraged the myths and created an entire industry around his name. You’ll see the King Arthur’s Arms pub with a sword in a stone outside, and even the campervan stopover is called the King Arthur Car Park.
King Arthur’s Great Halls
King Arthur’s Great Halls is a perfect example of this more modern take on the legend. While the façade of the building looks quite historic, the halls were built in 1930 by Frederick Glass who was obsessed with the legends.
The halls were built as a “replica” of King Arthur’s Hall where the Round Table might have stood. They now house 72 stained glass windows that tell the legends of King Arthur and his knights.
Entry to the halls is £8. The first section is a retelling of the legend in an audio-visual show, with paintings being illuminated. Then you walk through the halls at your own pace.
While the whole place was a little cheesy, it’s really good for an introduction to the myth, and the stained glass windows are quite impressive.
The Arthurian Landscape of Cornwall
There are several places around Tintagel that are loosely associated with Arthurian myth and legend. St Nectan’s Glen and Rocky Valley are worth adding to your King Arthur Trail Itinerary, simply because they are spectacular places to visit!
St Nectan’s Glen
St Nectan’s Glen is where the Trevillet River plunges down an 18m waterfall, through a natural hole in the rock and into a small pool at the bottom.
According to Christian stories, St Nectan was a 6th century hermit who lived in a cave above the waterfall. And local Arthurian legends say the Knights of the Round Table came here for a blessing before heading off on the quest for the Holy Grail.
Nowadays, St Nectan’s Glen has more of a New Age spiritual connection. It’s considered a place of healing and personal reflection. There are meditation rooms here, and throughout the glen you’ll see colourful ribbons and other offerings visitors have left here.
However, commercialism is alive and well – there is an £11 entry fee to get in to the glen!
You can’t drive all the way. There’s a small carpark on the B3263 where you can pay and display (I paid £5 to park here). You’ll then need to walk about 30 minutes along the river, through the rainforest.
The walk to St Nectan’s Glen is beautiful and not too strenuous. There are rough rocky patches and steps, so it isn’t wheelchair or pram friendly. I walked back along the gravel road, which goes up and over a hill. At the top of the hill you’ll get great views over the coast and Tintagel.
Rocky Valley
While you’re in the area, it’s worth stopping for the short walk through Rocky Valley. You can park in a small layby on the B3263, cross the road and take the path down to the Trewethet Mill.
The mill was built in the 18th century and used for the textile industry. It’s now in ruins. Just behind the mill (before you turn left to cross the bridge), there are two small labyrinths carved into the cliff face.
There’s a signboard here saying these are bronze age petroglyphs, dating back to around 1800BC!
If you cross the bridge and continue along the trail, you’ll come to the coast where the river flows into the sea. If the tide is high you’ll see waves rushing into the pools here.
The South West Coast path crosses the Rocky Valley Trail here, so you could walk here from Tintagel.
Slaughterbridge and the Battle of Camlann
According to the legends, Arthur fought his last battle at the Battle of Camlann. Supposedly this was in the area around Slaughter Bridge. Apparently there is a stone marking the battle but no sign of where the battle actually took place.
The Arthurian Centre/Vale of Avalon
This attraction would have provided me with more info on the Battle of Camlann. It’s linked with this area due to the river being called the Camel. However, sadly, the Arthurian Centre closed down in 2024.
The afore-mentioned stone has a 5th century inscription, however, that refers to a person named Latinus. There’s no mention of Arthur here.
But, you’ll drive through Slaughter Bridge on your way to the next destination, so you’ll just have to imagine the battle field!
The Death of Arthur (l’Morte d’Arthur)
According to some legends, Arthur isn’t actually dead…
Dozmary Pool
After the battle, the mortally wounded Arthur made his way to “the lake” to return his sword Excalibur to the Lady of the Lake. The location of this lake is supposedly Dozmary Pool.
What I found interesting here is that it took me around 30 minutes to drive from Slaughter Bridge to Dozmary Pool. How long would it have taken the mortally wounded Arthur to get there on horseback?
The road down to Dozmary Pool is very narrow, although there are a few passing points. There is space to park at the end of the road. The pool itself is actually quite unremarkable, it’s just a shallow lake.
I met a local fellow there who told me a few local stories, how people have thrown swords into the lake, and claimed to have found Excalibur. He also told me the lake is very shallow and you can walk out almost to the middle, but it’s very muddy so you’d get stuck.
But where was Camelot?
One of the biggest mysteries surrounding the legend of King Arthur is the actual location of Camelot, King Arthur’s Court and home to the Round Table.
There are several contenders for the location of Camelot including Caerleon in Wales, Winchester, and the town of Camelford near Tintagel and Slaughter Bridge. Modern scholars argue about the most likely contender, but of course, it might all be fiction anyway!
Cadbury Castle
Local legends around South Cadbury make Cadbury “Castle” a likely contender. The castle is actually the ruins of an Iron Age Hill Fort. All that remains today are the earthwork fortifications on the hill top.
However, archaeological evidence shows that this site was re-fortified in the 5th-7th centuries, a time when a historic Arthur would have existed. There are also shards of Roman pottery that have been found here, proving that this was once an important and wealthy stronghold.
I had long wanted to visit this site and did so in September 2026. There is a small carpark below the hill, just in the village of South Cadbury. Then it’s a short walk up the forest path to the hill fort.
There’s a marker in the centre of the summit, pointing directions. You can see Glastonbury Tor from here. Arthur certainly would have had a great outlook over the countryside from here.
Avalon: The End of the King Arthur Story
According to the legend, after the final battle at Camlann, the wounded Arthur was taken to Avalon, a mystical island shrouded by mists (The Mists of Avalon is one of my favourite books!). He remains here in Avalon, to return when Britain needs him. This is why he’s known as the Once and Always King.
I mean if he didn’t come back during WW2 I don’t think he’s ever coming! But anyway…
There are several places to visit around Avalon, I mean Glastonbury, that are connected to the legend of King Arthur.
Glastonbury Tor – the isle of Avalon?
The town of Glastonbury has long been linked with mysticism and spirituality. Walking through the main street of the town, you’ll see crystal shops and smell incense everywhere. Glastonbury has been connected to the Arthurian legend for many years.
Towering over the town is the Glastonbury Tor. A tor is a rocky outcrop atop a smooth hill. Today there is no real outcrop at the top of Glastonbury Tor, but there is a tower there.
In the past, the land here was wet and swampy, which could have made the Tor seem like an island. Glastonbury Tor became known as the Isle of Avalon in the 12th century.
You can walk to the top of the Tor, its steep but well worth it. The views from here are incredible. There’s no charge to walk up the Tor. The tower at the top is from a 14th century church.
Glastonbury Abbey
In 1191 the monks at Glastonbury Abbey claimed that they had found the graves of Arthur and Guinevere, marked with an iron cross that mentioned Arthur and Avalon. What a remarkable discovery!
Of course, this is almost certainly a made up story. There had been a devastating fire in the Abbey in 1184, and the discovery of Arthur’s tomb would surely draw pilgrims (and money!) to the Abbey. Before the fire, in the 11th century, Glastonbury Abbey had been the wealthiest in Britain.
The Abbey was abandoned in the 16th century under King Henry VIII’s dissolution of the Monasteries. Nowadays it’s in ruins, but you can visit, and the supposed grave of Arthur and Guinevere is marked.
Entry to Glastonbury Abbey is £15. The grounds are open from 10am to 6pm daily.
Essential Information for the King Arthur Trail
How to get to the King Arthur Trail
The King Arthur Trail is in Cornwall and Somerset, in south-west England. This is an ideal area for a road trip, as the public transport options are limited.
By Road
If you’re driving from London you can take the M4/M5 via Bristol to Exeter, and then take the A30/A394 to Tintagel. However, a more scenic route is to take the A303 which will lead you past Stonehenge. You could stop off at Cadbury Castle on the way, as it’s just off the A303.
By Train/Bus
Take the train to Plymouth, then train to Bodmin. From there it’s two buses to Tintagel. Alternatively, you can take the National Express Bus or FlixBus from London to Bodmin, and then the local bus 57 and 95 to Tintagel.
By Air
The closest airport to Tintagel is Cornwall Newquay Airport (NQY) and you can then take bus 94 and 95 to Tintagel.
Where to stay on the King Arthur Trail
As there are two main centres in this King Arthur Trail Itinerary, we’d recommend basing yourself in Tintagel first and then relocating to Glastonbury. Both towns have a good selection of guesthouses and small hotels. In Tintagel you can even stay at the King Arthur’s Arms!
If you’re travelling by campervan, the King Arthur Carpark in Tintagel allows overnight parking for £7 between 5pm and 10am. (Day parking is available by the hour or £7 for all day.). There are toilets, showers and campervan services available here for an additional fee. The carpark is in the centre of the village, and I parked on the large grassy field at the back.
Sadly Glastonbury doesn’t have the same provision for parking campervans. However, there is paid parking at the Morrison’s supermarket (3 hours free) and some Park4Night reviews say people have overnighted in their vans here.
FAQs
When is the best time to check out the King Arthur Trail?
I would recommend visiting Tintagel and Glastonbury in the late spring or early autumn. The days are long, so you’ll have plenty of time for exploring. The crazy summer crowds of July and August won’t be around, meaning traffic will be better and lines at attractions shorter.
I visited Cornwall in early September 2026. The weather was mild with some rain. The day I visited Tintagel Castle was probably the worst day. It was quite windy especially up on the cliffs.
How long do you need for the King Arthur Trail?
If you spent 4-5 days between Tintagel and Glastonbury, that would be plenty of time to see all the King Arthur Trail sights and check out some of the other attractions in the towns.
Is the King Arthur Trail Campervan friendly?
The roads in Cornwall can be notoriously narrow, and traffic can be slow. I found I sometimes needed to stop to allow other vehicles to pass. However, the drivers in Cornwall all seemed very friendly and patient, and I think they are very used to campervans and motorhomes in Cornwall.
Tintagel is particularly campervan friendly, with several overnight parkups directly in the village. I stayed at the King Arthur Car Park, which has all the campervan services you need, except Electric Hook Up. If you need EHU the nearby CMC site at Trewethet is the closest option.
While Glastonbury doesn’t have dedicated campervan parking in the town itself, the Morrison’s car park has long been used by van lifers – and the price is very reasonable. There are no camper services here, but there is a Wash.me laundry.
Watch our King Arthur Trail Travel Film
I spent several weeks in Cornwall while Nigel was away at work, and I was really looking forward to visiting the King Arthur sites. If you’d like to see more, check out my video.
Was King Arthur a real person?
Well, this is the biggest question – and even after visiting all these sites, the question still remains. There is no archaeological or conclusive historic proof that there ever was a King Arthur as he’s described in the medieval stories.
What’s most likely is that he was a strong chieftain, who united several local communities in the fight against the Saxons in the time after the fall of Rome, in the 5th or 6th century.
Either way, the legends make for a good story, and they are some great places to visit!
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