Explore Tintagel coast

Smith’s Cliff

Just along the coast from Barras Nose you’ll find Smith’s Cliff. Once a golf course in the 1950s, this 22.6-hectare (55-acre) piece of land was acquired in 2023 and puts in place a vital piece for the Trust’s coastal conservation efforts in the area; joining up several sections of land we look after to create a continuous stretch of coastal land reaching from Barras Nose all the way to Bossiney.

Knitting together these sections of land creates a 2.7-mile coastal corridor that connects and encourages the spread of wildlife within a naturally and culturally significant landscape.

Trebarwith Strand

The coast stretching south from Tintagel, towards Trebarwith Strand, is fascinating to explore. The area was heavily quarried for slate going back over 500 years, and the remains of the many quarries such as Lanterdan can still be seen from the coast path.

Wildlife

There is plenty of nature to look out for. Species such as the small copper butterfly, maritime plants like rock sea lavender and golden samphire, a range of birds including linnet, skylark and fulmar, and even the nationally-rare black headed mining bee can be spotted.

Archaeology

The area is also rich in history with many known archaeological sites. Occupation by humans here likely dates back to the Mesolithic age (9600–4000 BC). On Barras Nose, a Bronze Age barrow can be found, and related archaeology may well extend onto Smith’s Cliff. Numerous features, recorded through aerial mapping, show a pattern of medieval land use and enclosures known as strip fields. This ancient agricultural system may have had similarities to the Forrabury Stitches, one of the UK’s best-preserved examples of such strip fields, which the Trust care’s for at nearby Boscastle.

 

Thank you 

With your ongoing support, we're able to continue our vital conservation work. Thank you for helping to protect these special places.