The following day we had a good drive through Dartmoor, on our way to Cornwall. We passed Dartmoor ponies beside the road, and then were startled by the boldness of several in a parking area.
 |
 |
Our first stop in Cornwall was Tintagel. We visited the "Old Post Office", a 14th century manor house, now a National Trust property. (It had been used in the 19th c by the post office system.)
"Merlin's Cave", on the way to the castle, can be reached at low tide. It wasn't low tide, and we watched people wading to it but didn't join them.
The castle is spectacularly sited, and much more has been excavated since the last time we were there, many years ago.
While we ate lunch, we enjoyed the view across to the church,
but also were mystified by the path which seemed to lead directly to the cliff edge!
| The guide books all lament the fact that Tintagel has touristy gift shops, but we thought that a 14th century shop is at least a bit more interesting than most. |  |
The next hour or so were spent on the drive out to the Land's End peninsula (the Penwith peninsula). We were going to stay for four days in a house near the coast. I had originally called a farmhouse B&B in the area. They were full, but the woman suggested her mother-in-law, who sometimes takes in guests. We had a very pleasant time in her home.
That afternoon we took a short walk along the coast near Mousehole, before eating dinner at the Ship Inn near the harbor. An older man, retired, sat down with us. We learned about what he had done while working for Trinity House. Trinity House is the outfit that supplied and maintained the lighthouses. Now everything is automated, so people like our companion lost their jobs. He has sung all his life with a local choir. They've toured internationally, including several trips to America.
