Merlin's Cave

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View out the entrance of Merlin's Cave

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,[1] passing completely through Tintagel Island from Tinagel Haven on the east to West Cove on the west.[2]

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. Local legend has long associated this cave with Merlin and Arthur.

The steps down to the cave have been washed away and are blocked off. The only way down today is to clamber down the rocks to the beach. The cave fills with water at high tide, but has a sandy floor and is explorable at low tide.

References

  1. ↑ Bird, Eric (2008). Coastal Geomorphology: An Introduction. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons. [n.p.] ISBN 978-0-470-51729-1. Retrieved 2 April 2012. 
  2. ↑ Wilson, Gilbert (1971). "The Influence of Rock Structures on Coastline and Cliff Development Around Tintagel, North Cornwall". In Steers, J. A. Introduction to Coastline Development. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. p. 152. ISBN 0-262-19089-3. 

External links

Coordinates: 50°40′06″N 4°45′34″W / 50.6683°N 4.7594°W / 50.6683; -4.7594

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