Arrive in Tintagel and settle into your accommodation before heading up to Tintagel Castle on the headland; follow the newly restored cliff-foot and bridge route to the castle ruins, pausing at the visitor centre to view archaeological displays and the evocative medieval and Bronze Age finds. Enjoy sweeping views of the Atlantic from the headland and take a short stretch along the coastal path toward Merlin's Cave at low tide, listening for seabirds and soaking in the myth-steeped atmosphere.
After a pub lunch in the village—try local Cornish fare at the Cornishman Inn or the Old Post Office—walk the clifftop South West Coast Path toward Trebarwith Strand for several dramatic viewpoints and a chance to explore the beach if the tide allows. On the return, call in at the Tintagel Old Post Office (NT) and the small local galleries and craft shops to browse Cornish crafts, then follow the minor lanes back through the village taking in glimpses of slate-roofed cottages and the tidal estuary.
As dusk falls, enjoy a relaxed dinner at a seafood-focused restaurant in Tintagel village, sampling freshly landed fish or a Cornish pasty while watching the lights on the cliffs; afterwards take a short moonlit stroll to the harbour for one last sea view. If the night is clear, step away from village lights to the castle car park or a coastal viewpoint to look for stars and the distant silhouette of the headland—an atmospheric end to your first day before tomorrow's coastal walk toward Boscastle.
Set out from Tintagel after breakfast and pick up the South West Coast Path heading north; the trail climbs and drops along dramatic cliff tops with regular panoramic stops at Dizzard and Bossiney Downs where you can watch kittiwakes, fulmars and—if you’re lucky—distant gannets working the Atlantic. Pause at Trebarwith Strand for a short beach detour (check the tide) before following the path past High Cliff and the Boscastle headland, taking time to soak in the mythic light and the rugged geology that links today’s scenery to yesterday’s castle visit.
Arrive in Boscastle for a relaxed lunch in the harbour village—try fresh crab sandwiches or a bowl of chowder at the Harbour Head or The Wellington Inn—then explore the cobbled harbour, the Museum of Witchcraft & Magic if curiosity strikes, or follow the River Valency up into the scented valley. For a quieter option, take the South West Coast Path spur towards the Prospero’s Bridge viewpoint and walk part of the wooded Valency Trail, where steep-sided lanes and waterfalls give you a peaceful contrast to the open cliffs.
As daylight fades, choose a waterfront table to watch the tide come in and dine on local seafood or hearty Cornish fare at one of Boscastle’s inns, then wander the harbour to see the restored harbour walls by lamplight. If skies are clear, climb a short way up the valley or head to the headland for a final Atlantic view and the chance to hear night seabirds and the rhythmic surf—an atmospheric prelude to your inland crossing of Bodmin Moor tomorrow.
Leave the coast after breakfast and drive or take a local transfer inland to the northern edge of Bodmin Moor, arriving near Rough Tor or Brown Willy to begin your walk across the moor. Follow stony lanes and peat-hag tracks between heather and gorse, pause on a granite tor—such as Rough Tor—for sweeping views over the patchwork of bogs, clitter slopes and distant sea that link today’s wild landscape to the cliffs you explored earlier.
After a picnic by a tor or a cosy lunch in a nearby village like Camelford, continue through quiet lanes toward the historic hamlets of Tresmeer or Davidstow, dropping down to visit the medieval chapel at St Werburgh’s or the atmospheric Cheesewring if time allows. Take a short detour to the Dozmary Pool area or to Stowe’s Hill for granite outcrops, standing stones and the moorland’s sense of timelessness—watch for skylarks, meadow pipits and the occasional grazing ponies as you cross from open moor to rolling farmland.
Finish the day in a welcoming village pub in Colan or back in Camelford with a hearty Cornish supper—try a steak and ale pie or a seasonal game dish—sharing stories of the day’s wide skies and tors. If the night is clear, step outside to admire minimal light pollution for good stargazing, or enjoy a quieter evening by the fire reflecting on the transition from coastal drama to the brooding tranquillity of the moor before tomorrow’s descent toward Marazion and St Michael’s Mount.
Leave the wide skies of Bodmin Moor after breakfast and drive or take the coastal bus down to Marazion, arriving in time to walk the flat tidal sands toward St Michael’s Mount when the causeway is exposed; pause to watch wading birds on the estuary and take in the low, golden light that makes the Mount’s chapel and castle silhouette so iconic. If the tide is in, catch the short passenger ferry from the harbour and enjoy the approach by boat, noting the Cornish trade in pilchards and seaweed that shaped this shoreline.
Spend the afternoon exploring St Michael’s Mount: climb the steep cobbled streets to the medieval chapel and the castle rooms, learn about the St Aubyn family and the island’s maritime history in the on-site displays, and stroll the subtropical gardens that shelter rare plants warmed by the Gulf Stream. Return to Marazion for a late lunch at a seaside café—sample a crab sandwich or a hearty fish stew—then wander the quay, visit local galleries and the small shops selling Cornish ceramics and sea-inspired crafts.
As dusk falls, choose a table at one of Marazion’s shoreline pubs or restaurants to watch the causeway recede and the Mount light up against the sunset; enjoy locally sourced seafood or a Cornish gin from a nearby distillery. Finish the day with a quiet walk along the sand or the promenade, listening to the surf and reflecting on the four-day progression from Tintagel’s headlands through moorland tors to this storied island — a fitting finale to your coastal and moorland journey.
| Place / Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tintagel Castle (headland, bridge route, visitor centre) | £12-£18 (Adult ticket on-site); National Trust members free; additional parking £0-£6 depending on car park |
| Merlin's Cave (coastal path access, tide dependent) | Free (access via coastal path); check tide times; access subject to safety signage |
| Tintagel village pubs (lunch) — Cornishman Inn / Old Post Office | £12-£25 per person (pub meal, drink extra) |
| South West Coast Path to Trebarwith Strand (clifftop walk and beach if tide allows) | Free (parking or bus fares may apply); parking £0-£6; public transport £2-£8 |
| Tintagel Old Post Office (National Trust) | £0-£6 (free for National Trust members; small on-site admission or donation where applicable) |
| Local galleries and craft shops (Tintagel) | Free to browse; purchases variable (typical souvenirs £5-£60) |
| Evening seafood dinner in Tintagel village | £18-£40 per person (seafood restaurant; drinks extra) |
| South West Coast Path (Tintagel to Boscastle route highlights: Dizzard, Bossiney Downs, High Cliff) | Free (transport back or parking may cost £0-£6) |
| Trebarwith Strand beach detour (on route) | Free (parking / access charges may apply) |
| Boscastle harbour and lunch (Harbour Head / The Wellington Inn) | £10-£22 per person (lunch and a drink) |
| Museum of Witchcraft & Magic (Boscastle) | £7-£9 (adult entry; check current pricing) |
| River Valency walk / Prospero’s Bridge viewpoint | Free |
| Boscastle dinner (harbour inn) | £15-£35 per person |
| Transfer/drive to Bodmin Moor (Camelford area) | £0-£40 (local bus £3-£8; taxi £25-£60; car fuel/parking variable) |
| Bodmin Moor walks (Rough Tor / Brown Willy approaches) | Free (parking small fee possible £0-£5; guided walks cost extra £20-£60) |
| Picnic or village lunch (Camelford) | £8-£18 per person |
| Historic hamlets visits (Tresmeer, Davidstow, St Werburgh’s chapel, Cheesewring, Dozmary Pool) | Free to low cost (parking £0-£5; small donations at churches/attractions) |
| Evening pub in Colan or Camelford (dinner) | £12-£30 per person |
| Transfer/drive to Marazion (from Camelford/Bodmin area) | £0-£50 (bus £5-£15; taxi £40-£80; car fuel variable) |
| Marazion causeway walk to St Michael's Mount (when exposed) | Free to walk at low tide; foot passenger ferry £4-£6 per person each way if tide in |
| St Michael's Mount (castle, chapel, gardens) | £12-£18 adult admission (National Trust/house fees vary); concessions lower; garden entry included; National Trust members often free |
| Marazion harbour, galleries and shops | Free to browse; purchases variable (£5-£70) |
| Final dinner in Marazion (seafood / pub & Cornish gin tasting option) | £18-£45 per person (gin tasting extra £8-£20) |
| Stargazing at remote viewpoint or castle car park | Free |
| Transport between sites (local buses, taxis or car hire for 4 days) | Car hire approx. £30-£70 per day plus fuel (~£40-£90 total); local buses across trip £12-£40 per person; occasional taxis £20-£80 per trip |
| Accommodation (3 nights across Tintagel, Boscastle/near Bodmin, Marazion area) | Budget B&B/guesthouse £60-£100 per night; mid-range £100-£180 per night; 3 nights total: £180-£540 |
| Meals (breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks for 4 days) | Approx. £25-£55 per person per day (modest to mid-range). For 3 nights / 4 days: £100-£220 per person |
| Miscellaneous (souvenirs, small donations, entry variability, emergency fund) | £20-£80 |
| Estimated Total (per person) | £380-£1,350 per person (4-day estimate) |