King Arthur's Cornwall Tour: Tintagel & Merlin's Cave

Walk into Merlin's Cave and climb the Templar hill where legend meets landscape

A 2-day tour of King Arthur's Cornwall departing from Glastonbury, visiting Tintagel, Boscastle, Dartmoor and the Michael ley line with a local guide and private vehicle transport. Day one takes you across ancient bridges into Wistman's Faerie Wood and up Brentor, a Templar hill crowned with a church. Day two explores Tintagel as the tide reveals Merlin's Cave, where you enter and visualize, then walk into St Nectan's Glen and its waterfall. Hotel pickup and drop-off from Glastonbury are included. Accommodation is not.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Explore Dartmoor's ancient sites

• Drive down the Michael ley line
• Cross 4000-year-old bridges
• Wander in Wistman’s Faerie Wood
• Climb holy Templar hill Brentor
• Visit church on Brentor peak

Day 2: Discover Tintagel and sacred sites

• Visit Merlin's Cave and do visualization
• View Tintagel Castle from cliffs
• Walk to St Nectan's Glen and waterfall
• Learn about Knights of the Round Table

The Experience

What draws people to King Arthur's Cornwall is not the postcards. It's the places where the stories feel real. This tour builds two days around the landscape itself: the Michael ley line that runs through Dartmoor, the caves and cliffs of Tintagel where Merlin is said to have worked, and the waterfalls and glens where the Knights of the Round Table came to be blessed. You travel by private vehicle with a local guide who knows the routes, the history woven into them, and the timing that matters: like when the tide at Tintagel reveals the cave entrance.

Day one moves through Dartmoor: you cross bridges over 4,000 years old, walk into Wistman's Faerie Wood, then climb Brentor, a Templar hill where a church sits on the peak as if held by the landscape's own energy. Day two centers on Tintagel and the coast. You enter Merlin's Cave as the tide allows and do a visualization inside. As you emerge, Tintagel Castle rises on the cliffs above you. From there you walk into St Nectan's Glen, where a waterfall drops into a pool held sacred since the 5th century. The guide shapes the pace and the stops. You move through the terrain on foot and by vehicle, so a moderate level of fitness helps you manage the walking and the uneven ground.

Pickup and drop-off happen at your Glastonbury hotel, and the guide drives. Bring layers and waterproof gear: the weather changes fast on the moors and the coast. Vegetarian meals and other dietary needs can be arranged if you let the operator know when you book. The two days fit the route. They do not include accommodation or lunch, so you'll arrange those separately or bring your own food.

What’s included

• Local guide and private vehicle transport.
• hotel pickup and drop-off from Glastonbury.
• entry to Merlin's Cave and access to St Nectan's Glen and Tintagel's coastal sites.
• vegetarian meals available on request.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tor's Tour of the Tor

Is this one for you?Two days means you leave Glastonbury early and return by evening on day two, so it fits a long weekend without eating into the rest of your trip. If you need a single-day version or have more time for a longer route through Cornwall, other departures from Glastonbury run different lengths.

Traveler reviews

4.70★★★★★★★★★★

20 verified traveler reviews

5 ★17

4 ★2

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★1

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What is Merlin's Cave actually like when you get there?

Merlin's Cave is a sea cave at Tintagel that opens when the tide recedes, revealing a passage you can walk into. You enter the darkness, do a visualization inside, then emerge to look up at Tintagel Castle perched on the cliffs above the cave entrance. It's the physical act of going in and the view when you come out that makes it memorable.

How much walking is involved over the two days?

You walk through Wistman's Faerie Wood on day one, climb Brentor hill, and on day two walk into St Nectan's Glen and around the Tintagel cliffs. The operator rates it as moderate fitness level. The terrain is uneven and some sections are steep, but the guide sets the pace and you're not covering long distances in a single stretch.

Do I need to book accommodation for the two nights?

Accommodation is not included, so you arrange it separately. Most travelers stay in Glastonbury, where the pickup happens, or in a town along the route like Tintagel or Boscastle. The guide can suggest options when you book.

What is the Michael ley line and why does the tour follow it?

The Michael ley line is an ancient energy line that runs through the landscape. The tour follows it through Dartmoor on day one. The guide explains the history and the significance of the sites along it: the old bridges, Brentor, and the places where the landscape itself seems to hold power.

What should I bring for two days on Dartmoor and the Cornish coast?

Waterproof jacket and trousers, sturdy walking boots, and layers: the weather changes fast on the moors and the coast. Bring a hat and sunscreen too. The cave and the glen are cool and damp, so a dry layer to change into helps. The operator says it operates in all weather, so dress for rain and wind.