Bodmin Moor | Cornwall Guide

Bodmin Moor

Bodmin Moor, designated and area of outstanding natural beauty, is a remote, bleak heather covered upland granite moorland still grazed by moorland ponies and bisected by the main A30 road. The moor has some similarities to Dartmoor but is smaller and lower. It was densely populated during the Bronze Age and there are a number of archaelogical remains reflecting this. The best known of these are the three stone circles of The Hurlers, Rillaton Barrow and the hill fort of Stowe's Pound all near Minions, and the Stripple Stones Henge and Trippet Stone Circle on Hawkstor Downs near Blisland.

The moor also has many natural features which include the highest point in Cornwall, the amusingly named Brown Willy which reaches 420 metres(1,377 ft). The second highest point also also on the moor - Roughtor close to Camelford which has seventy hut circles clinging to it's north western slope. The Cheesewring at Stowe's Mill near Minions, is a popular wind eroded formation of circular granite rocks balanced on top of each other.

The natural lake of Dozmary Pool, at the centre of the moor, south of Bolventor, is according to legend, where Sir Bedivere threw Kin Arthur's sword Excalibur. Also located in Bolventor is Jamica Inn as featured in the smugglers tale of the same name by Daphne du Maurier. However, over recent years the inn has become increasingly comercial and now has the charm of a motorway service station! The interesting 'Potter's Museum of Curiosities' was sold off several years ago.

There are ruins of tin and copper mines to the south east of the moor in Minions including the Phoenix United and South Phoenix mines where there is a visitor's centre.

Other attractions include the Golitha Falls near Redgate and Wesley Cottage at Trewint, near Altarnun, where John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist church, stayed