Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
some outside space and funky furnishings. There's an excellent spa with a stunning
indoor pool, as well as a natural outdoor pool that's cleansed by a reed bed. Local
produce takes pride of place in the
restaurant
(three-course meal £40),
which might
feature dishes such as roast halibut with a pine nut and chervil crust. The hotel is
aimed at adults, while its nearby sister hotel, the
Bedruthan Steps,
is very family
friendly.
Tredragon Rd., Mawgan Porth TR8 4DQ (around 6 miles north of Newquay). www.scarlethotel.co.uk.
&
01637/861800.
Fax 01637/861225. 37 units. £190-£350 smallest rooms, £320-£480 largest
rooms. 2-night minimum stay at weekends. MC, V.
Amenities:
Restaurant; spa; 2 swimming pools;
library; pool table; hot tub.
In room:
TV, some rooms have large freestanding bathtubs as well as show-
ers, hair dryer.
TINTAGEL, BUDE & BODMIN
MOOR
264 miles SW of London; 49 miles NW of Plymouth; 6 miles NW of Camelford
Divided in two by the A30,
Bodmin Moor
is a windswept upland that has been
designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Wild and bleak, it is
sparsely populated but dotted with prehistoric remains such as Trethevy Quoit, a
neolithic burial chamber near St. Cleer. The Moor's highest point is
Brown Willy
(419m/1,375ft).
The north coast is typified by dramatic cliffs and foaming seas.
Bude,
the largest
town in this rugged corner of Cornwall, is just a few miles from the Devon border and
a popular beach resort—
Widemouth Bay
is a favorite with surfers. The village of
Boscastle,
farther south, has an unspoiled beauty with picturesque cottages huddled
along steep, narrow streets. The main visitor attraction, however, is
Tintagel Castle,
the legendary birthplace of King Arthur.
Essentials
GETTING THERE
By
train,
Bodmin Parkway Station is on the main railway line
from London Paddington to Penzance. By
car,
Bodmin is close to the junction of the
A30 and A38. Tintagel is about a 30-minute drive away.
VISITOR INFORMATION
Bodmin's
Tourist Information Office,
Shire Hall,
Mount Folly Square (
&
01208/76616;
www.bodminlive.com), is open Easter to
late October Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm; October to Easter Monday to Friday
10am to 5pm, not open Saturday.
Exploring the Area
Families and steam-train fans can take a trip on the
Bodmin and Wenford Railway
(
&
0845/125-9678;
www.bodminandwenfordrailway.co.uk), a scenic railway run-
ning between Bodmin Parkway and Boscarne Junction. Bike rental, if you want to
cycle the Camel Trail, is available from
Bodmin Bikes,
Dennison Road, Bodmin
(
&
01208/73192;
www.bodminbikes.co.uk).
Tintagel Castle
CASTLE Since medieval times this romantic castle has
been associated with the legends of King Arthur. Whether or not the tales of Arthu-
rian chivalry and the famous Round Table are true, it's worth coming here just for the
views, which encompass some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in the West
Country. Steep cliffs and a rugged sea combine to paint a powerful portrait.
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