ANCIENT SITES
Whilst this part of Cornwall is perhaps best known for it dramatic coastline and mining past it also boasts the most sacred sites and ancient settlements in the UK.
Wherever you go in this far western land you will find Stone Age burial chambers, Bronze Age stone circles and lovely granite pillars etched against the sky. Along the rugged coastline lie the dramatic remains of ancient enclosures, the cliff castles of the Iron Age.
Within easy reach of St Just is Chysauster Ancient Village, a deserted Roman-Cornish village AD200. This has one of the oldest identifiable streets in the country.
East of Pendeen, the landscape of granite and hilly moorland is an apt setting for the cluster of enigmatic relics of Cornwall’s prehistory scattered about here. Chun Quoit, is one of the most dramatic of Penwith’s quoits and Chun Castle, dates from the Iron Age.
Men-an-Tol or “stone of the hole”, which is also called the Devil’s Eye, is probably the remains of a neolithic tomb. Men Scryfa, is a standing stone with a Latin inscription commemorating “Rialobran, the son of Cunoval” – probably a reference to a sixth century chieftan.
Lanyon Quoit, is one of Cornwall’s best known quoits. It’s local name is “Giant’s Table”, a reference to its form.
To the south east of Zennor lies the Neolithic chamber tomb, Zennor Quoit, the tomb has a huge capstone that was once supported by five broad uprights.