Monuments and Moors
This 2-3 hour circular walk visits some of Cornwall’s most famous stone monuments. Set on spectacular isolated moorland, Stone Age and Bronze Age monuments punctuate the rugged scenery with views that stretch out to both the north and south coasts.
Distance: 3.5 to 4 miles (5.6 to 6.4 km)
Duration: 2 to 2.5 hours
Start Point: Lower Bosullow Car Park
OS Grid Reference: SW 417 344
Nearest postcode: TR20 8NR
We start by visiting the mysterious Men-an-tol holed stone. The energy of this ancient stone monument is said to cure back complaints, infertility and respiratory problems. Get your knees dirty and try climbing through the hole yourself.
We look at the Men Scryfa (writing stone) whose story, like so many in Cornwall weaves delicately between history and legend.
From here we climb up to the Nine Maidens Stone Circle where spectacular views and a serene silence await, before cutting across to Green Burrow mine and an almost 4000 year jump forward in time.
Downhill to the well preserved Bosilliack Barrow burial chamber and finally we arrive at Lanyon Quoit – Cornwall’s most famous Stone Age monument. This ‘table top’ standing stone monument takes us back to almost 4000 B.C. and is a long standing favourite of artists and photographers.
Conditions:
Much of the route is along narrow moorland paths which can be uneven and wet underfoot, especially after rain. There is one hill to climb and the remainder is undulating. Walking boots and long trousers for protection from encroaching gorse are recommended.
How to get there:
Directions from east of Penzance:
- Take the A30 towards Penzance.
- At the Tesco roundabout continue along the A30 towards Lands End.
- Go straight over the mini roundabout, still following the signs for Lands End until you reach a roundabout after quarter of a mile. Take the 4th exit towards Heamoor/Madron (B3311).
- Go through the residential area of Heamoor, up the hill and continue through Madron village.
- Continue past the brown sign for Celtic Chapel/Wishing Well on the right, go through the sharp bends and the road climbs uphill.
- The road begins to go downhill. Go past Lanyon Quoit on the right (set back in a field and easy to pass without noticing) and continue past the farm on right.
- Where the road becomes level, there is a small road on the left, sign posted Little Bosullow. Continue past this for 200m to the small building on the left and park in the small car park opposite.
Directions from St Ives:
- Follow the north coast road (B3306) for approximately 6 miles, passing Zennor, the Gurnards Head Hotel (a large light coloured building on the right) and along narrow roads with farm buildings on either side.
- Continue past a small car park in front of a beautifully positioned mine building on the right. After half a mile you will see a pile of rocks balanced on top of each other. Just after, on the left is a turning towards Madron/Penzance. Take this road.
- Continue up the hill and as you begin to go down the other side, go past a right hand turn, sign posted Greater Bosullow/Chun Castle.
- Immediately after this is a small building and a car park on the opposite side of the road. Park here.
