'Spellbinding' village with 'haunted hotel' and witchcraft museum is 'beautiful'
Cornwall is one of the United Kingdom's most breathtaking counties. It's also considered one of the most magical, steeped in legend. Perched on North Cornwall's clifftops, Tintagel Castle is one of the most popular attractions. It's rumoured to be the site where King Arthur was conceived, and visitors can explore Merlin's Cave on the beach below when the tide is out.
St Nectan's Glen, a sacred valley with a 60-foot waterfall and stacked fairy stones, is another popular spot for those visiting Tintagel, and just ten minutes down the road, visitors will find a village that's "beautiful and magical."
Boscastle, a small harbour village, is beloved for its stunning views, quaint shops, and mystical atmosphere. One visitor who documented her visit on TikTok as @thetaniachronicles described the "most bewitched" village as "England's equivalent of Salem."
For over 50 years, Boscastle has been home to The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic. The independent museum is home to "one of the world's largest and most spellbinding collections of folk magic artefacts," according to National Geographic, and on TripAdvisor, the museum has over 800 'excellent' reviews.
One impressed visitor wrote: "Came here with friends, it had been on our list for ages and it didn't disappoint! After a hike along the coast from Tintagel, we reached the Boscastle harbour, which was in itself a spellbinding experience! The museum had thousands of artefacts, and we left feeling inspired and more knowledgeable than before! Will be back."
Nearby, visitors will find The Wellington Hotel, one of the region's oldest coaching inns, and one of the most haunted - if rumours are to be believed. With over 500 'excellent' reviews on TripAdvisor, guests have praised the "best food and service" in the restaurant and the "cosy accommodation," and many said they loved hearing ghost stories.
One reviewer wrote: "The hotel featured in the Most Haunted TV series although disappointingly we never saw any ghosts although several people including staff have and are happy to share their experiences if you want!"
Another claimed: "Staff, hotel and food all excellent. Ghosts a bit scary tho. Kept up all night with various footsteps, noises, shadows and door rattles. Culminating in a rather nasty encounter later on. We nearly left at 4am but the excellent dinner the night before had wetted our appetite for breakfast."
Along with gift shops, restaurants, and a National Trust cafe, there are several walking routes for those who enjoy coastal paths. Visit Cornwall says: "For fantastic coastal views take the left hand path alongside the harbour which leads to a slate platform where you can see the 'blowhole' an hour before or after low tide, shooting a horizontal waterspout halfway across the harbour entrance if the conditions are right. You can follow the coast path up to Willapark, where the National Coastwatch have a watch-house high on the headland.
"The path on the other side of the harbour leads past the Witchcraft Museum out onto Penally Point, again this provides walkers with fantastic views but can be difficult underfoot in places."
Alternatively, visitors can take in the views from Boscastle Harbour, which has over 300 'excellent' reviews on TripAdvisor. Someone praised: "Just breathtaking in the sheer rugged unspoilt natural beauty of the landscape here. We visited in April and thought the village was lovely and the coastline is really something. It's very atmospheric and as we walked back to the car we bought a steak and Stilton pasty from the little bakery. Simply delicious!"
Another fan said: "A magical and mystical place," while someone echoed: "Beautiful and magical! I would highly recommend the walk to the harbour which is gorgeous. The views and the colour of the water is stunning."
Boscastle is in Cornwall, England. The postcode for the visitor centre is PL35 0HD. The closest train station is Bodmin Parkway.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
3 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Brockenhurst among England's best chocolate box villages
Brockenhurst, which is known as a "bustling" place with plenty to explore, was highlighted as one of the best in England. It was among a selection of spots curated by Independent Cottages, which was aiming to find the most beautiful villages in the country. They compared many places against a list of criteria to come to their conclusions, which were: The number of historic buildings, showing the architectural heritage that gives each village its character The oldest recorded existence of the village, demonstrating its depth of history Whether each village is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), recognising its natural surroundings and protection status How many people search for the village online, indicating public interest and recognition How many TikTok posts feature each village, showing how visually appealing they are Introducing the list, they wrote: "There are lots of things that make England special: castles, stately homes and national parks. But what makes it especially charming is the hundreds of little chocolate box villages scattered across the countryside. "Thatched cottages lining cobblestone streets, church bells marking the time and quaint pubs with roaring fires welcoming locals and travellers alike, just as they have for centuries." The full list of England's best chocolate box villages can be found on the Independent Cottages website here. What makes Brockenhurst one of England's top chocolate box villages? In terms of how it stacked up against other chocolate box villages, Brockenhurst is said to date back to 3300 BC and has 64 listed buildings. While it is not located within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it has had 672 TikTok posts made about it. Brockenhurst can be found in the heart of the New Forest and is one of the largest villages in the area. As shared by the New Forest website, Leaders Estate Agent describes it as having 'bundles of charm and history'. Ponies, deer and donkeys are known to roam the streets, and there are plenty of "warm and inviting pubs" to step into for a pint or a bite to eat. An intriguing feature of the village is the Watersplash, which is a meeting point of two of the area's streams: the North and South Weirs. These eventually lead on to the Lymington River, and you sometimes can find animals drinking from this watering hole. If you're into cycling and walking, there are numerous options that people can begin from the village, including the South Taste Trail. One of the most searched things about Brockenhurst is The Pig, which is a hotel and restaurant on the outskirts of the village. The establishment's website says it has "all the ingredients for a truly laid-back stay". Recommended reading: This includes food sourced from the site's own kitchen garden and "homely drawing rooms" which are "perfect for sinking into after a day's exploring". It adds: "Step beyond the grounds and you're straight into the rambling tracks and ancient woodland of the New Forest. "And don't be surprised if you bump into a couple of our resident Saddleback pigs while you're here!"
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Wizz Air launches budget £20 flights to ‘Maldives of Europe'
Blessed with a Mediterranean climate and summer temperatures soaring up to 30°C, it's a paradise for sun worshippers. Jetting off to Albania won't break the bank either. Wizz Air has launched a new route, linking up the UK with a cheap and sunny European destination. Albania has been dubbed "the Maldives of Europe" thanks to its unspoilt white sandy shores and crystal-clear waters that grace its spectacular Riviera. Whilst it's not exactly a hidden gem - with growing numbers of holidaymakers discovering the region - it still offers remarkable value compared to other European hotspots. Travellers can indulge in luxury accommodation without emptying their bank accounts, with seafront flats available from just £20 per night. Food is equally kind to the purse strings, with a hearty meal and drinks typically setting you back around £15. Thanks to a flurry of TikTok videos flaunting its crystal-clear waters and pristine white sands, Albania has become a hot topic for holidaymakers seeking a slice of the Maldives experience. Blessed with a Mediterranean climate and summer temperatures soaring up to 30°C, it's a paradise for sun worshippers. Jetting off to Albania won't break the bank either. Wizz Air's new route connects London Gatwick with Tirana, the capital of Albania. The cheapest tickets cost just £19.99, with five weekly flights running from October 26. If you're not close to Gatwick, then Ryanair also offers flights to Tirana from Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Edinburgh and London Stansted. The new fare has been launched after a family admitted that they arrived at the airport a year early for their flight. Albania boasts the lowest living costs in Europe, with city-centre hotel rooms in Tirana going for less than £30, breakfast included. Beachside flats along the Adriatic coast are even more affordable. Another wallet-friendly route to Albania's glittering coastline is to fly into Corfu and then hop on a ferry for roughly £15 each way. If you set up camp in Dhërmi, you can explore a new beach every day. A delightful beachfront lunch in the area will only cost about £10 per person. Laura Hewson, a Kiwi backpacker who explored the country last autumn, said: "We were planning to go Croatia. But one of our friends who'd been to Albania told us [we should go there]. They said it's like Greece or Croatia but cheaper and a lot more beautiful because there are not as many tourists. We're actually staying at a four-star hotel with breakfast included for the same price that we were staying in hostels with eight [strangers] in a room in Italy and Spain." Her travel companion, Farrell Modd, mentioned that social media influenced their decision to visit Albania, noting the impact of TikTok videos from travel accounts that highlighted the country's stunning landscapes. She commented: "It's beautiful, clear blue water, lots of swimming spots."
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Woman issues airport security warning after priceless item left 'destroyed' by X-ray scanner
People take cameras with them on their travels to capture the memories and amazing sights. People take cameras with them on their travels to capture the memories and amazing sights. However, one woman has issued a warning after a priceless item was 'destroyed' by an X-ray scanner. Magdala, @magdalanyc2, shared a video on TikTok about her experience taking her camera through airport security. Sadly, it ended up with the 39 photos she captured ruined by the machine. She captioned the clip: 'PSA airport security x-rays destroy film even in little s**t disposable cameras and you lose everything (39 grained moments but ones you can't get back).' The TikToker revealed in a comment that her carry-on luggage went through the security machine three times. Others commented to share their experiences, while some shared advice. One TikTok user shared a tip to help others avoid getting their film ruined. They said: 'You can ask them to check it manually!! (They know the drill so they agree most of the time).' 'Oh, guess I shouldn't even bother developing my pictures from my last trip then,' one dismayed viewer said, followed by a crying emoji. But Magdala replied with some positive news. She said: 'If it just passed once it could be all good, the more times the more damage. Hope they come through for you just expensive to check.' Magdala also revealed in another comment that her carry-on luggage had gone through the scanner 'like three times'. But she advised that checked baggage scanners were even more risky for film cameras. She added: 'Checked is apparently an even stronger one so your best bet is to ask them to hand check it. 'I have one that was blank when it recently went through as a carry on just once and nothing was damaged!' It comes as someone else revealed passengers should look out for a 'growing' luggage tag scam as they make their way through airports. An airport worker, who claimed to be a baggage claims manager for American airline company Delta, warned about the new trick on Reddit. 'I just wanted to let everyone know to please start discarding your bag tags at home,' they urged in a post on the forum website. They alleged people were using tags thrown away in the airport to make 'fraudulent claims' with the information on them.
