Condolden Barrow

About Condolden Barrow

Rising above the North Cornwall coast near Boscastle, this gentle, farmed summit is crowned by one of the region's largest Bronze Age burial mounds. The terrain is largely arable, topped with a modern trig pillar. From here, you gain a commanding perspective over the Atlantic and the jagged ruins of Tintagel.

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Did You Know?

• •The summit barrow is the largest of its kind in the Tintagel area; while it remains unexcavated, its size suggests it was a site of significant importance for Bronze Age communities overlooking the coast.
• •The hill’s name is rooted in the Cornish language, likely combining 'corn' (horn or headland) with a reference to the prominent 'dolden' or mound that dominates the skyline.
• •From the trig point, walkers can see the church tower of Tintagel to the west and the neighboring height of Waterpit Down to the east, providing a clear link between the ancient coastline and the inland moors.
• •The western slopes once featured the Iron Age fort of Trenale Bury, though the site was lost to history when it was ploughed level for food production during the Second World War.
• •It is a rare example of a significant prehistoric site that has remained in continuous use as working agricultural land, meaning you are as likely to be surveying a crop of barley as you are an ancient horizon.