Looking for Arthurian Sites
 

Hello. I will be doing a driving tour of Southwest England at the end of February and am interested in seeing as many Arthurian sites as possible--both historical and legendary. Those that I am currently aware of are Tintagel Castle, Dozmary Pool in Bodmin Moor, Glastonbury, and Cadbury Castle in South Cadbury. <BR> <BR>Further suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. <BR>

The welsh people have a connection with Arthur.My memory is hazy but I think that a place called St Davids in south Wales,is connected with the legend.

Fred, <BR>Check out the March 1998 issue of British Heritage magazine. Your library may have a copy. The issue is devoted to Arthurian sites and has illustrated articles on Tintagel, Slaughter Bridge, Dozmary Pool, Castle Dore, Glastonbury and Cadbury Castle, all of which have connections to the King Arthur legend and are located in southwest England.

Hi Fred, great choice of destination! I'm from Wiltshire and can't recommend SW England highly enough! <BR> <BR>Here are some lesser-known Arthurian sites: <BR> <BR>Amesbury, near the eastern edge of Salisbury Plain and Stonehenge, is where Guinevere became a nun after Arthur's death and supposedly spent the rest of her days. Stonehenge also has connections with Merlin and Camlann, where Arthur received his mortal wound by Mordred, is somewhere on Salisbury plain. <BR> <BR>Caerleon, a small town on the River Usk in Wales, was home to Arthur's court before the creation of Camelot. There is a local legend which tells of an undergound chamber in the woods where a thousand of Arthur's soldiers lie sleeping, awaiting the day when Wales will need them! <BR> <BR>Apart from the Arthurian sites, you might also want to visit the following locations steeped in ancient history & legend: <BR> <BR>Uffington, Oxfordshire: the famous white horse and Dragon Hill, where St George is supposed to have killed the legendary dragon! A bare patch of chalk upon which no grass will grow, is supposed to be <BR>where the dragon's blood spilled. There is a theory that the "horse" is not a horse at all, but a representation of the dragon. <BR> <BR>Nearby is Wayland's Smithy, a neolithic burial chamber. Wayland's Smithy is one of many prehistoric sites associated with Wayland, the Norse god of blacksmithing. According to legend, a traveller whose horse had lost a shoe could leave his horse and some money by the tomb and return the next morning to find the horse shod and the money gone! <BR> <BR>Avebury: ancient stone circle near Swindon in Wiltshire. Nearby are West Kennet Long Barrow--where the remains of 46 people were discovered during excavation--and Silbury Hill, Various legends have been attached to Silbury Hill. Folklore has claimed it to be the burial place of an otherwise forgotten King Sil (or Zel); of a knight in golden armour; and even of a solid gold horse and rider. It is also told that the Devil was going to empty a huge sack of earth on the town of Marlborough, but was forced to drop it here by the magic of the priests from nearby Avebury. <BR> <BR>Please e-mail me if you want any more info about this part of England. <BR> <BR>Enjoy your trip! <BR> <BR>Zoe

Fred, St Michael's mount in Marazion in Cornwall is considered to be part of the lost kingdom of Lyonesse. Also the Isles of Scilly is another place where there are connections, but I'm not sure what they are. Hope this helps.