Nine Maidens Stone Circle in West Penwith
Not to be confused with Nine Stones of Altarnun or with Nine Maidens stone alignment near Wadebridge
Standing high on gorse and heather moorland in West Penwith, not far from Men-an-Tol, Nine Maidens stone circle must be one of those, like the Rollright Stones in the Cotswolds, where you cannot count the stones. Look at Megalithic Portal or the Modern Antiquarian and you will find many differing reports of the number of stones there were and are here. At its restoration in 2004, three were said to have been re-erected to add to the existing six. In September 2006 Jane and I counted eleven. If Nine Maidens followed the same reported practice as other West Penwith circles, there would originally have been a circle of nineteen stones with, like Boscawen-�n circle, one standing stone in the centre. The site has a wonderfully remote feeling, high on Nine Maidens Common with only the rugged heights of Carn Galver visible to the north and a glimpse of the remains of the once renowned Ding Dong mine to the south. It is, however, a relatively easily accessed site and, unlike many parts of the West Penwith Moors, you may well encounter other visitors. I have passed through here on many occasions since my initial visit on a short walk with Jane. If, like me, you choose to walk the The Land's End Trail, you will pass through here on the second stage.
Five of the Nine Maidens, Carn Galver behind
Park at Bosullow Common and follow the track north-west
More in Antiquities
Online Mapping - Cornwall Council's Mapping Web Site
Mapping Web Site
Pencarrow Iron Age Hill Fort
When we visited the Pencarrow estate for the snowdrops in February 2004, for the first time we drove in on the main drive. We were amazed to find that the road snaked through ancient earth works, first through an iron age farmstead enclosure, its banks still ten feet high, its outer ditch some four feet deep. Then followed a series of long outer curving banks, looking to us like a possible causewayed camp. All this in the most beautiful beech woodland imaginable. Later we visited Blisland village and lunched at St. Breward's excellent Old Inn. The site is halfway along the main driveway to Pencarrow House. Just follow the signs from Washaway on the A389 Wadebridge to Bodmin road.
Pendeen Vau Fogou
In Cornwall the word is 'fogou', in Scotland 'earth house', in France 'souterrain'. No one has any idea of the purpose of such an underground structure. Guesses include grain store and defensive retreat. Almost certainly not a burial site. I managed to miss both Pendeen Vau and Boscaswell when walking in mid-October 2007 but found both repeating the walk with sister Mary in late October. The fogou is in the farmyard of Pendeen Manor Farm - so ask permission and be prepared to ease your way past the cows and through slurry. It is worth it as you can negotiate the two main chambers easily; the second also has a small entrance. A rough subsidiary chamber has a very low opening and I did not try to enter it. If you want to, someone has helpfully put a board in place that you can crawl along. But beware, it is very muddy and messy so if you do go in, be suitably clothed. There are said to be eleven fogous in Cornwall, all in West Penwith or on the Lizard Peninsula, all dating from the late Iron Age. The most easily accessible one I know is that at Carn Euny, open all year. There is another to be found at Chysauster nearby but English Heritage does not allow access to it. Close to Pendeen Vau fogou is another at Boscaswell, now owned by the National Trust. Some say the best of all is Halligye Fogou on the Trelowarren estate on the Lizard.