Exploring the myths and legends of Cornwall

There are many reasons to own a holiday cottage in Cornwall. There are the beautiful beaches, the sheltered coves, dramatic coastlines, friendly people and, of course, some amazing food. But there’s another reason to set up a holiday residence in Cornwall: This land is the home to enduring myths and legends.

You owe it to yourself to explore these legends in the land in which they were born.

Start out with the granddaddy of them all: King Arthur. We all know about King Arthur and his heroic Knights of the Roundtable. But how many of us know that King Arthur’s home may actually be Tintagel Castle, a majestic castle that rises from the north Cornish coast?

Visitors to Cornwall regularly make the trek to this stunning locale. And why not? It’s a great way to relive the myths and legends of King Arthur, the king who reputedly led his forces to victories over the Saxon army in 12 straight battles?

Of course, the King Arthur legend is just one of the many associated with Cornwall. This land is also closely associated with mermaids. This is little surprise because Cornwall is surrounded by the sea.

The most famous mermaid legend concerns Matthew Trewhella, a chorister from Zennor, who fell in love with a beautiful mermaid. Trewhella gave up his life on land and went to live beneath the sea with his mermaid love. According to the legends, you can still hear Trewhella and the mermaid singing from the depths of the sea, if you listen carefully enough. This enchanting legend is commemorated in a series of bench carvings at Zennor Church.

Finally, there are newer legends associated with Cornwall, too. There is, for instance, the story of Mowzer the cat, who helped save the Cornish fishing village of Mousehole from starvation. Fierce winter storms prevented fishing boats from reaching the village. Before long, its food supply had diminished, and its residents were facing starvation.

Tom and Mowzer, though, braved the storms in their own fishing boat. When the storms grew their fiercest, Mowzer’s purring helped calm the violent weather, allowing Tom to return to Mousehole with the largest catch anyone had ever seen. Yes, the village was saved.

The Mowzer legend has even spawned a well-reviewed children’s book. It has also inspired many tourists to take their own trips to Cornwall to uncover local legends on their own.

There’s little surprise that Cornwall is home to so many legends, tall tales and myths. After all, this is a land surrounded by the power of the sea. It’s a land of lush green gardens and deep forests. And it’s a land of history, where castles and ruins dot the plains and valleys.

With so much beauty, mystery and power, it’s not hard to believe the residents of Cornwall entertaining themselves with fantastical stories of ancient kings, creatures of the deep and, yes, even brave and majestic cats.

Anyone who is a fan of magical tales, a bit of mystery and a healthy helping of history will find all that they seek in Cornwall. This is a land where every ancient castle, each tiny fishing village and every hidden coast has its own legend and story behind it.

With a holiday cottage in Cornwall, you can explore these and other local myths and legends at your ease. Stop in for a bite of Cornwall’s famous seafood before heading out to Zennor or Tintagel Castle. Have a quick lunch before investigating the scenic coastline on a search for mermaids or sea serpents. It’s a perfect way to spend a long holiday.

Fortunately, there are many holiday cottages in Cornwall. Do some exploring; there is no limit to what you might find.