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FOR a magical day out in Cornwall, take the family to Tintagel Castle," states the English Heritage tagline. The Historic Building and Monuments Commission for England couldn't be more accurate in its judgment. Tintagel's wonderful location, set high on the rugged north Cornwall coast, offers dramatic views. Its fascinating ruins and stunning beach cafe make it a perfect day trip, ideal for those on holiday in Dorset, Cornwall or Dartmoor. Cornwall itself is a magical place to be in. No wonder, M5 — the only motorway which connects the rest of England to Cornwall, is always crowded. A good point to make a start for Tintagel is Boscastle, a charming village situated around 3 miles away. Boscastle was devastated by floods which destroyed homes and livelihoods nearly eight years ago. Miraculously, no lives were lost. Now, Boscastle is being heralded as the most environmentally friendly place in the country, having undergone a green renaissance during its reconstruction. The Cornish village has the highest concentration of green businesses in the UK. A short drive later, visitors can step into Tintagel. Tintagel Castle is steeped in legend and mystery. Said to be the birthplace of King Arthur, day-trippers can also visit the nearby Merlin's Cave. The castle also features in the tale of Tristan and Isolde. Tourists can watch a short film on King Arthur before making their way up to the castle. Joined to the mainland by a narrow neck of land, Tintagel Island faces the full force of the Atlantic. On the mainland itself, the gaunt remains of the medieval castle represent only one phase in a long history of occupation. Even before Richard, Earl of Cornwall, built his castle in 1233, Tintagel was already associated in legend with the conception of King Arthur by Uther Pendragon, the result of his seduction of Queen Igraine. Indeed Richard's castle was probably deliberately built to reinforce his connections with Arthur and the ancient rulers of Cornwall. This Arthurian connection was later renewed by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, in his Victorian Idylls of the King. The remains of the 13th century castle are breathtaking. Steep stone steps, stout walls and rugged windswept cliff edges encircle the great hall, where Richard, Earl of Cornwall, once feasted. Padstow, a few miles away, is not just another seaside town in Cornwall but a working fishing port as well. The town is well-known in the UK mainly because of celebrity TV chef Rick Stein, who happens to be one of the country's top seafood chefs. Stein owns and runs four restaurants in Padstow, including The Seafood Restaurant. He has written numerous cookery books and recorded several cookery series and documentaries for television. If you decide to check out The Seafood Restaurant, you certainly won't be disappointed when you see the menu. The dishes include lobster and fennel risotto, fillet of hake with sauce and char-grilled fillet of sea bass with a tomato, butter and vanilla vinaigrette. Desserts include perennial favourites such as vanilla panna cotta with poached rhubarb and sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce and clotted cream. However, a three-course lunch is not cheap at `A337 per head. Padstow's picturesque narrow streets of stone, colour-washed and slate cottages and the pretty working harbour are truly worth exploring. The town nestles in a narrow gulley on the western side of the River Camel estuary, sheltered from the prevailing winds. The harbour is, of course, the pivot around which the whole town revolves and, because there is always something going on, visitors are drawn to the seats around the quay. There is something very therapeutic about watching the world go by from this interesting spot. Holiday-makers can go for a walk around the harbour and explore several quaint shops selling driftwood items, fishing and surfing gear, as well as plastic buckets, spades and fishing nets for young 'uns. Other tourists, especially young families, can enjoy other activities — have outings in little motorboats, play on sandy beaches and fish for pike with local fishermen. Fishing trips, pleasure boats and high powered speed boats may be booked from the quayside. St George's Cove, which is a relatively small sandy beach and a 20-minute walk from Padstow town, and Tregirls, another sandy beach which is even more spacious when the tide is out and the perfect place for families to enjoy beach games or just to sunbathe, are also worth exploring. Tregirls contains two coves, Hawers Cove and Harbour Cove. Access to Tregirls can be of one of two ways, either by parking in Padstow and walking along the coastal path, or by using a car park that is a 15 to 20 minute walk from the beach. Never mind if The Seafood Restaurant is too pricey for you. Rick Stein's Fish and Chips joint is ideal for most sightseers. This is the most affordable of Stein's joints in Padstow and stocks appetising fish and chips, croissants, raisin swirls, sausages and egg baps. The joyous cries of children building sand castles waft by when you are munching on chips, confirming the stereotype that the beach break is Britain's favourite type of holiday.
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