Time to Lace Up: Discover Cornwall’s Ancient Heart on Foot
Some day trips are about beaches and ice cream. Others are about lacing up your walking boots, packing a flask and heading into the wind-blown wilds. This one falls firmly into the second camp.
Cornwall’s far west — known as the Penwith peninsula — is as mystical as it is rugged. Here, the moors roll to the sea and the past is written into the land in stone, earth and lichen. This landscape is scattered with ancient monuments — some over 4,000 years old — and many of them still a mystery. Why they were built, how they were used, who built them: these are the kinds of questions you’ll turn over as you hike the tracks and stumble across stones standing watch in the bracken.
We’ve pulled together some of the best prehistoric sites you can explore in the far west, many within a short walk of each other if you’re up for a longer ramble. Be warned: this is not a sit-in-the-car kind of route. Some of these spots require a bit of legwork, but the rewards are huge.
1. Chun Castle & Chun Quoit
Nestled deep in the Penwith moors near the hamlet of Pendeen, Chun Castle and its neighbour Chun Quoit are among Cornwall’s most impressive ancient sites. Chun Castle is an Iron Age hillfort with thick granite walls and sweeping views over Mount’s Bay. Just a short walk away sits Chun Quoit, a beautifully preserved Neolithic dolmen (burial chamber) that looks like it could’ve been plonked down by giants.
Walk Required: Moderate hike. Around 1 mile from the nearest road, mostly across moorland. Footpaths can be boggy in winter.
Why Visit: You get two sites in one, and both are wonderfully atmospheric. There’s something about standing inside the walls of an Iron Age fort, hearing nothing but wind and skylarks, that makes the past feel close.
Local Tip: Park near the pumping station on the road from Pendeen to Morvah. Bring waterproof boots.
2. Lanyon Quoit
Not far from Chun Castle, Lanyon Quoit is one of Cornwall’s most photographed ancient sites — and for good reason. Its enormous capstone rests on upright slabs like a giant stone table. Originally part of a much larger burial mound, it was re-erected in the 19th century after collapsing in a storm.
Walk Required: Very little. Visible from the road with parking nearby.
Why Visit: It’s iconic, accessible, and a good stop-off en route to more remote sites.
Local Tip: Best viewed in early morning light or golden hour when it feels particularly otherworldly.
3. Men-an-Tol
Men-an-Tol is a site that sparks the imagination: a circular holed stone flanked by two upright stones. Some say it’s part of a lost stone circle, others say it was part of a burial chamber. For centuries it’s been a site of folklore and healing, with legends claiming that passing through the holed stone could cure ailments or even increase fertility.
Walk Required: Around a 1.2-mile round trip on uneven paths. Park at the layby just past Boskednan Farm.
Why Visit: It’s small but striking, with a powerful sense of place. Kids love crawling through the holed stone (for luck, naturally).
Local Tip: Combine it with Boskednan Stone Circle for a proper loop.
4. Boskednan Stone Circle
Often called the Nine Maidens, though there are more than nine stones, Boskednan Stone Circle lies in a remote, heather-covered part of the moor. It’s one of those places where the landscape seems to fall away around you. On a misty day, it’s like stepping into another time.
Walk Required: Moderate. Usually paired with the Men-an-Tol walk (about 2 miles round trip total).
Why Visit: It’s remote, unspoiled and rarely busy. Great for walkers wanting a wilder experience.
Local Tip: Bring OS Explorer Map 102. This part of the moor isn’t always well-signposted.
5. Carn Euny Ancient Village
This Iron Age and Romano-British settlement is one of Cornwall’s best-preserved ancient villages. It includes the remains of stone houses and a fogou — an underground passage whose purpose still puzzles historians (ritual? refuge? storage?).
Walk Required: Easy. Around 10 minutes’ walk from the small car park.
Why Visit: The site is peaceful and incredibly evocative. The fogou in particular is a highlight — torch recommended!
Local Tip: Visit late afternoon when the site is quiet and the low sun makes the stonework glow.
6. Chysauster Ancient Village
Unlike many of Cornwall’s prehistoric sites, Chysauster has a staffed visitor centre and a small entrance fee (free to English Heritage members). It features eight stone-walled courtyard houses, arranged in pairs, and offers insight into how people here lived nearly 2,000 years ago.
Walk Required: Minimal. There’s a surfaced path from the car park.
Why Visit: It’s well-interpreted and easy to visualise daily life here. Less wild, more educational.
Local Tip: Combine it with a visit to nearby Ding Dong Mine or a moorland walk for a fuller day out.
7. Ballowall Barrow
Perched dramatically on the cliffs near St Just, Ballowall is a unique Bronze Age burial cairn with concentric stone walls and burial chambers. It was partially excavated (and reconstructed) in the 19th century, but still gives a real sense of its original form.
Walk Required: Short walk from the car park at Cape Cornwall.
Why Visit: The setting is phenomenal, with sweeping views over the Atlantic. A great sunset spot.
Local Tip: Bring a picnic and enjoy the coastal views. Then take a walk down to Priest’s Cove below.
Final Thoughts: Walk Into History
There’s something incredibly grounding about walking out into the moors and coming across a place where people gathered, worshipped, or were buried thousands of years ago. These aren’t fenced-off museum pieces. They’re open, exposed, and part of the land itself.
You don’t need to be an archaeologist to feel the pull of these sites. Whether you’re drawn to their history, their mystery, or just want an excuse to hike through some of Cornwall’s most dramatic landscapes, this route is something special.
If you’re staying with us at Trewena, this day (or two) out west makes for a perfect contrast to your time on the beach or browsing the shops in Falmouth. Pack your walking boots, charge your phone (for pictures and OS Maps), and give yourself the space to slow down and explore.
Want more tips? We’ve got maps in each cottage and are always happy to suggest routes that fit your pace and interests. The Penwith Moors are calling — just mind the bogs.
