We went to the UK in September 2014, in search of King Arthur and those places associated with him in both fact and fiction. Our list was long, and we missed some, but one of the more spectacular sights was Tintagel Castle.
Tintagel sits on the Northern Atlantic Coast of Cornwell on an island connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land,
and then a climb up a steep stairway.
The remains of the castle called Tintagel today are from the 12th century. The stone walls and other other remains are breathtaking in spite of that.
What inspired me was the real possibly that in the days of King Arthur (300-500), this could have held a wooden castle. The location here is one of strategic importance on the coast. Renegades from the sea could be seen for some distance.
And the protected cove below would have provided a safe place to land supply ships during a seige, or a secluded hideout in the caves surrounding the bay. The one on the left is referred to as Merlin's Cave.
As I continue to work on the sequel Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend—Cedwyn's Story, I wouldn't be surprised to find this location in there!
I don't think of it as a glorious way to live, at all. Perhaps, only for the local lord or king and a few of his or her entourage, but not for the rest of the people who had to build these castles and work very hard just to provide sustenance, let alone pay the heavy taxes imposed by their rulers.
Ron