Camelot Castle, Tintagel, United Kingdom | (251) 219-4428
Within a 10-minute walk of the Tintagel Castle ruins and epic clifftops
Common areas recall an Old World British estate, with plenty of antiques
Rooms include coffeemakers, some have sea views and antique furniture
On-site restaurant serves English and continental fare
Bar and tea room on-site
Free Wi-Fi in common areas
Buffet breakfast for a fee
Free parking
Pet-friendly
Small bathrooms
Unrefurbished rooms are shabby
No fitness center
Limited business facilities
Wi-Fi signal doesn't reach most rooms
Named for the region's association with the legend of King Arthur, the 47-room, mid-range Camelot Castle Hotel has a turn-of-the-century battlement exterior, panoramic views of the Tintagel moor and the Atlantic Ocean, and furnishings that have seen better days. Other than the windswept landscape, the area's great draw is Tintagel Castle, reportedly the birthplace of the mythical king. While free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, the rooms' antique charm could use a bit of updating. Travelers might want to also check out the Tintagel Arms hotel, set in a 1750 stone house, which has lower rates but is not quite as grand.
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Scene
A long-faded jewel on the slow path to refurbishment
With a 19th-century battlement facade designed by noted Cornwall architect Silvanus Trevail, the isolated Camelot Castle Hotel could be an outpost set up to defend the cliffs of Cornwall. Fireplaces and mantels accentuate many of the common areas -- it's the kind of ambience that could encourage great literature -- Alfred, Lord Tennyson sought inspiration for his epic verse about King Arthur in the area. Playwright Noel Coward had a favorite table in the hotel, and the movies "Knights of the Round Table" and "Dracula" (starring Sir Laurence Olivier) were shot here. The chairs and sofas are velvety and soft, but the threads are a bit worn in places. Matching rococo flowery drapes and carpets adorn the walls of several rooms. Other spaces have more subtle decor. The hotel is a long-faded jewel that hasn't yet been brought back to life, although it's being refurbished little by little. Painter Ted Stourton, a co-owner of the hotel, displays his work throughout the property.
Location
On Tintagel Island, overlooking the ruins of Tintagel Castle
The hotel is located at the end of the road at the base of the cliffs that overlook the Atlantic Ocean. A carpet of green grass and wildflowers surround the property and extend to the lush moor and ragged, mossy cliffs. The area offers plenty of space for long meandering walks. The hotel's location is a 17-minute walk to the ruins of Tintagel Castle, a 15-minute drive to the North Cornwall Museum, and a 25-minute drive to Crackington Haven, another coastal village. Newquay Cornwall Airport is a 47-minute drive on A39.
Rooms
A wide variety of stately rooms, some refurbished
The Camelot Castle offers a wide variety of rooms. Some have sea views, while others face the moor. Several have exposed-stone walls, and many have antique furniture such as inlaid dressers, folding-leaf tables, and colossal four-poster beds heaving with carved embellishments. Beds are often big and cozy, although guests complain about lumpy mattresses. Some of the rooms have been refurbished, but those that haven't are shabby, with bathrooms as small as an airplane's. Bathrooms range from tiny with a curtained wet-room shower practically brushing up against the toilet to lavish spaces with soaking tubs, separate glass cabinet showers, and wooden toilet seats. All rooms include coffeemakers, and flat-screen TVs. Some rooms can reach a connection to the Wi-Fi, but most guests will have to head to public spaces to connect to the signal.
Features
On-site restaurants, pet-friendly facilities
Irina's, the on-site restaurant, serves English and continental fare, such as roast lamb rump with Dauphinoise potatoes, ratatouille and lamb au jus, and caramelized goat cheese with honeyed figs and grapes. Breakfast is available for a fee. The Golden Age Bar and Explorers Tea Room also offer refreshments. Weddings are often held in the ballroom. The hotel has limited meeting space, and not many services for business travelers. Wi-Fi is available in the public spaces, and the signal can be picked up in some rooms.
