Cornwall has one of the most extraordinary collections of historic sites in the UK. But don't shrug them off in search of more modern treasures - the oldest attractions are often the best.
UNESCO has credited World Heritage Site status to ten landscape areas from the west of Cornwall to west Devon, which best represent our mining past. This status not only showcases Cornwall's culture on a global level, ranking our historic mining landscapes alongside the likes of the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China, but preserves the landmarks, ensuring that the story of Cornwall's heritage is told for generations to come.
To explore this fascinating world why not visit one of the Cornish Mining Heritage attractions.
Rumps Cliff Castle, Polzeath - although there are more than 30 examples of these Iron Age fortifications left crumbling around the county, the Rumps is the most stunning example for both its visible formation and staggering location.
The Tristan Stone, Fowey - representing a time when Christianity flooded the Cornish culture, inscribed stones such as this one began to spring up from around 450AD.
The Hurlers, Minions - one of Cornwall's most important prehistoric sites, the Hurlers is a series of stone circles standing high on Bodmin Moor.
Men-an-Tol, Morvah - West Cornwall is an area riddled with prehistoric evidence, from stone circles, settlements, inscribed rocks, and this famous holed stone that is thought to possess healing powers.
Chysauster, West Cornwall
This Iron Age settlement was originally occupied almost 2,000 years ago. Chysauster village consisted of eight stone-walled homesteads known as 'courtyard houses', found only in this part of Cornwall. The houses line a 'village street', and each had an open central courtyard surrounded by a number of thatched rooms. There are also the remains of an enigmatic 'fogou' underground passage.
Delve further into Cornwall's unique past by visiting our history and heritage pages.
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