Discover Camelford

The ancient town of Camelford makes an ideal touring centre, being only a few miles from the surfing beaches of North Cornwall and the natural beauty and ancient sites of Bodmin Moor. The town, historically a vital crossing point on the River Camel, was formally an important market town due to its position on the main route into Cornwall. The patronage of local MPs is reflected in some of the fine old buildings that line the main street.

The public park here by the river is a great stopping off point to enjoy some homemade pasties from the local bakery. The town is often reputed to be the location for heroic King Arthur’s Court of Camelot although the name Camel is more likely a corruption from old Cornish meaning winding. However, legend has it that King Arthur met his death at the hands of his nephew Mordred in a battle fought at the nearby village of Slaughterbridge where today you can find ‘Arthur’s Tomb’ marked by an inscribed stone that dates back 1,500 years. 

Reasons to visit Camelford

• Steeped with history and legends dating back thousands of years
• Just 6 miles from the Cornish coast
• Restaurants and cafes offering delicious local produce
• The nearby slate quarry at Delabole
• A gateway to Bodmin Moor, including the two highest hills, Rough Tor and Brown Willy
• Stunning garden and riverside walks 

Things to do in and around Camelford

• Enjoy a fun filled day on one of north Cornwall’s beaches with an abundance of activities to try, from rock pooling at low tide, body boarding, learning to surf with a local surf school and of course having a go at building a sand castle
• Go on a quest to find the spot where King Arthur was supposedly slain at the The Arthurian Centre
  
• Get access to the beautiful Cornish countryside with a cycle on the famous Camel Trail which can be started from nearby Wenford Bridge 
• Head to Cornwall’s extinct volcano ‘Rough Tor’, which at 1311 ft makes an excellent viewpoint over the surrounding area. Pronounced as 'Rowter', it is one of Bodmin Moor's most famous landmarks. At the summit sits a monument to the soldiers who died in World War II.
• If you want to go higher, Brown Willy, (In Cornish, Bron Wennyly, meaning swallows' hill) is 1375 feet high and is the highest point in Cornwall. 
• Near to the Rough Tor car park stands a memorial to Charlotte Dymond, who was the subject of a brutal murder on the moor in 1884
• Visit Delabole Slate Quarry, possible the deepest hole in Cornwall
  

Where to stay in Camelford