Wild & Ancient Cornwall | April 2026

In the southwest of England, the county of Cornwall boasts diverse beauty, where rugged coastlines and wild moorlands meet picturesque villages. Our journey, from a base in Penzance, delves deep into Cornwall's cultural tapestry, exploring a myriad of ancient sites – from the Neolithic burial chamber at Lanyon Quoit to the late 15th century Church of St Buryans – amidst the backdrop of its breathtaking natural scenery.

Our tour begins with a captivating journey back in time to Chysauster Ancient Village, a well-preserved Romano-British settlement. This remarkable site is home to the UK's oldest village street, lined with stone-walled homesteads believed to have been inhabited from approximately 100 BCE. Our itinerary also includes a visit to Carn Euny, an Iron Age and Roman settlement renowned for its exceptionally preserved fogou – an underground passageway – and the remains of stone houses akin to those at Chysauster, embellished with bio-luminescent moss; as well as to Chapel Carn Brea, a site occupied from the late Neolithic to the early Bronze Age. Chapel Carn Brea is home to a distinctive type of cairn, exclusive to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and showcases what may be the earliest example of navigational light in Cornwall.

Cornwall possesses a unique topography that has lent itself to its continued development through history. The surplus of rock and granite across the inland meant that it was a leading mining centre up until the 20th century with evidence of tin mining from the Bronze Age found at locations such as Ding Dong Mine. Visits in St Just will further highlight the development of the mining industry from antiquity: one of the most ancient mining districts in Cornwall, remains from ancient pre-industrial and modern mining are etched onto the nearby landscape.

As we travel through Cornwall, we will explore the area's unique geology and its impact on the peninsula's ritual practices and folklore. Trethevy Quoit, a well-preserved megalithic structure, is believed to have been a Neolithic religious center and contains several communal graves, while evidence at Ballowell shows that these religious activities continued throughout Cornish history, with burial rites evolving from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age. At Tregiffian Burial Chamber, we can explore a rare type of passage grave known as an "entrance grave", found only in this region and the Isles of Scilly.

Numerous standing stones, dating from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age, like Men-an-tol and Boscawen-Ûn, create a sense of mystery and contribute to local legends. One notable example is the Merry Maidens stone circle, with origins rumoured to be from nineteen maidens that were turned to stone for dancing on a Sunday. Described by Historic England as the “largest surviving standing stones in Cornwall”, the site demonstrates ancient ritual practices as well as how physical artefacts and oral traditions shape our understanding of the past. Similar tales are associated with the nearby The Hurlers and The Pipers. The Cheesewring, a natural geological formation shaped by weathering, is believed to be the result of a contest between a man and a giant, further emphasizing Cornwall's connection between nature and narrative.

Our exploration of Cornwall will be deeply intertwined with its distinctive natural environment. At Cape Cornwall, the UK's western edge, we will keep an eye out for seabirds like the Manx shearwater and chough, and the vibrant dwarf gorse. Down to the UK’s southern most point, the Lizard peninsula showcases Britain's only mainland examples of ophiolite, alongside serpentine, gabbro rocks, and the rare Cornish heather, within its unusual geology and ecology.

Balancing the ancient and wild aspects of Cornwall, we will also take in more modern sites. These include King Doniert’s Stone, the only 9th century stone crosses in Cornwall, the iconic 20th-century Earth Station, and the historic RAF Dry Tree, where WAAF women played a crucial role in WWII radar operations. Our itinerary moreover features a visit to a working Cornish organic farm, owned by the same family since the 1960s.

 
Throughout our time in Cornwall we will be staying at the 3-star Penzance Promenade, formally The Beach Club, Penzance. Located on the promenade and close to the town centre, this characterful hotel offers beautiful views and comfortable amenities. Some bedrooms are located in an annexe and upper floor bedrooms are by stair access only.

This tour will be led by conservationist, ornithologist and environmental consultant Kevin Hand, MSc, MCIEEM, who has taken tours for ACE since 1992. In 2017 he was appointed President of the Cambridge Natural History Society and continues to act as a Trustee. He currently also chairs the Newmarket Chalk Streams Trust and is a Biodiversity Surveyor for the RSPB. Kevin has a special interest in birds and ecotourism, and has carried out extensive fieldwork in the UK and abroad.