Editing Tintagel (section)

===Coastline===
[[File:Tintagel DSC 7889.jpg|thumb|[[Lichen]] at the coast at Tintagel|alt=]]

The coastline around Tintagel is significant because it is composed of old [[Devonian]] [[slate]]; about a mile southwards from Tintagel towards [[Treknow]] the coastline was [[Tintagel Slate Quarries|quarried]] extensively for this hard-wearing roofing surface. Quarries inland at Trebarwith and [[Trevillet]] continued to be worked until the mid-20th century. Apart from [[Tintagel Castle|the island]] headlands on the coast include Willapark and Start Point.

The turquoise green water around this coast is caused by the slate/sand around Tintagel which contains elements of copper: strong sunlight turns the water a light turquoise green colour in warm weather. The rocks contain various metal ores in small amounts: a few of these were mined in the Victorian period.<ref>Dewey, Henry (1948). [https://archive.org/details/SouthWestEngland2ndEdnBritishRegionalGeologyImages ''British Regional Geology: South-west England''], 2nd ed. H.M.S.O.; Geological Survey and Museum. pp. 23–28. {{OCLC|1006185289}}.</ref>

Though very near the coast the hill of [[Condolden]] (or Kingsdown) is among the very few areas in Cornwall outside Bodmin Moor which exceeds 1000 feet.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/741909 |title=Condolden|access-date=11 April 2009}}</ref> At Trethevy is the waterfall known as [[St Nectan's Kieve]] in a wooded valley. The beach at [[Bossiney Haven]] is close by and [[Trebarwith Strand]], just half an hour's walk south of Tintagel, is one of Cornwall's finer beaches, boasting clear seas, golden sands, and superb surf. There is also a small beach at Tintagel Haven immediately north of the castle, as well as a cave known as [[Merlin's Cave]] under the castle. A stream called the Trerammett River flows from Treven to Tintagel Haven.<ref>Dyer, Peter (2005) ''Tintagel: a portrait of a parish''. Cambridge: Cambridge Books. {{ISBN|0-9550097-0-7}}; p. 316</ref><ref>Ordnance Survey {{Frac|2|1|2}} inch map of Tintagel</ref>

[[File:Slatewall trebarwith strand.jpg|thumb|Slate at [[Trebarwith Strand]]]]

The cliffs from Backways Cove, south of Trebarwith Strand to Willapark just to the south of [[Boscastle]] are part of the Tintagel Cliffs SSSI (a [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]]), designated for both its [[Heath|maritime heaths]] and geological features. There are also four [[Geological Conservation Review]] sites.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tintagel Cliffs|url=http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1000544.pdf|publisher=[[Natural England]]|date=10 June 1988|access-date=6 November 2011|archive-date=24 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024225213/http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1000544.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Tintagel lies within the [[Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty]] (AONB). National Trust properties include, besides the Old Post Office in Trevena (see above), fine stretches of the cliffs along the coast including Glebe Cliff, Barras Nose and Penhallick Point. The coastal footpaths include part of the [[South West Coast Path]].