<< Our Photo Pages >> Carn Lês Boel - Promontory Fort / Cliff Castle in England in Cornwall

Submitted by JimChampion on Tuesday, 14 December 2021  Page Views: 19394

Iron Age and Later PrehistorySite Name: Carn Lês Boel
Country: England County: Cornwall Type: Promontory Fort / Cliff Castle
Nearest Town: Penzance  Nearest Village: Porthgwarra
Map Ref: SW35642323
Latitude: 50.050334N  Longitude: 5.694262W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
 2 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
 5 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
 3 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
 4

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I have visited· I would like to visit

AnnabelleStar would like to visit

TheCaptain saw from a distance on 14th Jun 2023 Walk from St Levan along the coast path, through Porthgwarra and out to Gwennap Head. Keep going right round to Carn Barra where I stop for my pasty, overlooking Zawn Kellys to Carn Lês Boel and Lands End. I spend ages watching the flocks of seabirds on the sea, no doubt all above shoals of fish, fulmars soaring around in the coves and their nests on the cliffs, and lots of choughs busying themselves between feeding on the clifftops and taking food to their nests on the cliffs. Its great to see the choughs back here again. Fabulous.

Catrinm visited on 15th Jul 2020 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 3 never can find the rock where the Mary line exits land

Catrinm visited on 15th Jul 2020 - their rating: Cond: 5 Access: 3 Recreating TS&TS pic

Catrinm visited on 15th Jul 2020 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 3 End of the Michael line - good ambience

lucasn visited on 18th Jul 2019 - their rating: Cond: 1 Amb: 4 Access: 3

ColletteWalsh visited on 1st Jan 0523 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 3 Well worth a visit. First time visit after failed attempt to reach last year in November when a storm hit the coastal path turning it into a mud slide (stretch from Lands End is very narrow and sheer at some parts). This time it was a clear, sunny day and no problems. Great ambiance.

Bladup JimChampion have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 3.8 Ambience: 4.5 Access: 3

Carn Lês Boel
Carn Lês Boel submitted by JimChampion : August 2007. View across Mill Bay towards the Carn Lês Boel headland. The shallow inner ditch and bank are quite clearly highlighted by the low evening sunlight - look just above the shadowy chasm. There is a narrower, fainter outer ditch that reaches to the top left of the chasm - possibly an unfinished outer defence. (Vote or comment on this photo)
A small and very exposed Iron Age promontory fort or "cliff castle" in a spectacular setting. There are the remains of a shallow ditch and bank on the north side of the promontory. Two large stones, one still standing, are presumably mark the entrance to the fort. There are no traces of settlement (hut circles, for example) within the defended area. This granite headland is also noted by ley line enthusiasts, as it lies at the western end of England's famous "St Michael Line" (that is, if you extend it westwards across West Penwith from St Michael's Mount).

Access The cliff castle is on a headland on the rugged granite coast between Porthgwarra and Land's End, on the southern side of Nanjizal or Mill Bay. Car parking is available at Land's End (expensive and tacky) and Porthgwarra (down a very small and twisting lane), then follow the waymarked coastal path on foot.
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Carn Lês Boel
Carn Lês Boel submitted by hamish : This great rock stands on the cliff at Carn les Boel. Wonder how it got here as the ice sheet didn't reach this far. (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Carn Lês Boel
Carn Lês Boel submitted by Bladup : Outcrops at Carn Lês Boel (Vote or comment on this photo)

Carn Lês Boel
Carn Lês Boel submitted by Bladup : Heading towards sunset on Carn Lês Boel (Vote or comment on this photo)

Carn Lês Boel
Carn Lês Boel submitted by Bladup : The remained standing portal stone at the inner defences at Carn Lês Boel (Vote or comment on this photo)

Carn Lês Boel
Carn Lês Boel submitted by Bladup : Carn Lês Boel. In the centre of this photo are some inner defences that I didn't know was there until the early morning sun showed them up. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Carn Lês Boel
Carn Lês Boel submitted by Bladup : At Nanjizal cove right next to Carn Lês Boel, the noise is fantastic here.

Carn Lês Boel
Carn Lês Boel submitted by Bladup : Looking over the rocky top of Carn Lês Boel

Carn Lês Boel
Carn Lês Boel submitted by TheCaptain : Carn Lês Boel is the next headland, seen in this view looking north from Carn Barra above Zawn Kellys. Beyond that, the white buildings are the touristic mess of Lands End. To the left from there can be seen Longships Lighthouse (in the original anyway, perhaps just a grey smudge on this uploaded copy). (1 comment)

Carn Lês Boel
Carn Lês Boel submitted by Bladup : The Lovely view South East from Carn Lês Boel

Carn Lês Boel
Carn Lês Boel submitted by Bladup : The outer defences at Carn Lês Boel, The Inner defences are by the standing entrance (Portal) Stone in the background

Carn Lês Boel
Carn Lês Boel submitted by Bladup : The view South from Carn Lês Boel towards Carn Barra

Carn Lês Boel
Carn Lês Boel submitted by Bladup : These large stones are part of the inner defences, Even though they look natually placed they've most certainly been placed there by man, The view is looking North West (2 comments)

Carn Lês Boel
Carn Lês Boel submitted by Bladup : Carn Lês Boel

Carn Lês Boel
Carn Lês Boel submitted by Catrinm : Carn Les Boel

Carn Lês Boel
Carn Lês Boel submitted by Bladup : Sunset at Carn Lês Boel.

Carn Lês Boel
Carn Lês Boel submitted by Bladup : Looking north west from Carn Lês Boel over the lovely Nanjizal Bay towards Pordenack point (with it's cairns and settlement) and the monstrosity that is Land's End

Carn Lês Boel
Carn Lês Boel submitted by Bladup : Looking though the entrance at Carn Lês Boel, The tight entrance once had two propped level portal stones but as you can see the one on the right fell a long time ago

Carn Lês Boel
Carn Lês Boel submitted by Bladup : Looking north west over Nanjizal Bay from some flat outcrops on Carn Lês Boel

Carn Lês Boel
Carn Lês Boel submitted by Bladup : Carn Lês Boel Looking North West over it's lower outcrops

Carn Lês Boel
Carn Lês Boel submitted by Bladup : Sunset from Nanjizal cove right next to Carn Lês Boel, Which is on top of the hill on the left

Carn Lês Boel
Carn Lês Boel submitted by Bladup : The View North West towards Carn Boel from Carn Lês Boel

Carn Lês Boel
Carn Lês Boel submitted by Bladup : Carn Lês Boel, This outcrop always feels like a very special place to me (and to many dowsers), A line of the inner defences can be seen beyond the outcrop

Carn Lês Boel
Carn Lês Boel submitted by Bladup : Carn Lês Boel, I bet this was once a rocking Logan Stone

Carn Lês Boel
Carn Lês Boel submitted by Bladup : Looking over the slight bank and ditch towards Carn Lês Boel

Carn Lês Boel
Carn Lês Boel submitted by Bladup : Carn Lês Boel

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Re: Carn Lês Boel by Palden on Wednesday, 22 December 2021
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If you come to these parts, this place is well worth a pilgrimage. The walk from Land's End is an adveture in itself, and you pass Pordenack Point (an ancient clifftop enclosure with cairns and an inspiring position) plus what's probably Britain's best collection of rock simulacra.

For your interest, here's a quote from my forthcoming book 'Shining Land' about Penwith...


Carn Lês Boel
Carn of the Court of the Axe (SW 3571 2325)


Never inhabited – it wouldn’t be suitable – Carn Lês Boel was reserved for singular occasions. A highly energetic place with a wide-open character, and exposed in winds and gales – not a good place to live. But it is special and strong – perhaps the most sanctified and powerful of the cliff sanctuaries of Penwith, with a deep and spacious feeling to it. It feels as if it served as a place for seers, holy people and their trainees. Ovates (counsellors and judges) could have held court here, or druids might have held special rites on chosen occasions. It has that feeling – to me, at least. This is distinctly a sacred, crown-chakra kind of place, with a steady, uplifting majesty, like a launchpad for the far beyond.

With its two guardian gateway stones (one now fallen), it feels distinctly consecrated – not a place for everyone, anytime. To enter, you had to pass through the gateway, an energy threshold it is not difficult to feel – pause there and ask to enter. Most walkers on the nearby coast path tend to walk on by without noticing the carn or going onto it, so perhaps its protection still holds today. It is prominent and hallowed yet veiled.
There were two thresholds to cross when entering the carn. The first was a ditch near the coast path, demarcating the headland, and the second was the two gateway stones. One of these is a classic propped stone, raised slightly above the ground on a few small rocks. Why this was done we do not know, but presumably it gave significance or power to the rock.

On the summit is a flattish rock platform where there is a strong energy vortex – if you visit, see if you can intuit the spot and stand on it awhile. You might find yourself swaying around, and not just in response to buffeting wind. A menhir-like rock, now ignominiously tipped over the side of the platform, might originally have been upright, standing on top of this vortex and platform. Along the carn are two more vortices: one at an upstanding, bulgy earthfast rock and another at a rock platform further down. See if you can find them.

Carn Lês Boel means headland-court-axe – court as in ‘royal court’. The axe could, at a stretch, symbolise cutting through life’s confusions, a breakthrough or even something like a judge’s gavel, signifying a final decision made. Though it can mean ‘axe-shaped’ too, which it is, in a way. The carn has a strong sense of spirit and of primeval beings. It is otherworldly, deep and dimensional, with a profound sense of interiority.

This hits you when you enter – a sense of presence, elevation, far horizons and detachment from normal life. It feels connected with the whole wide world, with its oceanic panorama. Africa and the Americas are just over the horizon. It’s worth settling down at a chosen spot, closing your eyes and spending time just being there. The carn has a lot of inner light. It is welcoming if you are open to it. Gulls and peregrine falcons wheel around, soaring on the updraughts. Below are caves in which the seals take shelter to rest and give birth to their young.

Carn Lês Boel is aligned with Avebury, Glastonbury Tor, the Hurlers stone circle in East Cornwall and Carn Brea, on the Michael Line. Progress that alignment south-westwards along the arc of a great circle and you’ll come to the Maya lands of Yucatan, Mexico, four thousand miles away.

To me this is one of the most special places in Penwith. I go there when I need to hear the still, small voice within, t

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Re: Carn Lês Boel by Anonymous on Thursday, 18 July 2019
This site is very significant for alignments & features heavily on the following blog-posts;.... https://ancientwhisperspenwith.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-st-michaelmary-alignment-my.html
....https://ancientwhisperspenwith.blogspot.com/2019/03/the-carn-les-boel-seahenge-drombeg.html
....https://ancientwhisperspenwith.blogspot.com/2019/07/clb-seahenge-pt-2-lands-end-wash.html
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Re: Carn Lês Boel by ledgehammer on Sunday, 17 July 2011
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Beautiful Site, especially at sunrise!

Took a little while to find, for those interested in ley lines , energy can be viewed disappearing into the Rock and darting out again.
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