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Maps of Cornwall :
The Ordnance Survey publishes the Explorer series of maps which are
ideal for walkers. Scale 1 : 25 000 2.5 inches to 1 mile/ 4cm to 1km. Available in local bookshops or click on the links below to order online.
Those covering Cornwall:
Map of Isles of Scilly:
101 Isles of Scilly 
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Folklore
Cornwall is rich in folklore. Tales of piskies,
fairies, giants and
mermaids form a major part of the unique experience that is Cornwall.
One of these tales from the St Agnes area of Cornwall describes the plight
of Bolster, a giant, whose stature was such that he could stand with one
foot on St Agnes Beacon and the other on Carn Brea, a distance of some
six
miles. It is said that Bolster had a wife, who was given the unenviable
task of clearing rocks from the area surrounding St Agnes Beacon by her
tyrannical husband.
One day, Bolster is reported to have met and fallen in love with St Agnes,
the virtuous saint after whom the parish is named. Despite her
protestations, Bolster would not refrain from his romantic pursuit of
the
saint and she had to resort to employing a cunning scheme to get rid of
him.
St Agnes told Bolster that he needed to prove his love for her
by filling a
hole in the cliff at Chapel Porth with his blood. Then and only
then would
she believe that he loved her.
Bolster, eager to demonstrate the sincerity of his feelings, agreed to
do
this. However, what Bolster did not know was that the hole in the
cliff
drained to the sea. The lovesick giant allowed his life blood to
pour into
the hole for hour after hour until he finally collapsed with exhaustion
and
died.
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The truth of this tradition is maintained today not only in the earthwork
at
the foot of the Beacon which is known as the Bolster Bank but also in
the
mysterious lack of stones on one area of the Beacon, where Bolster's wife
had removed them, carrying them to the summit of on the orders of
her
husband.Chapel Porth can be seen to have red stained cliffs
in an area on
the right of the beach near a hole in the rocks which extends from the
clifftop to the sea !! |
Many legends are associated with Cornwall's industries of mining, fishing
and farming. Miners are said to have been superstitious about 'bullhorns'
(snails), and if meeting them on their way to work, would leave them a
part
of their meal or some grease from their lantern for good luck.
These legends are kept alive today not only in books but also by Cornish
men
and women in the spoken form which is known as Droll Telling.
Look out for more Cornish Folklore and Legends in our soon to be available
pages, the A-Z of Cornish
Information.
Books:
Some books are available new and others used from bookshops and online
stores subject to availability. Any prices are shown before P+P.
Drolls, Traditions and Superstitions of Old Cornwall (Popular Romances of the West of England): Giants, Fairies, Tregagle, Mermaids Rocks, Lost Cities, ... Lost Cities, Rocks, Fire, Worship, Demons)
Traditions and Hearthside Stories of West Cornwall William Bottrell
First Series
Traditions and Hearthside Stories of West Cornwall William Bottrell
(1873) Second Series
Cornish Legends by Robert Hunt
The Folklore of Cornwall by Tony Deane and Tony Shaw
Folklore and Legends of Cornwall M.A. Courtney
Demons, Ghosts and Spectres in Cornish Folklore
Tales of Old Cornwall
Other Cornish Folklore books
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