In the bleak Bodmin Moor near Bolventor, Cornwall lies the Jamaica Inn, a public house that was once upon a time a notorious stopping point for smugglers. Frequented by unsavory characters of the 18th century, it is now allegedly one of the most haunted places in Great Britain.

So of course we had to stop there!

The Jamaica Inn was built in 1750 and derived it’s name from the local Trelawney family, of which two family members served as the Governors of Jamaica. Part of the inn & restaurant houses a small museum on smuggling and Daphne de Maurier, the author of The Jamaica Inn novel.

Smuggler’s skull – About 50 years ago, a deep underground cellar was found under the foundations of an old house known to have been the habitations of friends of the smugglers. Several stores of spirits were found together with the skeleton of a man, which was intermingled with iron chains.

2 lbs of hashish were found in this turban.

17th century armada chest.

View enlarged -After the museum, we stopped for lunch in the restaurant. The restaurant is decorated with old artifacts hanging on the ceiling and walls.

Stake and Ale Pie

Cornish Tribute beer battered Cod & chips

Just a “stone’s throw” away from the Jamaica Inn lies a lake in which local tradition tells the ending of King Arthur’s sword Excalibur. Upon his death, he requested Sir Bedivere to return the sword from where it came from, Dozmary Pool. With our bellies full and our sense of adventure peaked,  we went in search for the lake….

But unbeknownst to us at the time, we headed the wrong direction and ended up hiking to Golitha Falls.

View Enlarged – It turned out to be a beautiful mistake! We drove through miles of beautiful blue bell forests, rolling hills, picturesque farmlands before we finally got out & travelled by foot.

A Bluebell forest –I have always wanted to see one of these! I kept expecting fairies to appear.

We never did stop at Dozmary Pool –we ended up driving by it on the freeway and were pretty unimpressed. Our unplanned hike was much more beautiful!

After Golitha Falls, we continued on our way to our final destination for the night: Newquay. It’s pronounced “Noo-Key” BTW.

View enlarged –our hotel overlooked the coast.