Christian Retreat House, Cornwall — Above Tintagel’s Ancient Coast
This Christian retreat house, Cornwall, sits on Trenale Lane above Tintagel, with accommodation for up to 36 people across a farmhouse, a dormitory, and a separate cottage, plus two fields for anyone who’d rather bring a tent. The farmhouse has five bedrooms and a log burner for colder evenings, the newer dormitory building has underfloor heating, and campers get their own barn, galley kitchen, and shower block. It’s run as whole-site or whole-building hire, fully flexible on length of stay, which makes it a natural base for church weekends away, youth groups, and school trips rather than a single family looking for a week by the sea.
Tintagel Castle itself, already listed above, is more remarkable than its popular reputation as “King Arthur’s birthplace” suggests. Archaeologists once believed the headland had been a Celtic monastery in the so-called Dark Ages, but decades of further excavation have overturned that idea: Tintagel now looks like one of the most powerful settlements in western Britain between the 5th and 7th centuries, home to more than a hundred buildings and trading directly with the Byzantine Mediterranean for fine imported pottery and wine, long after Roman rule in Britain had ended.
The Rocky Valley Walk, also already listed, leads inland to St Nectan’s Glen, one of the most atmospheric spots on this stretch of coast. Local tradition holds that the sixth-century hermit St Nectan built a small cell and chapel above the waterfall here, known as the Kieve, where the water still crashes some sixty feet through a hole worn clean through the rock. The site has drawn visitors seeking quiet and reflection for generations, chapel or no chapel, and the walk up from Rocky Valley is as much a part of the experience as the waterfall itself.
The activity side of the centre is well suited to groups too: coasteering and kayaking around Port Quin, tide climbing out of Wadebridge, and bike hire for the Camel Trail, a flat, traffic-free cycle route running most of the way from Wadebridge to Padstow along a former railway line. Polzeath, a short drive south, has one of Cornwall’s most reliable beginner surf beaches, making it easy to build a full activity programme around Menadue without needing to travel far between bookings.
Closer to the coast path, Rocky Valley itself holds a genuine puzzle: two labyrinth patterns carved into the rock face, their age disputed but generally thought to be at least a few centuries old, if not considerably older. Nobody knows for certain who carved them or why, which only adds to the appeal of a walk that already takes in wooded valley, waterfall, and open coastline within a couple of miles.
The wider South West region is worth browsing for anyone planning a longer trip, and the English Heritage research page for Tintagel Castle is a good place to read more before you go. Between the space to run a proper group programme, genuine ancient history within walking distance, and a full menu of coastal activities on the doorstep, Menadue is built for more than just a stay, whether that’s a church camp, a school trip, or simply a family reunion that needs the whole site to itself.
Perfect for:
- Church weekends away, with whole-site hire and fully flexible booking
- Youth groups and school trips, with 36 beds across three buildings
- Families or groups wanting to camp, with two fields and a shower block
- History lovers keen to explore Tintagel’s real Dark Age past
- Walkers heading for St Nectan’s Glen, Rocky Valley, and the coast path
- Dog owners, with up to three dogs welcome on site
Location
Menadue Farmhouse, Retreat & Activity Centre,
Trenale Lane, Tintagel, Cornwall PL34 0HR
Nearest Town:
Tintagel is 4 miles south of Boscastle and 10 miles north of Port Isaac. It is very quaint and located high above the beach. A good mix of shops and a good choice from several pubs and eateries that are open in the daytime and the evening too.
Local Area – places to explore
- Tintagel Castle (english-heritage.org.uk)
- Tintagel King Arthur Walk – SW Coastal Path (southwestcoastpath.org.uk)
- Rocky Valley Walk (nationaltrust.org.uk)
- Tintagel Haven – stunning beach located near Tintagel Castle – (info on Google)
Recommended Activity Providers
- tideclimbing.com Wadebridge
- cornishcoastadventures.com Port Quin (kayaking, paddle boarding, coasteering)
- bridgebikehire.co.uk Wadebridge for the Camel Trail
- surfsupsurfschool.com Polzeath
Facilities
Our site at Menadue comprises accommodation for up to 36 in two different buildings plus there are 2 fields where you can pitch up your own tents.
For those who just wish to camp (or camp as well as using the buildings on site) we have a barn and a galley kitchen area plus a toilet/shower block.
The choice is yours on how you want to use the site.
We also have a cottage on site that sleeps 4, with a double bedroom and a bunk bed in a separate bedroom.
The Farmhouse (22 beds) is comfortable with all modern amenities to make your stay enjoyable. It benefits from gas central heating and a log burner for the colder evenings. There are two lounges, a large kitchen/diner and utility room. Upstairs there are 5 bedrooms, 4 shower rooms and one bedroom has en-suite facilities.
The Dormitory (14 beds) this is a new building with underfloor heating. Accommodation comprises 2 bedrooms with 3 bunks in each, a shower room plus a third bedroom with a bunk and ensuite shower room.
The Cottage (4) has a lounge/diner, kitchen and 2 bedrooms with a double bed in one and a bunk bed in the 2nd and a bathroom.
There is wifi covering the whole site, 2 electric hook-ups for camper vans, parking and we are a dog friendly site.
Ideal for extended families, church weekends away and youth groups.
School groups especially welcome.
Use the whole site for a church camp in August – limited availability, please enquire.
Additional Photos
Click to enlarge
Charges
Our Tariffs for 2025 are:
We allow up to 3 dogs on site at a charge of £30 per dog
Use of the Barn & Main Kitchen with Farmhouse Booking is an additional £150
Availability
Available all year round.
Arrival and Departure times: 10.00 am departure time. 3.00 pm arrival time.
Booking arrangements: Fully flexible, come when you can and stay as long as you like.
Booking Arrangements
If you would like further information you can visit our website: menadueactivities.co.uk
or you can email: enquiries@menadueactivities.co.uk