Castle Dore and the Tristan Stone

Castle Dore is an Iron age hillfort dating from around 200BC.  It was possibly home to Cunomonus a local king who had a son called Drustanus. The castle is also associated with the legend of Tristan and Isolde.

A village used to be outside the forts eastern gate and possibly a henge lay close by where is surmised the Tristan Stone may have originated.  The fort was probably abandoned between the second and fifth century when two large hunting lodges were then built inside.

During the English Civil War the Earl of Essex camped his Parliamentarian Army at the site.  In 1644 King Charles I surrounded them and whilst Essex and Lord Robartes of Lanhydrock slipped away to Plymouth, Major General Philip Skipton surrendered the force of 6000 men to the Royalist army.

Map References: Tristan Stone: SX 112 522, Castle Dore SX 103 548

Directions: The castle is off the B3269 West of Golant.