The Haven

The Haven. . , The Haven , An Harber , The beach and headland at Tintagel appear to be wild and remote today, a haven for coastal plants and animals. But in the 19th century this area saw intensive use for mining, slate quarrying and fishing. , Beyond Merlin's Cave in the cliff to your left, there is a mine driven into the headland. This is King Arthur Mine which was worked for lead and silver in 1806, and again in the 1850s and 1870s. The offices and workshops of the mine were in what is now the Beach Café. , To your right you can see the remains of walls, platforms and winch positions, built in the early 19th century to load slate from nearby coastal quarries onto boats.They were also used to raise and lower fishing vessels. , ( photo captions ) , In the background of this 1875 photograph, the timber walkway leading to the lead mine can be seen. The winches and platforms for lifting slates and small fishing boats are visible in the foreground. , Today the cliffs provide important breeding grounds for fulmars, gannets and peregrine falcons. You might spot a grey seal or a dolphin. Rare plants such as golden samphire, rock sealavender and sea spleenwort grow on the headland.