TINTAGEL Castle was recently recognised at the national Hudson’s Heritage Awards for the innovative new scheme of outdoor interpretation unveiled at the North Cornwall landmark by English Heritage in April 2016.

Established in 2011, the Hudson’s Heritage Awards is an independently judged annual national scheme, open to historic houses, gardens, museums and heritage sites, and celebrates the very best visitor experiences. The awards took place at a ceremony at Goldsmith’s Hall in London, and Tintagel Castle was highly commended in the Savills Award for Best Innovation.

The new scheme of outdoor interpretation opened on April 29 last year, taking visitors on a journey through the history and legend associated with the 18-acre site. Highlights include a series of interpretive panels exploring 1,500 years of Tintagel‘s history and making use of the Cornish language, an eight-foot bronze sculpture Gallos (meaning power in Cornish) by artist Rubin Eynon, inspired by the legends associated with the site, a stone compass highlighting places connected with the Arthurian legend, and engraved stepping stones around the island garden which tell the medieval tale of Tristan and Iseult. Meanwhile, on the beach close to Merlin’s Cave, a discreet carved face represents Merlin, a figure associated with the site since the 12th century and immortalised by the poetry of Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

English Heritage’s marketing manager for Cornwall Michael Sweeney, who collected the highly commended award, said: “It is great that our efforts to tell some of the fascinating stories attached to Tintagel Castle have been recognised in this way. We’re particularly proud that our innovative new interpretation has offered a new experience for those visitors who enjoy returning again and again to the castle, inspired not only by the myths and legends associated with it, but by the rich history of the site. Surveys have shown how much our visitors love the new interpretation, and this recognition is the icing on the cake.”

Sarah Greenwood, director at Hudson’s and publisher of Hudson’s Historic Houses & Gardens, said: “The finalists in 2017 showcase an amazing range of experiences just waiting for us all to enjoy at Britain’s heritage places. This year they include three World Heritage sites but also iconic castles, public buildings, unusual gardens and stunning country houses several of which are not well known. We at Hudson’s would like to congratulate them all on setting the standards for others to follow.”

Alongside the highly commended accolade in the Savills Award for Best Innovation category, Tintagel Castle was also shortlisted for the Best Places to Eat award at the Hudson’s Heritage Awards.