Home
North Cornwall
Atlantic Coast
South Cornwall
Cornish Riviera
Beach Guide
Surfing
Prehistoric Sites
Map
Legends Of Arthur
Cornish Language

South

Cape Cornwall
Merry Maidens
Sennen Cove
Morvah
Lanyon Quoit
St. Just
Chun Quoit
Land's End
Lamorna Cove
Mousehole
Chysauster Iron Age Village
Carn Euny
Men an Tol
Penzance
St. Michael's Mount
Marazion
Mullion Cove
Kynance Cove
Lizard Point
Coverack
Church Cove
Helford
Cadgwith

Lanyon Quoit


OS grid ref:- SW 430 337

Imposing Lanyon Quoit is estimated to date from 2500 B.C. The monument is the remains of a long barrow and is situated close to the road between Morvah and Madron. The huge chamber tomb consists of 3 upright stones supporting a large 17' capstone, which weighs over thirteen tons, it would at one time have been covered with turf. The quoit was originally 90' long and so high that it was said a horse could be ridden under it.

Lanyon Quoit

Lanyon Quoit

Reproduced courtesy of Sundial Photographics

Lanyon Quoit is believed to be the burial chamber of a long mound and is is unusual in many ways, it may have been more of a mausoleum than a grave The quoit collapsed after a violent storm in 1815 broke one of its four stone supports, but was later re-erected by public subscription in 1824, which accounts for its present lower height. Also known as the Giant's Table, or Giant's Tomb, local legend states that a giant's bones were found in the tomb.