Towns on the Cornish border near the River Tamar, an area recently christened Borderlands.
Callington is a mining town, its hinterland rich in tin and silver, the gateway to the fruitful Tamar Valley. Known long ago as Gelliwig, forest grove, it must have been a flat useful clearing for setting up camp and court, because at Whitsun it was home to King Arthur’s travelling court. Today Callington has a Honey Fair in October and a Mayfest in May with a vibrant parade of giants, street music, storytelling, and dancing. Nearby are Dupath Well and Kit Hill.
Launceston, ‘Gateway to Cornwall’, was once the capital of the county. Its most prominent feature is the splendid Norman castle with a circular stone wall and High Tower. Another tower, fallen down long ago, was known as the Witches’ Tower as witches were imprisoned and died here. The castle was used for the county jail for 800 years, where rebels and thieves, witches and dissenters were imprisoned and executed. Now Launceston has a thriving town centre with two bookshops and many eateries. A ghost tour takes place regularly round the town at night. Cyprus Well is the former home of poet Charles Causley and is now home to The Charles Causley Trust and its poets in residence.
