The Golden Cup Legend
Rillaton Barrow on Bodmin Moor is a spot steeped in mystery and ancient legend. Locals have long spoken of a ghostly druid who roamed this area, offering a drink from a magical golden cup to all he encountered. This wasn't just any cup - it was said to be a vessel that could never be fully emptied, a symbol of the druid's connection to the mystical and the eternal. The story has been passed down through generations, adding to the allure and mystique of this ancient site.
The legend gained a new layer of intrigue in 1818 when the barrow was excavated. Archaeologists made a remarkable discovery - a gold beaker, remarkably well-preserved, was found next to a skeleton. Both were estimated to be at least 2000 years old, dating back to the Bronze Age. This find lent credence to the local tales, suggesting that the golden cup of legend might have been inspired by this very real, ancient relic. The connection between the ghostly druid, the magical cup, and the historical gold beaker is a tantalising one, leaving us to ponder the stories that might be hidden within the earth of Rillaton Barrow.
The site dates back to the Bronze Age, around 2000 years ago.
Location
Location Details
Nearby Haunted Places
Petrified Hurlers of Minions
Hurlers stone circle, Minions
Deep in Cornwall's rugged landscape lies the Hurlers stone circle, home to a haunting legend. These ancient stones are said to be the petrified forms of men who dared to play the rough sport of hurling on a Sunday. According to local lore, their reckless behaviour earned them a supernatural punishment, turning them to stone as a warning to others. The Hurlers is a place of eerie beauty, with the stones standing sentinel over the rolling hills. As the sun sets, the atmosphere grows thick with an otherworldly presence, leaving visitors to wonder if the petrified players still stand guard.
Mysterious Footsteps at Manor House
Manor House inn Inn, Bodmin Moor
The Manor House Inn on Bodmin Moor is a place where the past seems to be very much alive. Guests and staff have reported hearing loud footfalls coming from upstairs, which always seem to lead to the same empty bedroom. It's as if someone - or something - is pacing back and forth, but when you investigate, there's no one there. The footsteps are a mystery that has been puzzling people for years, and they remain one of the most intriguing aspects of the inn's paranormal activity.
Phantom Jogger of Bodmin Moor
Footpath to Golitha Falls, St Cleer
Golitha Falls, a breathtaking spot on Bodmin Moor, is where a rather unusual ghostly encounter took place. A couple, walking back from the falls on a July day in 2003, noticed a jogger behind them. She was dressed in modern fitness gear, her arms swinging as she ran, but there was something odd about her - she never closed the distance between herself and the couple, which remained at around thirty metres. The final time they turned to look, she had vanished into thin air, with no discernible place to go.
Jan Tregeagle's Dozmary Pool Haunting
Dozmary Pool, Bodmin Moor
Dozmary Pool, a tranquil and mysterious spot on Bodmin Moor, is said to be haunted by the ghost of Jan Tregeagle. According to legend, Tregeagle was a man who committed a heinous crime, killing his wife and children, and as punishment, his spirit is doomed to return to the pool every night. With a broken shell, he attempts to empty the pool's contents, but to no avail. A pack of ghostly wild dogs watches over him, ensuring he doesn't try to escape. Locals have long believed that saying Tregeagle's name out loud could summon the vengeful spirit, so they avoided it altogether.
Red Eyes of Liskeard
Park Fenton, Liskeard
Park Fenton on Liskerrett Road in Liskeard has a strange reputation thanks to a series of bizarre incidents that took place back in May 1990. It started when a traveller parked their van on the site and felt a strange force swarm over it. This unusual energy was described as benevolent and lasted for about a minute before disappearing. The traveller was so shaken that they ran out of their van and into their friend's coach to share their story. But they were not alone in their experience - others who had parked in the same spot had similar encounters. Some even reported seeing red animal eyes staring back at them through their windows.
Horned Figure of St Neot
Area around Hobbs Hill, St Neot
Deep in the Cornish countryside, around Hobbs Hill in St Neot, a strange figure has been spotted lurking in the lanes. This eerie apparition is described as a man with antlers, and his appearances are shrouded in mystery. The first reported sighting was back in the mid-1940s, and then again in 1998, the figure was seen wandering the same stretch of road. It's not just the horned figure that's causing a stir, though - there have been other bizarre occurrences in the area, including strange animal sightings and unexplained events.
Stay Nearby
Haunted hotels and accommodation near Rillaton Barrow

Bodmin Jail Hotel
Bodmin, Cornwall

The Bedford Hotel
Tavistock, Devon

Lewtrenchard Manor
Lewdown, Devon

The Wellington Hotel
Boscastle, Cornwall