Ten Cornish Myths and Legends
Cornish Piskies
Said to live on the moors and historical sites, such as stone circles and ancient dolmans these creatures are often considered to be childlike and playful. However, if treated poorly they have been known to become quite mischievous.
2. Mermaid of Kynance Cove
One lesser-known legend about mermaids tells of a mysterious mermaid who would sing to sailors near the famous Kynance Cove. Some believed her enchanting songs lured unsuspecting fishermen to their doom, highlighting the perilous nature of these beautiful beings. Yet, other stories portray her song as a warning—a protective melody signalling approaching storms and dangerous weather, casting her as a guardian spirit for those at sea.
3. The Ghost Ship of Porthcurno
On misty evenings, a large ship is often reported to appear seemingly out of nowhere, its sails billowing in the wind. Strangely, no crew is ever seen aboard, and the ship typically sails close to the cliffs before vanishing as mysteriously as it arrived.
This phantom vessel is sometimes explained as an optical illusion, a trick of the eye caused by the fog and unusual coastal conditions, making distant ships appear to hover nearby. Yet, some believe it to be an eerie reminder of the many shipwrecks and lives lost in the treacherous waters of the area.
4. The Mermaid of Padstow
There are many variations of this tale, but they all share a common theme. The story tells of a man, hunting seals, who stumbles upon a beautiful woman combing her hair on the beach. Captivated, he asks her to marry him, but she declines. In a fit of rage, the man shoots the woman, only to realise too late that she was, in fact, a mermaid—revealing the true reason behind her refusal. He desperately tried to save her but failed and as she dies, the mermaid curses the harbour, and a violent storm erupts. A large sandbar forms where once a deep route had been, making it impossible for all but small vessels to reach the harbour. Ships are wrecked on the sandbar, earning it the ominous name "Doom Bar."
5. Knockers
Deep beneath the earth in Cornwall’s tin mines, there are tales of spirits—believed to be the souls of those who died within the mines. Others, however, believe they are small creatures, about 2 feet tall, known for their mischievous nature. These beings were thought to play practical jokes on the miners, but they also served a more protective role. It was said they would tap on the walls to warn miners of impending cave-ins or to alert them to those trapped below.
To keep the creatures content and out of trouble, miners would often leave offerings, like leftovers from their pasties. It's also believed that the superstition against whistling in the mines stems from these creatures, who supposedly hated the sound.
6. The Mermaid of Zennor
For many years, a mysterious, blonde-haired woman would visit the churches at Zennor and Morvah. She was said to have a mesmerizing singing voice, and over time, people began to notice that her beauty never seemed to age. Since her visits were infrequent, no one knew where she came from or where she lived. Eventually, she fell in love with a man named Mathey Trewells, who was also known for his beautiful singing voice. After following her home from church one day, he was never seen again.
Many years later, a ship anchored off Pendour Cove. A blonde-haired mermaid appeared and asked the crew to move the anchor, claiming it was blocking the entrance to her home and preventing her from reaching her children. The men aboard the ship believed the mermaid was the same mysterious woman, and they speculated that her children were the offspring of the mermaid and Mathey Trewells. Fearing the truth, the crew hauled up their anchor and fled.
7. Jamaica Inn
An iconic landmark and a key piece of Cornish history, this famous inn was once a coaching house where weary travellers could rest after long days crossing the moors. Its fame grew when Daphne du Maurier set her best-selling novel Jamaica Inn here. Legend has it that she stayed at the inn in 1930 after getting lost on the moors while out horse riding.
The inn boasts a rich history of smuggling but is perhaps even better known for being one of the most haunted places in Cornwall. On moonlit nights, the sound of clattering horse hooves and carriage wheels is said to echo in the courtyard. Inside, pacing footsteps are often heard in the corridors, and there are reports of a man, dressed in a hat and cloak, walking through solid doors.
8. Jack The Giant Killer
Set during the reign of King Arthur, the legendary tale of Jack is a cherished part of Cornish folklore. The story focuses on a gruesome beast named Corcoran the Giant, who once terrorised the locals in the areas surrounding St. Michael’s Mount. He would wade across the waters to the mainland, stealing cattle and causing havoc.
One moonlit night, a brave young local from Marazion named Jack decided to rid the town of this curse once and for all. He crossed the cobbled causeway to the mount, dug a deep pit, and set a trap. As dawn broke, he sounded his horn, waking the giant. Corcoran rushed to chase Jack, but the trap worked, and the giant fell into the hole. Jack then put an end to the beast’s reign of terror.
For his bravery, Jack became a devoted servant to King Arthur’s son. As a reward for slaying the giant, he was made a Knight of the Round Table. Arthur later tasked him with ridding Wales of the many giants who were terrorizing the country.
9. The Beast of Bodmin Moor
With over 60 recorded sightings, this is one of the most recent Cornish legends. Reports of a large, black, cat-like creature continue to surface, along with accounts of mutilated livestock. In 1995, the government launched an official investigation but found no concrete evidence of a big cat living on the moors. However, they also couldn’t rule it out entirely.
Theories about the creature’s origins vary—some suggest it could be an escapee from a zoo or private collection, while others believe it may be a wild cat that once roamed Britain over 100 years ago. Though no definitive proof has ever emerged, sightings persist to this day, and so the legend lives on.
10. King Arthur
Mythical fairytale hero or immortalised King? Legend has it that King Arthur was conceived at Tintagel Castle, perched on the rugged north coast of Cornwall. The story tells how Uther Pendragon, with the help of the wizard Merlin, used magic to disguise himself as the Duke of Cornwall in order to win over the Duke’s wife.
The tale of the legendary sword Excalibur and Arthur’s encounter with the Lady of the Lake is said to have taken place at Dozmary Pool on Bodmin Moor. According to the legend, this is also where the sword came to rest—after Arthur’s death, Sir Bedivere threw Excalibur into the lake, where the Lady’s arm rose from the water, caught the sword, and disappeared into the depths.
