Chysauster Ancient Village

Chysauster Ancient Village reveals how a small Romano-British community lived in the hills above Penzance between the first and third centuries AD. Around 50 to 70 people occupied a street of nine stone courtyard houses, a distinctive building form found in west Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Follow the surviving walls to pick out the rooms, then use the site model and raised viewing platform to understand the settlement as a whole. Wildflowers, butterflies and far-reaching views are regular highlights in visitors' accounts, and spring brings bluebells among the ruins. Reviewers recommend allowing for the uphill approach and wearing sturdy shoes, as the route crosses gravel, grass and uneven ground. There is no shelter from severe weather and nearby refreshments require a separate stop. Dogs on leads are welcome on the site.