Botallack Tin Mines

The ruins of Cornish tin mines are on the list of “sites to see before you die” (at least according to CNN). So despite unglamorous historical predisposition (i.e. tin mines are not castles or palaces, no kings were born or beheaded there, and no significant historical events happened at the mine shafts), the Botallack mines are as dramatically situated as any of the famous castles and palaces. Plus, human engineering advances might be as significant as any other event in history.

It is no wonder that the Cornish mines received a WHS (World Heritage Site) designation. They are a reminder of the glory of the 18th-19th century industrial revolution. The mines at Botallack, for example, are undersea mines that go down to 500 meters below the sea level and 400 meters out under the Atlantic ocean. However, to be historically correct, the tin and copper mining in Cornwall began during the Bronze Age and continued on up to 1980s, so this is a historically significant site after all.

Another plus of this site is that it is not very touristy. There were just a couple cars on the parking lot besides ours. This could be due to a very narrow road that leads to the parking lot, or it could be the fact that there are so many other, fancier, attractions around Cornwall such as St. Ives and Land’s End.