Dozmary Pool & the Dark Sky at Siblyback Lake
Two bodies of water on Bodmin Moor offer experiences you simply cannot replicate anywhere else in Cornwall — one soaked in Arthurian legend, the other in some of the darkest, star-thickest skies in England. Visit both in a single evening and you'll understand why this moor gets under people's skin.
Dozmary Pool: Where Excalibur Sleeps
Dozmary Pool is a shallow, reed-fringed lake sitting alone on the high moor, and Cornish legend insists this is where Sir Bedivere returned Excalibur to the Lady of the Lake after Arthur's final battle. The setting — treeless, windswept, and utterly silent — makes the myth feel entirely plausible.
The pool is free to visit and reached via a short walk from a roadside parking area along country lanes near Bolventor. Come in the late afternoon when the light turns the water copper and the surrounding moor glows.
Siblyback Lake After Dark
In 2017, Bodmin Moor became the first International Dark Sky Landscape designated within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the UK. Head to Siblyback Lake after sunset and the reward is thousands of visible stars — the Milky Way arching clearly overhead on a moonless night.
The lake has a dedicated car park (Siblyback Lake, near St Cleer) and the flat shoreline path makes stargazing comfortable even for those who don't want a full moorland hike. Bring a red-light torch, a flask, and a blanket.
More of Bodmin
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Bodmin →
