Carn Euny

The few cottages of the tiny Cornish village of Carne Euny stand guard over the last remains of man's earliest existence in this isolated corner of England... at the end of a long and meandering lane, this ancient settlement with it's chambered cairn and Bartine castle a few hundred yards to the south, and tumuli to the north west, embraces the Carn Euny Fogou. Nearby is Carn Euny holy well, formerly known as the Giant's well (Nigel Pennick, Celtic Sacred Landscapes)

The fogou is a long underground passage, measuring some sixty six feet in length, lined and roofed with large stones. At right angles to this is another, shorter passage which leads to a circular side chamber which once had a corbelled roof. The whole structure is believed to have been constructed in the first century B.C.

In the roof of the chamber is an opening which is concealed by tall vegetation from the outside - in daytime and when there is a strong moon at night this allowes a certain amount of filtered light to penetrate the interior which is otherwise pitch-black.

The stone walls are covered with a luminous lichen, creating a feeling of mystical warmth.

We linger awhile to allow our eyes to become accustomed to the semi darkness... and things take on a truly magical form - as, even in this total darkness, the walls become illuminated by an irridescent sheen.

We feel that we are in tune with the very earth... and to make sound with the mystic 'OM' confirms this to be true.

So, if you are fortunate enough to visit Carn Euny Fogou then stay awhile and connect to the vibrations of the earth, for they are particularly strong here in this underground power-point.

The megalithic sites of Penwith are evocatively described in detail in The Old Stones of Land's End and The Living Stones

St Euny's Wells

There are two wells, situated just a short distance to the west of the settlement.

The well to the north of the path is surrounded by large stone slabs. The nearby trees are hung with votive offerings and clouties. further along, the well to the south of the path has steps leading down to it.