02 Jun The Story of The Crantock Cave Carvings
There are caves on Crantock Beach that reveal a secret at low tide. Within them is a beautiful carving of a woman’s face and an inscription that reads:
Mar not my face but let me be,
Secure in this lone cavern by the sea,
Let the wild waves around me roar,
Kissing my lips for evermore.
‘Nice’ You might be thinking, but wait! You haven’t heard the story behind them yet. IF you are sitting comfortably, we shall begin.
Once upon a time, over 100 years ago, a beautiful woman was riding her horse along the beach. Her hair blowing in the breeze and the stunning view of Crantock reflecting in her beautiful eyes. As every surfer knows, the sea is a powerful mistress. Although she is beautiful, she is also deadly. As our horse and rider explored the beach the tide crept in around them, torrents swirled beneath their feet and the route to safety became cut off by a barrage of roaring water. The strength of the waves grew stronger and the beautiful woman and her equally beautiful horse were swept out to sea and never seen again.
This woman had a lover who was so distraught at the loss of his soul mate, he would often wander the shore hoping to find her and take her home. Years passed by and the tides continued to swell and fall but his love for her remained strong. He used to come to the cave to feel close to her as this is where he sensed her presence. Maybe this is where she sheltered hoping it would provide safety…alas that was not the case.
He chose to make the carvings in this cave as a lasting reminder of his love for his sweetheart. We don’t know what became of the man. Did he fall in love again? Did he live out his life alone? These questions remain unanswered.
But you have to say – he was a pretty nifty stone mason. These carvings are fascinating and well worth a look.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in April 2016 and has been republished as part of a website update.