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Voykit pocket guide · United Kingdom
Madron and Sancreed
Spend a single day exploring the prehistoric sites and gardens; reach by car or the A17 bus, then walk short trails.
Madron and Sancreed are a compact rural area on the Penwith peninsula with a cluster of prehistoric monuments, a National Trust garden and a historic mine. All main attractions lie within a 5 km radius, so one full day (6–8 h) is enough for a walk‑through; a second day only if you want slower pace or extra glamping.
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (wet, limited daylight)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- GBP
- Money
- Currency is the pound sterling (GBP, £). Cards and contactless work almost everywhere; some places are card-only.
- Daily spend
- Budget £30–£45 excl. bed · Mid £45–£70 excl. bed · High £70+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- EE, Vodafone (merged with Three in 2025) and O2 run the networks; prepaid SIMs sell in supermarkets, phone shops and airport vending machines, no registration needed.
- Emergency
- Police 999 · Medical 999
- Plugs
- Types G · 230 V · 50 Hz · Three-pin Type G only; European, US and Australian plugs need an adapter. Bathrooms have two-pin shaver sockets only.
- Tipping
- Restaurant with table service: 10–12.5% if no service charge is on the bill; check before adding more.; Pub or bar: Not expected; 'and one for yourself' offers the bartender a drink.; Taxi: Round up or 10%.; Hotel porter: £1–2 per bag.; Tour guide: £5–10 per person for a day tour; free walking tours expect £10–15.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere. Free refills are common; restaurants will bring tap water if you ask.
- Toilets
- Public toilets are scarce and some charge 50p–£1 or are card-only. Stations, museums, department stores and pubs (if you buy a drink) are the fallback.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a local café | £2–£3 |
| Sandwich or pasty | £3–£5 |
| Entry to Trengwainton Garden | £7–£10 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PNZ · Penzance Airport
- Bus A17 from Penzance to Madron (check timetable).
Typical fares
- A17 bus Penzance → Madron
- about £8 round‑trip (check)
- Car hire (small car, one day)
- ≈ £45 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Car is the most reliable; the A17 bus from Penzance stops at Madron but runs infrequently. Parking at sites may be limited, so plan early arrival.
See and do
Known for
- Trengwainton Garden
- Ding Dong Mine (UNESCO mining landscape)
- Chysauster Ancient Village
- Mên-an‑Tol standing stones
- Lanyon Quoit dolmen
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Penzance | A17 bus from Madron, about 20 min | ≈30 min |
| St Ives | Bus via Penzance or drive 15 km (9.3 mi)Bus via Penzance or drive 9.3 mi (15 km) | ≈45 min |
Sleep
- Boswarthen Farm
- Glamping tents, lodge and caravan options near Madron.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Sorisɔːri |
| Thank you | Diolchˈdɪɔχ |
| How much is it? | Faint mae hyn?faint mae hɪn |
| Where is the toilet? | Ble mae'r toiled?blɛ mae r ˈtɔɪlɛd |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake at first meeting; 'hi' and first names quickly; avoid: Cheek kisses with strangers
- Conversation: Weather is a safe opener; understatement and self-deprecating humour; avoid: Asking about salary or class
- Queues: Join at the back; avoid: Pushing onto buses or trains before others get off
- Apologies: 'Sorry' is said constantly, even when not at fault; avoid: Taking it as an admission of blame
- Pubs: Buy rounds in a group; wait at the bar without waving money; avoid: Clicking fingers at staff
- Nations: Call Scots Scottish and Welsh Welsh; avoid: Calling the whole UK 'England'
Scams and watch-outs
- Bus A17 runs infrequently; check the timetable before travel.
- Parking at popular sites can fill quickly; arrive early.
- Moorland walks may be foggy; carry an offline map and waterproofs.
Generally safe; watch for narrow rural roads, occasional fog on moorland walks and keep valuables secured in cars.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Madron and Sancreed yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Trengwainton Garden
- Ding Dong Mine (UNESCO mining landscape)
- Chysauster Ancient Village
- Mên-an‑Tol standing stones
- Lanyon Quoit dolmen
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- National Trust – Trengwainton Garden: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/trengwainton-garden/
- Transport for Cornwall – A17 bus: www.transportforcornwall.co.uk/
- Wikivoyage: Madron and Sancreed, revision 5239716 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5239716
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/madron-and-sancreed). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.