Boleigh is one of the better fogous with a main passage over 10m long. It is not well marked on the map and is situated in the garden of a private house (be sure to ask). A few votive offerings surround the entrance.

The main entrance is elegant and faces south west. A stream runs through the small valley beyond this view. Inside, the main passage is clear and there is standing room. Wear boots for the far end is often wet. Unusually, the far end is also open to the air.

The entrance to the creep is close to the main entrance of the fogou itself and has a stout and accessible arch, leading to a small chamber full of very large spiders and a few strips of votive cloth.

The exit at the far end has an upward slope into a small beech copse .

Craig Weatherhill’s book Belerion refers to the ‘god of the fogou’ a shallow, engraved carving on the left hand portal stone. We have never managed to spot it but a friend visited recently and took a picture of the stone to ‘prove’ that there was no carving. Or so he thought.

For the first time, we thought we could see the faint shadow of the figure described by Craig. Look on the right hand side of the main image. Is there a head, perhaps with a pointed ear on the left, holding a staff? Is this the image that Craig drew?

It is one of the beauties of fogous that they are never quite what they seem. The entrance to Boleigh is never in the same place when we visit: it seems to move.

Boleigh featured in a slightly chaotic episode of Time Team when the team was attempting to uncover part of a rampart, perhaps associated with the original settlement.

The fogou can be found here. As it stands in the garden of a private house, Rosemerryn, it is kindest to call in advance to ask permission to visit. 01736-810530