Boleigh Fogou

Boleigh Fogou is an underground stone chamber in St Buryan with two rooms connected by a passage. The walls are lined with carefully placed stones and topped with corbelled roofs that support the weight of the earth above.

This fogou was built during the Iron Age through the Romano-British period and shows how people lived in early Cornwall. Its construction reveals the building techniques and practical knowledge of those who created it centuries ago.

The name comes from Cornish and means cave, reflecting a local tradition of building underground passages in this region. This construction style shows how people adapted to their surroundings by creating spaces beneath the ground.

You can reach this site from Penzance by taking the B3315 toward Land's End, near the Pipers standing stones. The ground is uneven and can be muddy, so wear sturdy footwear when exploring the underground chambers.

Excavations uncovered Iron Age pottery and carvings on the walls, suggesting the space had ritual or symbolic uses beyond everyday living. Multiple entranceways set this structure apart from other similar underground chambers found nearby.

Location: St Buryan

GPS coordinates: 50.07160,-5.58293

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:25