Over three months in 2015–16, artist Peter Graham carved a foot-high bearded face representing Merlin into a rock near a cave known as Merlin's Cave (after its mention in Tennyson's Idylls of the King).
This was done as part of a project by English Heritage to "reimagine Tintagel's history and legends across the island site".
The project also includes a larger-than-life statue of King Arthur (by Rubin Eynon) and a compass sculpture referencing the Round Table.
A local councillor accused English Heritage of degrading the site's archaeology and landscape, although many local people are content with the image.
Plans for a cantilevered steel footbridge to link Tintagel Island and the mainland, designed (by Ney & Partners and William Matthews Associates) to evoke Arthur's sword, were approved in 2017, and the bridge was opened to the public on 11 August 2019.

Tintagel is one of English Heritage's top five attractions, with around 200,000 visitors a year and up to 3000 a day in the peak summer season.
According to figures released by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, 230,584 people visited Tintagel Castle in 2018.
Over three months in 2015–16, artist Peter Graham carved a foot-high bearded face representing Merlin into a rock near a cave known as Merlin's Cave (after its mention in Tennyson's Idylls of the King). This was done as part of a project by English Heritage to "reimagine Tintagel's history and legends across the island site". The project also includes a larger-than-life statue of King Arthur (by Rubin Eynon) and a compass sculpture referencing the Round Table. A local councillor accused English Heritage of degrading the site's archaeology and landscape, although many local people are content with the image. Plans for a cantilevered steel footbridge to link Tintagel Island and the mainland, designed (by Ney & Partners and William Matthews Associates) to evoke Arthur's sword, were approved in 2017, and the bridge was opened to the public on 11 August 2019.
Tintagel is one of English Heritage's top five attractions, with around 200,000 visitors a year and up to 3000 a day in the peak summer season. According to figures released by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, 230,584 people visited Tintagel Castle in 2018.
Tintagel Castle