Hi SH

I don't consider myself the expert on books on the subject but the "Romance of the Stones" by Payne/Lewsey gives good descriptions of all the stones, circles, quoits, etc...There are also good drawings so you know what to look for when you get there.

It dosen't go into the spiritual or mystical stuff so i can't help you there...

I am sure someone else can point you in that direction if needed.

I also think its safe to say that there can't be that many sites in Cornwall that have not made it onto the TMA. Pick an area and make a list!

Happy to give advice if needed about where to go and what to see.

Mr H

Men-an-Tol Studio publish several excellent pamphlets for the Lands End peninsula, full of historical info, suggested walks with maps, etc. Highly recommended.

When visiting the Men-an-Tol area we called in at the publisher's studio and met Ian McNeil Cooke, the guy who writes the pamphlets. Very friendly and approachable, and he even let us leave our bikes round the back while we went for a stones walk.

You can get the pamphlets in tourist info places (Penzance was where I found my first one), or from the publisher direct

http://www.menantolstudio.freeserve.co.uk/

Regarding Boleigh Fogou, CAER werre still going when we visited. We found a really arsey sign saying not to visit the fogou without permission, but not to even knock for permission without prior appointment!

Fuck 'em and their overproprietorial Gollumesque 'it's MY preciousssss' attitude.

id recommend cheryls books!, in the time i lived in cornwall they were a great help, and so was she, i did contact her on occasion and proved extremely helpful.read the book 'fogou' a while back after i had visited the fogou , meditation in there was very interesting, indeed a very powerful place, it is or was a site used by locals for ritual, i know this through freindship with such a person in the past, but dont let that put you off visiting so bear that in mind if you do get a chance to visit.But id certainly recommend a visit to Haliggey fogou(think its spelt as such), again an extremeley powerful site, very dark!!!!, a must to visit.thing is when you come to cornwall youll find most of the small newsagents stock some very good books on the local sites,its where i found quite a few, youll also find a lot of material in the local 'spiritual' shops down there, 'Healing Star' in Penzance is a very good place to go, very freindly people who i found good friends!.

good luck

PLENTY OF BOOKS IN HIPPPY SHOPS IN PEZANCE

boscawen-un......marvellous quartz stone and leaning grooviness

merry maidens...cute

pipers...the campsite next door looks ace for theese sites

don't go to lands end...its aa horrible "theme" park

and you can sneak in the minac theatre...theres a gate at the top thats usually open!!!!

IT was my first cornish experience this year...loved it

but there is so much more to see

I'm a bit late on this, and can recommend what others have said here.

Romance of the Stones is the most comprehensive, but you may have problems finding a copy these days. £45 for the hardback, £20 for the paperback and worth every penny!

Men-an-Tol Studio guides are v. useful for Penwith too, as are Cheryl Straffon's books. You can ask to speak to her in St Just Library most days - I think she keeps a stock there too.

Craig Wetherill's Belerion and Cornovia provide quite comprehensive guides and can be indispensible.

One book that hasn't been mentioned yet is Ian McNeil Cooke's Mother and Sun: The Cornish Fogou. Although a limited edition, it's still possible to find signed copies of this around. The Cornish Shop in St Just and the museum in Truro both had copies a couple of weeks ago.