Panorama taken inside the Halliggye Fogou in Cornwall. The picture shows the ancient stonework inside the Fogou and a side passage. The virtual tour created using flash and long exposures.

Lizard Peninsula virtual tour with a 360° panorama of 'Halliggye Fogou' linked to a Google map. A Lizard Peninsula attractions travel guide.

Halliggye Fogou in Cornwall is one of the best examples of an Iron Age fogou in England. The fogou lies on the Trelowarren Estate, which provides luxury accommodation, time shares and apartments. It is an ancient site is now a little visited tourist attraction, open between April to September.

'Fogou' derives from the Cornish for cave (fogo). These are Iron Age defensive structures found within fortified structures throughout Cornwall, northern Scotland and the Orkney Islands. Inside the fogou are corbelled stone walls which taper towards the top and are capped by stone slabs. Their function is unknown, though possibilities include refuge, food storage and ritual.

Halliggye Fogou is one of 12 known surviving fogous within Cornwall. It lies within the earthworks of an Iron Age farming hamlet or Round. It was excavated in 1982 after routine ploughing breached the roof of the main chamber. The breach has been converted into an entrance for visitors with new steps leading down. Within the fogu is a straight chamber stretching 20 metres on a north-south axis, terminating in a filled-in exit that used to come out in a ditch. From near the far end a 28m long, curving side passage runs westwards ending with a short south facing creep which ends in bedrock. The entrance to this side passage is shown with the picture.

Halliggye Fogou is home to Horseshoe bats which hibernate within it over the winter. For their protection the fogou is shut between October and April. At other times the fogou is open during daylight hours, entrance is free.

Car: Trelowarren Estates are about 6 miles from Helston. Take the B3293 turning onto a one-way country lane just south of Garras Community Primary School. This is signposted to the Trelowarren Estate and the Halliggye Fogou. Park on a layby where indicated and follow the trail up to the Round and the Fogou.