Days out around St Ives Cornwall - Chysauster Ancient Village - an Iron Age settlement in the Penwith Hills.

A short drive from St Ives - around 15 minutes - head out along the "back road" (B3311) through Halsetown, Cripplesease and Nancledra towards Penzance.

This Iron Age settlement was originally occupied around 2,000 years ago - from about 100 BC to 300 AD. Nobody knows exactly when or why the village was eventually abandoned.

The people were probably farmers and archaeology has revealed that cereal crops were grown in the surrounding fields. It is also highly likely that chickens, pigs and goats were kept by the settlers.

You can walk around the village and the remains of the stone-walled homesteads - known as 'courtyard houses' and found only in West Cornwall.

The houses line a 'street' that runs up the hill, each had an open central courtyard surrounded by a number of thatched rooms.

This hillside site also has wonderful views of the Penwith countryside.

The site is run by English Heritage - who charge for admission. It is open from April to October.