A holidaymaker has expressed their surprise after finding a ‘mystery’ skull near Tintagel — and is no closer to knowing what it might be.

While it is not possible to confirm reports whether the Beast of Bodmin Moor or the Hound of the Baskerville have been seen since their half-term holidays, after taking the skull to the Museum of Witchcraft and Wizardry, it is safe to say the mystery article is ‘not a magical item’.

John Goodwin and his family were holidaying in Tintagel to celebrate his grandparents 50th anniversary when he came across the mystery item.

He told the Post: “Here’s something unusual that happened while I’ve been down in Cornwall with the family for my grandparents’ 50th anniversary. Sadie and James. We’re staying near Tintagel and took the walk up to St Nectan’s Glen.

“About halfway through, my daughter spotted something sticking out of a mossy bank. I figured it was a root, but when I pulled it free, it turned out to be a skull with a horn growing straight out of the middle. Real bone, heavy, and looked properly old.

“We brought it back to the car, but my gran started feeling uneasy right away, saying it didn’t feel right to take it, like we’d disturbed something meant to be left alone.”

Despite his grandmother’s advice, Mr Goodwin decided to take the potentially magical skull on a magical mystery tour of its own, with a journey that the skull’s previous occupant could never have possibly dreamed of — making it all the way to Boscastle.

Any promises of ice cream while seagull watching were not to be, for it was taken to the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic to see if any answers lay within - or perhaps more importantly to see if it had been cursed. Instead, it appears the skull was merely insulted.

Mr Goodwin continued: “We took it to the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic to see if they might want it. The man there was a bit pompous about the whole thing. Took one glance and scowled, “(it’s) not a magical item. Called it a freak animal and went on about how the Golden Dawn never believed in unicorns, so it couldn’t possibly be of interest. I even offered it to him for free, but he still turned up his nose at it.”

Unclear as to the origins of the mystery item in its possession, Mr Goodwin’s gran has since suggested that perhaps it might be the unicorn rode by Merlin in the Battle of Badon.

Until the mystery is unlocked, however, the item presently remains in a boot of a car, awaiting its next adventure.

He added: “So now it’s still sitting in the boot. Gran thinks it might be the unicorn Merlin rode at the Battle of Badon. I’ve got no idea, but I prefer her version to the twisted cow explanation.

“Not sure what to do with it now. Might just take it back to the moss and leave it where we found it. It’s not fake. Also, I still have it.”