St Michael’s Mount – An Iconic Cornish Landmark
On a clear day from the terrace at Polvellan Heights, the silhouette of St Michael’s Mount is unmistakable – the medieval castle perched atop a rocky island rising dramatically from the middle of Mount’s Bay, connected to the mainland by a granite causeway that disappears beneath the sea at high tide. It is one of the most extraordinary and iconic sights in the whole of Britain, and at just four miles from our luxury apartment accommodation in Mousehole, Cornwall, it is also one of the most easily accessible highlights of any stay on this stretch of the Cornish coast.
A Thousand Years of History
The island has been continuously inhabited for at least a thousand years, and its history is layered and absorbing in equal measure. A Benedictine priory was founded here in the 12th century as a daughter house of the great Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy – and the architectural resemblance between the two is no coincidence. Over the centuries that followed, the priory became a castle, the castle became a garrison, and the garrison eventually became the private family home of the St Aubyn family, who still live here today. The National Trust now cares for the castle and the extraordinary subtropical gardens, which are open to visitors from spring through to autumn.
The Visit
The experience of arriving on the island is memorable before you’ve even stepped inside. At low tide, you cross on foot along the ancient cobbled causeway – one of those simple, timeless journeys that somehow never loses its sense of occasion. At high tide, a small ferry boat makes the short crossing from the quayside at Marazion, adding a pleasingly nautical dimension to the adventure. The climb through the cobbled harbourside village to the castle entrance is steep, but the views from the battlements more than justify the effort – a breathtaking panorama across the full sweep of Mount’s Bay, from the Lizard Peninsula to Land’s End, with Mousehole clearly visible in the distance. Allow at least half a day, and more if you intend to explore the gardens and the charming small village clustered around the harbour below.
Marazion
Marazion, the small town on the mainland directly opposite the Mount, is well worth exploring in its own right. It has a good beach that’s popular for swimming and paddleboarding, a handful of relaxed and welcoming cafés, and the ever-reliable Godolphin Arms – a cheerful harbourside pub with a terrace that looks directly across to the island and lays a strong claim to one of the finest pub views in the whole of Cornwall. From Mousehole, Marazion is just a ten-minute drive along the coast road, or a bracing and scenic forty-minute walk along the sea wall through Newlyn and Penzance.
Bookings for the castle and gardens at St Michael’s Mount are available through the National Trust website, and advance reservation is strongly recommended during the summer months. It is, without question, one of those experiences that defines a stay in this part of Cornwall.
