[2025 Saint Michael's Mount Attraction] Travel Guide for St Michael's Mount (Updated Mar)

📍 Cornwall Located in the southwest of England, Cornwall is famous for its beautiful coastline and rich history and culture. - ▪️ Location Located in the southwest of England, it is the southwesternmost county in England. ▪️ Natural scenery With a spectacular coastline, clear waters, and golden beaches, it is known as the "Jellyfish Sea". It boasts magnificent natural landscapes such as Old Harry Rocks, Durdle Door, and Lulworth Cove. ▪️ Cultural features Cornwall's culture is deeply influenced by Celtic traditions, including Cornish language preservation, lantern parades, the Eden Project, kayaking, seal watching, Rib rides, and sea fishing customs. - ▪️ St Michael's Mount A tidal island with a 15th-century castle, connected to the mainland by a causeway that appears only at low tide. It's an island at high tide and a mountain at low tide. ▪️ The Minack Theatre An open-air theatre carved into the cliffs by the sea, with the audience seating extending down from the cliff. Shakespeare's classic plays are performed here every year from June to September, and it offers a variety of performances, including plays, musicals, and concerts. ▪️ St Ives A seaside town, it's one of the best seaside towns in the UK and also one of the most expensive seaside resorts. You can visit the Tate St Ives, the Artists' Association, the Penwith Gallery, the St Ives Bookseller, the Art Space Gallery, and the Leach Pottery. ▪️ Land's End Surrounded by the sea on three sides, it's the end of the mainland and known as "Land's End". It's the westernmost landmark in England, with all-white buildings. There are two hiking routes: Minack Theatre-Land's End and Sennen Cove-Land's End. ▪️ Porthcurno Beach With crystal-clear waters and endless sandy beaches, you can walk down the path along the cliff. Driving is recommended, but the road up the mountain is very narrow. Suggested routes: 1. London - Winchester - Studland - Exeter Attractions: Winchester + Old Harry Rocks 2. Exeter - Tintagel - St Ives Attractions: Tintagel Castle + St Ives 3. St Ives - Land's End - Minack Theatre - St Michael's Mount - Newquay Attractions: Land's End + Minack Theatre + St Michael's Mount 4. Newquay - Bristol - Bath Attractions: Bristol + Bath 5. Bath - Cotswolds - Oxford Attractions: Cotswolds 6. Oxford - Windsor - London Attractions: Oxford + Windsor

St Michael’s mount close to Penzance may not be as famous as its French counterpart. The castle and village is accessible by foot over a causeway during low tide and by boat during the rest of the time and is owned and managed by the national trust. On the island itself you can witness the majestic castle itself whilst wandering through the villages cobbled streets. #castle #cornwall

📍 Car is a must for this trip and we chose Spring thinking it will be sunny which turned out to be a classic English weather with clouds 😂. Summer will be a better choice! 🔸Day trip to Looe - fairytale like old village and definitely visit the oldest Inn 'Smugglers Cott'. 🔸Visit the next village Polperro and stroll around beautiful old English houses. There is a lovely fish restaurant right at the end of the harbour Blue Peter Inn - lovely fish & chips! 💡If you have time, visit Polruan for a quick stop! 🔸Move on to St. Austell and stay over night in this lovely little fishing town. There are local shops selling handcrafted souvenirs by the coast. 🔸Day trip to Truro. There is a majestic Cathedral and lively High Street. Try Cornish Pasty! 🔸Move on to St. Ives and walk around the coast, low and high tides are absolutely worth seeing and stay overnight. Lovely souvenir shops restaurants by the harbour. 🔸Final trip to Marazion. There is a fascinating castle in the middle of the sea - St. Michael's Mount and only accessible to walk during low tide and we were lucky to make it - or boats are available during high tide. 🔸Flexible destination before returning - we stopped by Falmouth for some food by the docks and a short visit to Pendennis Castle. #cornwall #looe #polperro #localguides #truro #stives #100waysoftravel

St Michael’s Mount is a tidal island joined to the mainland by a cobbled causeway. People come from across the globe come for its rich history, natural beauty, subtropical gardens and, of course, iconic castle. Access to the island is ruled by the tides. This means getting across and back is an experience in itself. You may find yourself gliding into the historic harbour on a small ferryboat. Then returning to shore across the ancient causeway, the sea lapping at its edges. [Explore an ancient castle] With sweeping views from the defensive battlements of this magnificent castle, where rows of cannons stare out to Mount’s Bay below. Inside, walk through a labyrinth of corridors to see how occupants lived, ate, prayed and did battle over the centuries. [Step into the past] History comes in waves here. Henry de la Pomeroy seized and fortified the Mount in 1193. Soldiers fired cannons at Napoleonic ships. [Soak up the subtropical gardens] Built in 1887, the Garden Terraces at the rear of the castle. Agave, cacti, aloe and many more subtropical species cling to the granite on a patchwork of meticulous terraces. Look up and you’ll also enjoy one of the most spectacular views of the castle, which rises out of the cliff face above you. This is for sure a must see attraction in Cornwall, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 #Cornwall #England

The battlemented chapel is lovely and is still a place of pilgrimage. Behind the altar are three 15th century alabaster panels that were crafted in Nottingham. The west end of the church contains a fine 15th century rose window with early 20th century glass. In 495 AD, a vision of St Michael the Archangel led to the building of a church dedicated to him on the rocky mount. A Celtic monastery was established a few centuries later, and recently a Christian grave dating from 900 AD was discovered. Edward the Confessor (1042-66) built a chapel on the mount and handed over the abbey to the Benedictine Mont St Michel in France. The present church was begun in 1135 by Abbot Bernard of Mont St Michel and consecrated in 1144. The church was a major pilgrimage destination throughout the Middle Ages. In 1193, the abbey was seized by Henry de la Pomeray. He began to build a castle, but committed suicide in fear of the consequences when Richard the Lionheart returned from the Crusades. Four miracles were reported in 1262 and 1263, leading to many more pilgrims. St Michael's Mount gradually separated itself from its French counterpart and in 1385 Richard Auncell of Tavistock became the first non French prior. In 1424 Henry VI granted the monastery to Syon Abbey. Henry V appropriated the mount during the Hundred Years War, and it became a fortress after the dissolution in 1548. The first beacon to warn of the arrival of the Spanish Armada was lit here in 1588. The castle was used to store arms for the Royalist forces during the English Civil War. Afterwards, in 1659, Colonel St Aubyn purchased the Mount and his descendents still live in the castle today. In 1954 it was given to the National Trust, with the St Aubyn family retaining a 999 year lease to live in the castle.