National Trust: St Michael's Mount, Penzance > Reviews (1)

St Michael’s Mount, Cornwall

Since being a child, I have visited St Michael’s Mount many times. Every summer my family and I would pack up our things and journey down to Cornwall with sun, sea and ice cream in mind. Driving past St Michael’s Mount always felt quite magical and special. A short distance from land a beautiful castle lies on its own island, a castle that you can in fact walk to but only when the tide is out. I was fascinated by this concept when I was younger and it is why St Michael’s Mount has made such an impression on my memory.

St Michael’s Mount is situated just off the coast of Cornwall and a pretty little town called Marazion, near to Penzance. It is easy to spot and is in a fantastic location to explore some of the Cornish coast. The island is home to the St. Aubyn family who have lived there since the 17th Century and it is part of the National Trust.

The Mount is rich in history. In the past, the castle has been used as a monastery, a port, a fortress and most recently a family home and tourist location. The Mount has seen a thousand years of history pass it by and the intriguing atmosphere on the island represents this. It is hard to believe that during the Civil War the Mount was used as a fortress thanks to the beauty and calm of its location and stunning Cornish views.

Today the island is home to the St. Aubyn family and 30 staff who reside in the seafront cottages. It is one of Cornwall’s most historic and popular tourist locations that attracts thousands of visitors a year. Many people are intrigued by the uniqueness of the Mount and its special history.

There is a lot to see and do on the Mount and so it is the ideal place to visit for a great day out, especially as it is fun for all the family. Explore the castle inside and out and learn all about its history, wander around the sub-tropical gardens and marvel at the incredible plants, get involved in some of the activities, head to the beach, climb the Mount to get some of the most incredible views of Cornwall, browse the shops, indulge in some delicious food and drinks and much more! You can never get bored on the Mount as there is always something to learn or something else to see.

The castle is open until the 2nd of November for its 2012 season. There are a few ways which you can reach the Mount but there is only one way which I have ever been and would ever go and that is by foot. At low tide, you can walk across the historic footpath from Marazion to the Mount and it takes just a few minutes. There is something very special and exciting about this walk, be sure to check the tide times in advance however so that you don’t get caught out! You can also hop on a boat to get to the Mount if walking is not your thing.

There is no fee to get to the island if you walk across however you must pay to go into the castle or the gardens. It is £9.25 for an adult and £4.50 for a child for a combined ticket for both - family discounts are also available. It really is a small price to pay for such a lovely experience.

National Trust members can gain access to the castle for free!

Overall I think that St Michael’s Mount is the ideal location for a great family day out. If you are planning on visiting Cornwall then it would be a shame to not make the journey to this fantastic Mount as you would be missing out on one of Cornwall’s finest tourist spots. There is a great, fun atmosphere on the Mount as well as a sense of real mystery and history. The Mount is interesting to people of all age and I loved going when I was a kid as much as I love going now! The entrance fee to the castle is reasonable and there are plenty of beautiful spots to sit and have a picnic, looking out to the sea or the Cornish coast. If the sun is shining then the Mount is even more beautiful and the beaches are lovely to relax on. I would definitely recommend St Michael’s Mount as a great place to visit and learn about!

Thank you for reading : )

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