St. Michael's Mount Cornwall

UK Guides: St. Michael's Mount

Jake Davies

Though not as well visited as its namesake across the Channel, Mont St. Michel, St Michael's Mount is just as iconic. A small, tidal island topped with a castle and chapel, located about 500 meters offshore from the village of Marazion, St Michael's Mount can be seen from every point on the sweeping arc of Mount's Bay.

St. Michael's Mount, Cornwall, UK. — St. Michael's Mount, Cornwall, UK

St. Michael's Mount in Cornwall, UK. — Boat and View of St. Michael's Mount, Cornwall, UK

History

For about half of the time, from halfway to low tide until halfway to high tide the island is accessible on foot via a causeway made of granite blocks, and this is by far the most popular way to reach the island, but for the rest of the time a small ferry operates.

It was not always an island, the name for the mount in Cornish means "Grey Rock in a Wood" and probably refers to a time before the sea level rose about 3,700 years ago. There may have been some form of monastic settlement on the island earlier, but it was given to the monks of Mont St. Michel in the early 11th century.

The oldest remaining structures on the island date back to the 12th century. During the 15th and 16th centuries ownership of the island passed through various families and was sold to the Saint Aubyn family who are the current owners. By the beginning of the 18th century there was a small settlement below the castle consisting of a few fishermen's cottages.

The name means Grey Rock in a Wood in Cornish. — The name of St. Michael's Mount in Cornish means "Grey Rock in a Wood"

The harbour was improved and the fishing village grew and by 1811 there were 53 houses and 4 streets. 10 years later the population peaked at more than 200 inhabitants and the island had three schools and three pubs. Following the development of Penzance harbour the fortunes of the island went into decline and many of the buildings were demolished.

The island is currently managed by the National Trust, and though the castle is still a private residence, many of the rooms with an assortment of historical artifacts and architectural features are open to visitors including the original 14th century chapel.

The gardens which date from Victorian times are popular with many, but for some just wandering the atmospheric village and harbour is enough. Facilities available for visitors include a licensed restaurant, a cafe, and several gift shops. The Godolphin is a recommended place to stay in Marazion.

The castle and gardens are open from March until November but are closed on Saturdays.

Entry to the castle costs 8.50 GBP, the gardens 5.50 GBP, or 11.50 GBP for a combined ticket.

St. Michael's Mount
Marazion
Cornwall TR17 OHS
Tel: 01736 710265

Access to Marazion is by bus from the bus station next to the railway station in Penzance. See below for details on getting to Penzance and the rest of Cornwall from London and other areas of Britain.

Cornwall Access - Getting To Cornwall

Exeter in Devon, located at the end of the M5 motorway, coming south from Bristol makes for a good starting point if you are driving into Cornwall. Exeter is also a good place to hire a car.

From Exeter follow the A30 dual carriageway, north of Dartmoor through Okehampton, Launceston, Bodmin and Penzance.

Alternatively take the A38, which skirts the southern edge of Dartmoor, through Plymouth and Saltash on in to Cornwall, where it joins the A30 at Bodmin.

The A390 begins after Liskeard on the A38 and goes south west through St. Austell and Truro, where the A39 goes south in the direction of Falmouth.

Exeter's main railway station is Exeter St David's Station with rail links to Bristol, Birmingham and London Paddington Station as well as on to Plymouth.

Walking to St. Michael's Mount, Cornwall, UK. — Walking to St. Michael's Mount, Cornwall at low tide

Great Western run the overnight Night Riviera Sleeper Service (www.gwr.com/plan-journey/journey-information/on-board/night-riviera-sleeper) from London Paddington to Penzance. (Read more about travelling from Exeter to Penzance by train)

Exeter International Airport, just 5 miles to the east of Exeter city near Clyst Honiton off the A30 has regular domestic flights to Aberdeen, Alicante, Belfast, Edinburgh, Faro, Geneva, Guernsey/Jersey, the Isles of Scilly, Leeds Bradford, Manchester and Newcastle. International destinations include Amsterdam, Dubrovnik, Dublin, Funchal, Hannover, Larnaca, Nice, Palma, Paris, Malaga and Salzburg.

National Express coaches take about 7-8 hours to Truro from either Birmingham or London.

Newquay Cornwall Airport (NQY) has connecting flights to Bristol Airport, Cardiff, Glasgow, St Mary's Isles of Scilly, Leeds Bradford, London Gatwick, Manchester Airport, Newcastle and international flights to Cork and Dublin in Ireland as well as seasonal flights to Alicante in Spain with Ryanair and Dusseldorf in Germany with Lufthansa.

Most UK flights are operated by Air Southwest. The airport offers airport parking for over 500 cars. An Airport Development Fee of 5 GBP is currently levied on all departing passengers.

There is a passenger ferry from Penzance to the Scilly Isles. The Scillonian III passenger ferry takes between 2 hours 40 minutes and 3 hours. (Timetable & further information here: https://www.islesofscilly-travel.co.uk/ferry/travel-information)

There are Skybus flights to the Scilly Isles from Exeter, Newquay and Land's End airports.