Adventures in Cornwall: St Michael's Mount

Iconic Cornwall. There are a few places in Cornwall that are labelled as the “must visits” and St Michael’s Mount is definitely one of them. Located in Marazion, walk over the causeway during low tide for an adventure that will take you back in time.

My friend Melisa (from London) came to visit over the April bank holiday and fortunately Cornwall was blessed with incredible sunshine and temperatures that reached 23 degrees. Sadly, the short lived heatwave disappeared as soon as we reached Marazion on the bank holiday Monday but we still had just as much fun as we would have in the sun.

I know that I’m supposed to be the walking, talking guide to Cornwall, but I’ve NEVER actually been to St Michael’s Mount. I know right? Crazy. I was super excited to finally explore the island and to understand what the hype is all about!

How to I get to St Michael’s Mount?

If the tide is out then you can reach St Michael’s Mount by foot by walking over the famous causeway - you can check the tide times here. When the tide is in, then you can hop onto the island boat that takes guests and islanders to and from the mainland.

How much does it cost to go to St Michael’s Mount?

It is free to walk over the man-made causeway to St Michael’s Mount however the island boat will cost a couple of £’s. You may explore the island at your own leisure however the castle costs £15.50 for an adult and the garden costs £12.00 - entry is free for National Trust holders. I actually think this is very reasonable for an island that depends on income through tourism.

What is there to see on the island?

For some reason I thought that St Michael’s Mount was literally just a castle on the mount, but St Michael’s is so much more than that. The small town holds 30 islanders that live in, the Sail Loft Restaurant, the Island Cafe, a chapel, a harbour and sub-tropical gardens. Throughout the summer, the islanders often hold events such as children story time - make sure to check the event website before your visit.

What is the history behind St Michael’s Mount?

The Castle has been home to the St Aubyn family since 1650, however the earliest buildings on the mount date back to the 1200’s. St Michael's Mount may have been the site of a monastery from the 8th to the early 11th centuries and has links to Mont Saint Michel, the mount in France which share similarities to St Michael’s. Of course, there are many myths and legends behind the history of the mount - including the story of the Giant Cormoron.

So is St Micheal’s Mount worth the visit?

If you have a good amount of time to spend in Cornwall then I would put some time to explore the mount - especially if you have little ones. Part of the experience is walking over the causeway so skip the boat and make sure you check the tide times. It blows my mind, like how did the islanders build the causeway if the tide was coming in and out!?!? We only spent a few hours on the mount but to be honest we could have spent the whole day there if we weren’t in a rush to get back for Melisa’s train. The mount is enriched in history, fun for the kids, good food and a fab place for photographing all teamed with incredible views over to the mainland! Win win!

For further information - https://www.stmichaelsmount.co.uk

*GiftedAd - The team kindly invited me to the mount and castle in exchange for coverage but all opinions are my own.