St Michaels Mount

Stroll across the causeway where a legendary giant once walked, and follow the footsteps of pilgrims to St Michael's Mount. Boat hop to an island where modern life meets layers of history. Because if you're looking for a day out that involves the sun, sea, sand and a bit of history, look no further than St Michael's Mount! An ancient castle and a beloved family home on an island in Cornwall! Discover a medieval castle, a sub-tropical paradise to explore and a close-knit island community. Delve into the history of a fortress, a priory, a harbour and a home. The Castle has ancient history ready to be delved into as soon as you step through the ancient doorways. It's been home to the St Aubyn family since the 1600s, and they still live there today. Wander through old corridors, uncover layers of history and discover things you never knew of before. You'll be lucky to find a variety of unusual and interesting artefacts and belongings, like a crossbow for hunting hares or rabbits. A sofa that Queen Victoria sat on as the housekeeper offered her a cup of tea, a statue of St Michael begging for mercy at the feet of the Devil. A piece of the historic Napolean's coat which he wore at the Battle of Waterloo, friezes with scenes depicting hunting scenes, the most notable one is an ostrich munching on a horse. There is also a unique clock that tells you the time of the tides, as well as the hours of the day. And a magnificent Samurai Warrior statue that was a gift from the Emperor of Japan. With so many incredible finds, collection of oil paintings and tidbits to discover in the ancient castle at St Michael's Mount, you won't be shy of gasps and wonderment. Children will be fascinated by the history, legends and myths of St Michael's Mount and they have an entertaining quiz in the castle enabling little ones to explore and learn. There is a pushchair park near the ticket office and they have some hipster seats which can be used free of charge for the climb up to the castle. After your trip to the Castle, head on over to the Castle & Garden, where you'll be blessed with a beautiful garden that is also fragile in nature. It was designed in 1878 for Sir John St Aubyn and was home to 11 of his family members. Amongst the gardens are Aloes and Agave which peer out of the bedrock, as well as lavender, Lampranthus tumble growing on the terraces, creating a fairytale garden. There are also exotic succulents nestled in the bedrock, can you spot them? The terraced gardens are a sight to visit, it's beautiful and tranquil and you can even sit in the perfect place and admire the views of the Mount's bay from the top of the west terraces. It truly is a great day out in Cornwall! Once you've finished wandering around the Castle & beautiful garden, take a trip to the Church of St Micahel and All Angels. The marvellous church was built in 1135 but was largely rebuilt in the 14th century. As you wander in, you'll find an Organ which used to belong to Colonel John Lemon, who used to play it during the nights as he suffered from insomnia - which the neighbours complained about! So, it was sold to the St Aubyn family. There is also a Lantern Cross made from Cornish stone, made with 4 panels representing the crucifixion, the virgin, a child, a king and possibly a priest. Throughout ancient history lying here, there is also a bronze statue of St Michael defeating the Devil and more. Love history? Then come along and dive into it and discover things you never knew before. It isn't all about history here though, there's the bustling village and harbour, that used to thrive with inhabitants and shops. Now, around 30 islanders live a modern life there and travel to and from the mainland for school, jobs and essentials. During the months of October - March, the harbour village is open and accessible to all, but during the summer it's only available for ticket holders. From weekly church services to live bands on the village green every Sunday from Spring, St Michael's Mount plays host to a programme of events across the seasons. Just across the street is the Marazion Play Park, offering climbing frames to challenge toddlers through to teenagers.