Another great thing called michael! (St Michaels Mount)

Member Name: mykp

Product:	St Michaels Mount
Date:	16/08/02 (357 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: beautiful views, the causeway

Disadvantages: steep steps to the castle, inside of the caslte was yawn!

St Michaels Mount is for want of a better word an island off the coast of Cornwall, just off the coast, close to the town of Marazian.

Getting there is easy as once you get to Cornwall (No mean feat if you don't like driving), but I digress, once your near to Marazian on the A30 the Mount is signposted. A word of advice of advice though is to drive past the first car park and drive into Marazian as there is a car park nearer to the Mount than this one and it was £1 not £2 as is the first. Its also a lot closer to the causeway, the town centre and the boats. Very handy if you intend to go shopping in Marazian after you?ve visited the Mount.

This huge lump of rock is now owned by the National Trust but the island is open to the public at large and you only have to pay of you go across on the boats (£1 for adults) or if you wish to visit the castle.

Admission to the castle is £4.60 for adults and as usual I forgot to check the price for kids!

Access to the island is by either boat or by walking across the causeway which links the mainland to the island. The causeway cannot be walked over during high tide as although the water isn't very deep, 5 feet I am informed, but there are strong under currents as the tide goes out.

If you have to take the boat the journey takes approximately 5 minutes and as I said before costs £1 for adults. Dogs are not permitted onto the island.

Visitors should time their visit with the tides so they can walk across the causeway and tide information is available on 01736 710265.

Once on the island whether you walked or got the ferry you end up in the harbour, the arrival by ferry is better as you seen the island from a better view than by walking.

The harbour itself contains the Ticket office, Cinema, Sail loft restaurant, the NT shop, the gift shop and the entrance to the castle. If you wish to go to the castle and are not a National Trust member you will have t
o go to the Ticket office first and purchase your tickets, these are then shown at the castle entrance to gain entry.

So you know what's on the island, but what?s the history I hear you cry?

Well, originally the island was used as a Benedictine priory in the twelfth century and daughter house of the famous St Michels mount in Normandy, France. From the twelfth century the mount has been the scene of many military sieges, a well known place of pilgrimage and from 1660 until today, the home of the St Aubyn family.

The entrance to the castle is quite a walk up a long and winding cobble stone path, which is definitely not suitable for pushchairs, and there are quite a few changes of floor level once you get in to the castle. If you can walk up a flight of stairs then you?ll be okay!

The castle is split into many rooms each with period decoration and furniture. I am still at a loss why there is a room called the Chevy Chase room? Perhaps somebody can enlighten me?

As well as the rooms the castle also has an amazing roof terrace which gives views over the island and the gardens down below. Around these balconies are cannons pointing out to sea to ward off any incoming invaders.

The cinema shows a brief history of the island, the shop sells miscellaneous nik-naks and the tea rooms sell creams tea's (yum) and beverages at a reasonable price.

To sum up this is a well maintained property with plenty to see and do with beautiful views. St Michaels Mount is certainly worth a visit even if its just to walk the causeway.

In my opinion the views really make this a nice place to visit and the house contents where about as interesting as piles! Go for the views, they really make this place special.

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