St Michael’s Mount

St Michael's Mount is one of Cornwall's most recognisable landmarks: a rocky tidal island rising from Mount's Bay opposite the small town of Marazion, near Penzance. At low tide visitors can walk across the ancient granite causeway, while at high tide small passenger boats ferry people between the mainland and the island's tiny harbour. The Mount has been a place of pilgrimage, defence and family home for over a thousand years.

A steep cobbled path climbs from the harbour through subtropical gardens clinging to the cliff face up to the medieval castle and church at the summit. Inside, rooms tell the story of the St Aubyn family, who have lived here since the 17th century, alongside displays of armour, paintings and curiosities. The 14th-century priory church at the top offers panoramic views across the bay to Penzance, Newlyn and the Lizard Peninsula.

The island is managed in partnership between the St Aubyn family and the National Trust. Around the base, the harbour village has a handful of cottages, a cafe and a shop, while the terraced gardens, which can be visited separately, are remarkable for the range of Mediterranean and South African plants that thrive in the sheltered microclimate.