Explore the wonders of St Michael’s Mount

St Michael’s Mount has a rich and fascinating history that blurs the line between truth and folklore. The island was owned by the Benedictine abbey of Mont St Michel in Normandy after the Normand conquest of 1066. Construction on the site of what was a church began in 1135, finalising the castle that still stands dominating the island today.

The Mount was subsequently passed from owner to owner amidst wars, sieges and centuries of regional instability. Ultimately, the Mount was sold in 1659 to Colonel John St Aubyn, and his descendants are still the owners to this day.

There are many myths surrounding the Mount. The one that is tied to its namesake has it that sailors going past it could hear the enchanting chants of the mermaids and would be drawn by the mythical creatures into the rocks and die. St Michael, patron Saint of fishermen would appear on the island and guide men to safety.

Another iconic Cornish legend that features the Mount, is that of Jack the Giant Slayer, the gory sequel to Jack and the Beanstalk. In this tale, Jack bravely takes on the giant Cormoran who was said to have made the Mount his home, and kills him by trapping him and decapitating him.

Unsurprisingly, the picturesque fairytale-like caste has also served as the backdrop in many movies and TV shows that you might recognise. Namely, the Mount became Driftmark in HBO’s 2022 show House of the Dragon, it also served as Dracula’s castle in the 1979 film adaptation of Dracula and can be seen in the 1983 James Bond film Never Say Never Again.

Explore the grand halls of the Castle, still the home of the St Aubyn family, and find out more about the intricacies and mysteries of the Mount. Look out for small unique features of the historic fortress like the sofa where Queen Victoria sat waiting for a cup of tea or the etched windowpane where a St Aubyn daughter checked the authenticity of her diamond ring before accepting a marriage proposal from a suitor or even a clock that tells the time of the tide on top of the time of day.

The castle is open from late March to late October from Sunday to Friday, from 9:30am to 5pm, the same opening schedule as the harbour and village.

• Visitors must book their tickets in advance. Their website is also full of resources as to the various different packages visitors can book ahead of their trip. Keep in mind that combination tickets to visit both the castle and the gardens are only available from May to August and retail for £26 for adults and £14 for children aged 5 to 17. 

• Please keep in mind that as the mount is very rugged and hilly, it is not accessible to persons with mobility issues. It is possible to bring wheelchairs and pushchairs along the causeway but be aware that it is entirely made up of old cobblestones and can make for a rather bumpy ride. 

• Facilities on the island itself include toilets, shops and even a café.

By foot: 

• The only way to get to the island is to use the causeway that connects it to Marazion. Once on the island, visitors have no other option than to walk around. 

By Car:

• There is a car park in Marazion, by the sandy access of the causeway but it does get full very quickly. 

• The gardens are only open during the summer months so if you want to see them, be sure to plan your visit accordingly! 
• St Michael’s Mount is a wonderful place to visit with your little ones, but please make sure you are aware of their whereabouts during the entirety of your visit, as some more rugged parts of the island can be dangerous for children to take on by themselves.