St.Michael’s Mount Cornwall England

It was another big day of seeing some of the icons of Cornwall.

After a relatively peaceful night with just a few gusts that woke us, we had our coffee  and hit the road. 

We stopped at a Sainsbury shop to top up the fridge and chatted to friends Bob and Robyn in Australia while we had breakfast. We filled up on fuel, the cheapest here that we have seen in the UK so far at £1.36. 

Then we drove through Penzance for a quick look.

before going to Marazion, the village we need to park (£4.50/3hrs) in to visit St.Michael’s Mount. It’s the end of the season (finishing 1 October) and the weather was horrid, so it wasn’t too busy. Nevertheless we had booked our free National Trust tickets yesterday along with boat passage (£5.60pp return) as there was no low tide today to be able to walk across on the causeway. In its early history the small island was an important centre for the Cornish tin trade. Then during the 1066 the Normans invited the Benedictine monks to build an abbey here (like Mont St Michel in France). Later during Henry VIII’s reign it became a fortress and used as coastal defence. It wasn’t until 1659 that it became the home of the St.Aubyn family and it continues to be so today along with about 30 staff living here.

After disembarking of our little boat we had a look at some paintings about life here.

The weather incouraged us to head to the house and seek shelter from the wind and rain. An online tour explained some key areas on the way up to the castle and then the many features of each room. 

Walking in the footsteps of Queen Victoria..

The Dairy was a lovely hexagon building.

The well was important to life here until 100 years ago when pipes came from the mainland.

The heart shaped cobble stone is said to be that of the giant that fell into the well.

The defensive walls which included a watch tower and canons.

The entrance hall had the coat of arms.

Next was the study.

The library used to be the kitchen when it was an abbey.

The main dining room is called Chevy Chase, the name taken from a hunting frieze. 

The views from the south and north terraces were lovely. 

We entered the church which is still used by the family today. 

We returned to the house via the Blue Drawing rooms that has had royalty visit.

The map room had a model made from champagne corks by a butler during the 1930’s. 

The long passage took us to the Garrison Room.

On the way back we popped into the Barge room which had some information boards and film of the castle and its inhabitants.

On our return to the main land we couldn’t resist a pastie for lunch from Philps.. it was even better than yesterday! 

Then it was on the road again this time to Minack Theatre (£10pp). It’s an extraordinary place set on the cliff tops overlooking the sea, created by a lady with a vision that she built herself with a little help. 

Unfortunately the most westerly point on mainland Britain has become a tourist complex with hefty fees to see a natural land mark. We decided to just drive through and continue on. 

We drove through St.Just and out to Cape Cornwall. It marks the spot where the Atlantic currents divide. The chimney stack dates back to 1894 when it was part of tin and copper mine.

Not far away was the Botallack National Trust tin mine ruins with the famed engine and pump houses that cling to the cliffs, used as a Poldark film location.

The guide at the Count House explained the area in detail before we had a walk around trying to imagine 500 people working and living here. We spent the last part of our day staring out at the Celtic sea and the beautiful nature that surrounds us. 

We were given the ok to stay in the carpark overnight so that where we will stay…

89km today