Perched proudly on a rocky island, St Michael’s Mount rises 70m (230 ft) from sea level and is one of Cornwall’s best-known attractions that dates back to the 12th century. According to legend, it was built by a giant called Cormoran who terrorised local farmers by wading ashore and raiding their flocks for food. A bounty was placed on his head and a local boy named Jack devised a plan to kill the giant. Jack made his way to the island in the dead of night and dug a deep pit, then, waking the giant from his slumber with a blast on his horn, the giant hastily gave chase falling into the pit. Jack became known as Jack the Giant Killer and was the toast of the town. But history tells us that the Abbot of Mont St Michel in Normandy, Bernard of Le Bec, built the Benedictine Priory of St Michael’s Mount in 1135 as a dependency of the Norman Abbey. By the early 15th century, Henry V had declared war on France and in 1424 seized St Michael’s Mount for the crown. Over the years, the Mount has been a priory, a fort, a site of pilgrimage and eventually became a private residence of the St Aubyn family 1659. In 1954, the St Aubyn’s went into partnership with the National Trust opening up the castle and grounds to the public. At low tide it’s possible to walk out across the causeway to St Michael’s Mount (it’s important to check local tide times (tel: 01736 710265 (for tide information only))). During the summer, a ferry service carries people to and from the Mount at high tide.
Air: Newquay Airport, Exeter Airport and Plymouth Airport (domestic services). Rail: Penzance Station. Road: Bus: Public services.

St Michael's Mount, Manor Office, Marazion, Cornwall TR17 0EF
Tel: 01736 710507
Website: www.stmichaelsmount.co.uk

England