St Michael’s Mount

St Michael’s Mount is an evocative and picturesque island in Mount’s Bay, with a small village, a castle and exotic sub-tropical gardens. Access is by boat (of course) or on foot via a causeway at low tide. It is an ancient site, with plenty of legends – including of mermaids and Jack the Giant Killer – and a chequered history. Once, it was the priory of the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy. Since c1650, it has been the home of the St Aubin family. The village had a population of 200+ in the 19th century – now it is about 30. The island and castle are managed by the National Trust in partnership with the St Aubyn family, who still live in the castle.