CORNWALL AND BEYOND: ST MICHAELS MOUNT

Hello St Michael's Mount!
Dydh da Sen Myghal!

Sacred St Michaels Mount is the jewel in Cornwall's crown and there's no argument there.

The St Michael's 12 mile mini-pilgrimage starts in Lelant on the north coast and ends here, it can be done in a day. St Michael’s Way connects five churches, four holy wells, two hillforts, two standing stones, two disappeared chapels, a monumental needle, a nature reserve, and a river. We didn't do this, we drove like the high tech pilgrims we are.

Unique Blooming Succulents

Tropical and Semi desert Wall Gardens

For 1000 years In about 400 BC the Mount was an important port for the export of tin and copper to Europe.

In 495 AD, a vision of St. Michael the Archangel led to the building of a church dedicated to him . A few centuries later, a Celtic monastery was established. A Christian grave dating from 900 AD was recently discovered here.

The present church was begun in 1135 and consecrated by the Bishop of Exeter in 1144. The church was a major pilgrimage destination throughout the Middle Ages thanks to the ancient vision.

In 1193, the abbey was seized by Henry de la Pomeray, who disguising his men as pilgrims, and attacked from within. He began to build a castle, but committed suicide in fear of the consequences when Richard the Lionheart returned from the Crusades.

Four miracles were reported in the church on St. Michael's Mount in 1262 and 1263, which led to increasing numbers of pilgrims.

Alternative Step Stairs, Nice Design!

A fifth miracle would be getting through all the rocky paths and steps and not succumbing to the temptation of a cream tea!

Resting the Dawgs

As a great heavenly warrior, St. Michael is often seen on high places and many of his legends involve slaying dragons. Some theorize that St. Michael's strength and victory over dragons is an expression of the struggle of the newly-arrived Christian faith against native paganism. Poor pagans, you didn't have a chance.

St. Michael's Mount is also a prominent site on the major ley line known as St Michael's Line. Ley lines are hypothetical straight lines between ancient sites that are believed to carry special energy and power. St. Michael's Line runs northeast across Britain from St. Michael's Mount, through sites such as Glastonbury Tor, our stop on Sunday.

A Moment to Commune With the Natives

From as far back as 495AD, tales tell of seafarers lured by mermaids onto the rocks, or guided to safety by an apparition of St Michael. The patron saint of fishermen, it’s said St Michael appeared below where the entrance to the castle was placed to warn fishermen from certain peril. It’s a legend which has brought pilgrims, monks and people of faith to the island ever since, to pray, to praise and to celebrate.

An earlier story is that the Mount was built by a giant called Cormoran who would wade ashore to snatch up livestock from local farms and take them back with him.

A reward was offered in return for killing the giant and a young boy called Jack came forward. You know where this is headed, right?

One night, when Cormoran was sleeping, Jack crept over to the Mount and dug a deep pit halfway up one side. In the morning, Jack blew on his horn to wake the giant from his slumber. The giant came running down the side of the Mount but could not see Jack as the sun was in his eyes and, not noticing the hole, fell into it. Jack then filled the hole in. Jack became a local hero, and from then on was known as ... you got it......Jack the Giant Killer.

if you stand on the heart shaped stone you can still hear the Giant's heart beat.

The Giant's Well

Comfy Room

The first member of the St Aubyn family to move to Cornwall was Guy St Aubyn the 14C. He took the title Lord St Levan. The third Lord St Levan gave St Michael’s Mount to the National Trust, under an arrangement where the family have a 999 year lease to live in the castle and a licence to operate the visitor business.

In 2003, James and Mary St Aubyn moved to the castle with their four children. They in their turn became Lord and Lady St Levan when the previous Lord, James’s uncle, died in 2013.

I'd Be Sitting here

St Michael's Mount used to have its own herd of cattle which provided milk for butter and cheese for the islanders. Today 130 people on the island.

View of Marazion Chartered in 1257 and Visitors Making the Pilgrimage Over the Ancient Causeway Only Exposed at Low Tide

By the time of the Norman conquest in 1066, St Michael's Mount had come into the possession of the monks of its sister isle, Mont St Michel in Normandy. In the 12C they built the church and priory that still used today. the Mount has weathered many times of battle - in 1193 when the Mount was seized by Henry La Pomeray who disguised his men as pilgrims, the Wars of the Roses in 1473 when the Mount was held by the Earl of Oxford, the Civil War, when Royalists valiantly held back the forces of Oliver Cromwell and once drove a Napoleonic ship to its capture on Marazion beach. The church tower lit the first beacon of the series that warned London of the approach of the Spanish Armada. These walls are talking!

Thought to Be From the Original Monastery

The Holy Chapel of St Michael

Tide Out

Try Walking on This Stuff All Day. All. Day. Thank you Vibram Soles.

Moving on back to Truro, a farmer brings his cattle in for the night, the line stretched across the countryside. Driving the single track roads walled in by high hedges doesn't give much of a view, but sometimes you explode onto a vista and you have to stop.