Tucked away on England’s southern coast is a castle in the middle of the sea. The castle just seems to hover over the turquoise water, like an image from a fairytale.

St. Michael’s Mount is one of England’s few tidal islands, meaning that when the tide is low, a natural causeway forms along the ocean floor. England has many of these islands, but St. Michael’s Mount is the only one with a medieval castle rising from it.

If you’re looking for a fun summer adventure, exploring St. Michael’s Mount is the perfect stop for your England bucketlist. This quick guide will help you plan your trip down to the Cornish coast!

Staying in Cornwall

St. Michael’s Mount is located in the county of Cornwall, which is England’s most south western coast—right along where the Atlantic Ocean meets the English Channel. Cornwall is a beautiful coastal pocket of England, and there’s so many beach towns that would be perfect for a summer vacation.

But to visit St. Michael’s Mount, you’ll want to stay in either Penzance or Marazion.

You’ll have to take the train into Penzance station, so I do recommend staying in this town so that you have an easier time with the train. Though St. Michael’s Mount is technically in Marazion, the two towns are adjacent and you can actually see the castle from Penzance. To get from one town to the next, you can take a quick ten minute Uber. Or, if it’s a particularly pretty day, opt for walking along the coastline to Marazion.

Walking on Water

To walk across the seafloor to the castle, you have to time your visit perfectly. During low tide, you can walk freely from the mainland to the castle. With the tide pulled back, the causeway path is completely open. The causeway is only exposed for four hours each day, however, I suggest timing your walk when the tide is rolling back in. It’s so magical—walking through the rising water to this medieval castle.

To this day, walking across the causeway during the rolling tide is one of my favorite experiences I’ve ever done.

You can use the tide tracker on the website for St. Michael’s Mount to time when the causeway opens and closes. It takes no more than 15 minutes to walk across.

On your return trip back across the sea, you’ll have to hop on the ferry that runs between the island and the mainland when the tide is high. You can purchase return trip boat tickets at one of the castle’s retail stores.

If you don’t want to walk the causeway: You can still catch the ferry to and from the island during high tide. You’ll have to purchase your boat tickets in advance, so make sure you check out their website before visiting. Tickets are £2.50 for one way (you’ll still need to buy a return ticket on the island).

Exploring St. Michael’s Mount

After your walk across the water, ascend the rocky island to the gorgeous castle of St. Michael’s Mount. You’ll have to buy another ticket to tour the castle, which you’ll need to do online. This will give you access to the castle, the village, the chapel, and any shops or cafes.

The island does require a bit of climbing to get to the castle, but it’s so worth it! You’ll get to walk through some of England’s oldest history as you make your way up the summit, experiencing breath-taking views of the English channel and the coast.

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