St Michael's Mount

Cross the rocky causeway to reach this fairytale castle and extraordinary maritime garden nestled on its own rugged island.

Follow in the footsteps of pilgrims and mariners as you explore this historical garden set below a dramatic castle dating back to the 12th Century. If you can drag yourself away from the staggering views, explore the historical interior, with its magnificent rooms and walls seething with tales of yesteryear.

Not just a waterside garden, this is a garden actually growing on its very own rocky island lying out to sea in the stunning Mounts Bay. At low tide you can wander over the causeway on foot, or cruise over by boat at high tide. Many visitors come to see the fortress that dominates the view from all around Penzance, but few realise the beautiful gardens that await discovery when you lean over the castle walls.

The gardens rise from the sea to the foot of the castle, taking steps up the terraces and climbing steep slopes to the grand fortress looming above. This is one of Cornwall's most picturesque spots all year-round (whether you are a garden-lover or not) - in winter it's ravaged by salt-laden gales and in summer it's scorched by the sun. Yet tender and beautiful plants from the southern hemisphere flourish here in the face of the harsh conditions, and the plethora of species to be found includes Sparmania Africana, giant Agave Americana, aloes, yuccas and strelitzia. For those of you who want to learn your way around the horticultural menu, guided tours of the garden are available by arrangement.

If the children don't mind a bit of a stroll (it can be hard work for buggies) this is a family friendly destination where you can enter the fairytale of a castle at sea, where giants once stepped and left a colourful jungle to be explored. There is also an Island Café and a Sail Loft restaurant to feed hungry-tums and reward the climbers.

A sand chair is now available from April to October to help enable access across the beach and causeway, call 01736 710507 for more info.