By Mike May
When it comes to visiting England, which is roughly the size of the state of Indiana, there are countless things to do and historic places to visit. They range from seeing Buckingham Palace (from outside the gates), making the trek to William Shakespeare’s home in Stratford-Upon-Avon, touring the Roman architecture on display in Bath, making the pilgrimage to Stonehenge in the Salisbury Plain, watching a ‘live’ theatrical production in London’s West End, enjoying a boat ride down London’s Thames River, riding a red double-decker bus around London, touring the gardens at Hever Castle in England’s county of Kent, visiting Land’s End at the far southwestern edge of England, attending a Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford, the home of the Manchester United Football Club, and playing a round of golf at a British Open course such as the Royal St. George’s Golf Club, to name just a few. The list goes on and on.
One specific experience that is priceless and memorable is visiting an English castle, specifically England’s St. Michael’s Mount, which is located in England’s most southwesterly county of Cornwall, not far from the seaside town of Penzance. It’s roughly a six-hour trip west of London, which adds to the allure and excitement of the experience. This castle is nearly 900 years old and it actually sits on an island. At high tide, St. Michael’s Mount is only accessible by boat (or by swimming) and at low tide, it’s accessible on foot or by a motorized vehicle or golf cart.
Upon arrival at St. Michael’s Mount, you can tour the castle where there are guides in every room to describe the architecture and purpose of the room. The castle is currently the full-time resident of Lord and Lady St. Leven. Afterwards, you can tour the gardens which surround the castle. While outside, you will have an amazing view of Mount’s Bay, that surrounds this ancient fortress. After (or before) your tour to the castle, set aside time to have afternoon tea at The Harbour Loft, which is located just a few steps away from the front gates of St. Michael’s Mount. Here, the quality of the tea (only served hot!), the finger sandwiches and desserts is as good as the service, setting, and scenery. The idea of having afternoon tea in the shadows of an English castle which is perched on an island is amazing, to say the least. Even getting to St. Michael’s Mount – on foot along a cobbled-stone pathway or by a small passenger boat – is a big part of this adventuresome experience. Of course, at The Harbour Loft, you must sample the scones which are served with Cornish clotted cream and strawberry jam. There, you are encouraged to first apply the jam on the scone and top it off with the Cornish clotted cream, a delicacy rarely served in the U.S.
What’s interesting is the origin of St. Michael’s Mount, which was built by a group of French monks, back in the day. Construction started in 1135 and it was completed in 1144. It remained under French control for roughly 300 years until English King Henry V passed the Alien Act in 1414, which enabled the English to seize control of the castle from the French. The castle has remained under English control ever since.
St. Michael’s Mount and The Harbour Loft await your arrival.
