West Cornwall Cottage Holidays

Marazion

Marazion is the oldest chartered town in Britain having been granted this status by King Henry III in 1257. Today, it is a small, peaceful town facing onto one of the most beautiful wide stretches of safe sandy beach in all of West Cornwall. Mount's Bay has recently been elected to 'The Most Beautiful Bays in the World' club, the prestigious worldwide association which also includes Cape Cod and San Francisco Bay in the USA, Paria Bay, Venezuela and Santorini Bay in Greece.

It is praise that is richly deserved by this vast stretch of glittering water and its spectacular coastline that runs in a great arc from Land's End to Lizard Point. A bustling little resort, you will find quaint narrow streets and a variety of fascinating shops however the entire area is dominated by its dramatic neighbour, the island of St Michael's Mount. Located some three miles east of Penzance, the mount is one of the iconic treasures of Cornwall. Set on an island just off shore, this fairy tale castle is now owned by the National Trust and has for centuries been the home of the St Aubyn family. Originally, a Benedictine Priory, the island served as a major port in earlier times and is thought to be the island of "Ictis" which was the centre for the export of Cornish tin and copper to the Greeks and Romans in pre-historic times. Today, the Island and Castle are open to the public every weekday and most weekends during the summer and on a limited basis during the winter.

This mystical island has a church, a medieval castle, an exotic garden clinging to the steep flanks, and an ancient harbour where you will find a myriad of shops and restaurants. Visitors can access the Mount either by an ancient causeway at low tide or by passenger ferry at high tide. Between Penzance and Marazion lies the Marazion Marshes, an area of water and reed-beds which is a magnet for wild birds, particularly during the autumn migratory period and a very popular destination for birdwatchers. Marazion retains its strong traditions as an ancient market town and its fascinating past is brought to life at a local museum situated at the Town Hall. Marazion is noted for its antique shops, art and craft galleries and for its traditional pubs and restaurants