Tucked away in the very far corners of South West Cornwall is the charming little town of Marazion – believed to be Britains oldest town. Aside from being steeped in history, and the location of St Michaels Mount, Marazion is also loved by those interested in hiking, water sports and bird watching.
Marazion is also a good base to explore Cornwall – with plenty of affordable accommodation and a fair choice of good eateries, visitors can experience the true Cornish lifestyle in a comfortable and beautiful setting.
St Michaels Mount is one of the main attractions in Cornwall itself, let alone Marazion. The highlight is the castle which is set atop the mount on a separate island – it’s possible to walk to the mount during low tide, but at high tide a ferry ride is required. The castle itself is quite enchanting and visitors can amble through the many furnished rooms and drink in the sensational panoramic views on offer.
Marazion as a town is equally charming – with narrow roads climbing over steep hills, and wonderful shops, pubs and bakeries offering the most wonderful food and drink options.
Marazion also has a lovely sand beach offering wonderful views of the mount making the town one of the undiscovered gems of Cornwall!
With a population struggling to reach 7,000 the interesting little town of Totnes is steeped in history and legend (it’s here that a Trojan prince named Brutus is believed in folklore to have founded Britain in the 11th century).
Present day Totnes is a bustling market town with charming views and splendid architecture with plenty of listed buildings for such a small place.
Totnes has a wide range of delightful restaurants for visitors to pick and choose from – the choices range from traditional English tea rooms and bistros that are simply brimming with character to foreign-food restaurants.
The first thing that strikes you about Totnes is the pure charm and elegance of the town – a walk up the steep streets is highly recommended. In many ways it’s typical of the small English town experience and the narrow streets are dwarfed by ancient, historic buildings (quite a few dating back to the 16th century).
Totnes Castle – First built in the 11th century, the remains of Totnes Castle today are thought to be from the 13th century. The castle is well worth visiting and offers some spectacular vistas of the town and River Dart below.
Other points of interest in Totnes include the Guildhall (including some interesting exhibitions including Oliver Cromwells table), the Totnes museum (located in a beautiful old Elizabethan style house) and Totnes Rare Breeds Centre (a petting zoo).
Close to Totnes is the village of Dartington, boasting some fascinating medieval buildings. Dartington also has some lovely gardens.
